community arts centers

Watercolor Journey Update

~ MaryG ~ 13 Comments

Warning: This is likely going to be a boring post to anyone but me.

Also, don’t you hate it when people say they’re on a “journey” of any kind? My husband and I were joking that I’d much rather be on a “watercolor journey“ than a “knee replacement journey.” His journey is so much more painful than mine!

As I mentioned, I decided not to continue with another session of the paint-a-long class with Diane because it felt too prescriptive. Still, I wanted to continue learning in a class setting, so I ended up enrolling in another session of “Loosen Up With Watercolors” with Sandra (my first teacher) at the fancier, more expensive community arts center. The classrooms are much nicer there—real art studios with big tables, lots of light, and sinks.

The only problem is that Sandra gives practically no formal instruction. She considers herself your “coach” rather than your teacher, so you have to come up with your subjects yourself. She circles the room giving each person individual guidance. This is honestly hard on the total beginners. They have no idea where to start.

I spent a lot of the first class of this term struggling with my materials. I had purchased tube paints for the paint-a-long class and they’re a different brand from my old pan paints. I decided I liked working from the pan better, so tried to match up the tube colors to refill my half empty pans. Some of the colors had different names for the exact same shade.

I trashed the actual painting I worked on in favor of color identification. I think I have a better idea of what I’ve got now.

I don’t actually have “Opera Rose” in either of my sets. Sandra gave me some of hers. (That’s a color I might want to buy.)

Sandra made a big deal about investing in professional-level paints (this is new—last time she emphasized good paper), which I have not as yet done. I have two “student/hobbyist” level paint sets: Winsor & Newton Cotman pan set ($65) and Royal & Langnickel Essentials tube set ($25). I’m worried that the Royal & Langnickel paints are low quality, but whatever…I’m no Winslow Homer. I’m going to keep using them for now.

I did buy one little tube of professional-level Winsor & Newton Payne’s Grey ($15) and refilled my pan with it. It’s definitely a stronger pigment. A tiny bit goes a long way. Also, the consistency is different. It’s more like honey or syrup and takes longer to harden in your pan. Maybe my strategy will be to replace my current colors with professional-level colors, as needed.

Oh, and thank you to everyone who weighed in on my Artistic Dilemma. I decided to leave the police/ICE officers unpainted, mainly because I kind of liked them unpainted and didn’t trust myself to paint them monochromatically in a way that I liked better. (And once you’ve painted something, it’s hard to undo it.) So here’s what I submitted to the “Art for Democracy” contest:

I’m calling it “Woman in the Teal Bathrobe, Minneapolis 2026”

OK, now I have go back and get my husband at the Physical Terrorist Therapist office. He still can’t drive himself anywhere.

Watercolors—baby farm animal #5

~ MaryG ~ 11 Comments

OK, last farm animal from my 5-week paint-along class and it’s not a baby! It’s a full-grown cock 😜

The teacher asked me point blank if I plan to return for the next session, which was awkward. I mean…I had some fun and learned a few things, but this paint-along-with-the-teacher style class is not really for me. I asked her to “please keep me on the mailing list.” Maybe I’ll return if she chooses a subject I really want help with, like sunsets.

Thank you to my very awesome WordPress blog friends who have patiently looked at all of my BFAs.

🙏🏼

By the way, “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” is one of my granddaughter’s favorite songs and I absolutely love singing it with her. It’s fun to take a long pause before you sing the next animal’s name. It adds drama and excitement!

Watercolors—baby farm animal #3

~ MaryG ~ 17 Comments
Cow or calf? Not sure.

Week 3 of my paint-a-long class and I’m definitely getting flashbacks to high school—probably because the teacher is a retired high school art teacher. She talks to us like we’re 16, rather than 60+, sometimes. You can tell that she was one of those slightly grouchy teachers that was easily annoyed. It’s actually funny some of things she says to people: “Your perspective is totally OFF” or “I see you’re doing it your way—again”

Nobody seems to care. They’ve all known her a long time and they like her. They sign-up for her class semester after semester.

So far, she’s been pretty nice to me. No major criticisms and some nice compliments on my work. Just like in high school, art teachers like me.

Oh, and she plays the radio in the background while we paint. The station is perfect for us…it’s all soft rock from the 70 and 80s (our high school years). Some people sing along quietly.

I’ve been through the desert on a horse with no name…

Next week: 🐷

Related

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Watercolors—baby farm animal #5

Pastels

~ MaryG ~ 10 Comments

Yesterday I went to a “pastel painting demonstration” at my town’s community arts center. (This is not the center where I’m currently taking a watercolors class OR the one where I took a class in the fall. I guess I’m lucky to have three different community arts centers within striking distance of my house!)

People reference “pastels” a lot and I know there are many different types—hard, soft, oil, etc. (Years ago, when I was a teenager, I worked with pastels and enjoyed them. I think they were primarily soft pastels back then, but I’m not even sure.)

Huge pastel fawn that I did in high school

I had been thinking about trying pastels again, so when I saw the free demonstration advertised, I went. The artist “painted” a deer. (When I asked why he called it “painting” when I always thought of pastels as “drawing,” he said that it’s because pastels are the most pure/intense form of pigment. So even though you don’t use brushes, it’s called Pastel Painting.)

He started with a pencil sketch on UART sanded paper (400) and then added “hard pastels” as the first layer (he called it “the under painting”)—marking out the major color areas of the piece. He worked from dark to light (opposite of how most do watercolors). Then, he used a fairly big square brush dipped in rubbing alcohol to sort of smudge it all and work the major shapes. The alcohol dries quickly.

Then, he moved to soft pastels—and he had boxes upon boxes of them. Every color imaginable! “Ludwig” seemed to be his favorite brand (quite expensive). He used the soft pastels as the top layer to really define the piece and give it depth and beauty. He spent a lot of time on the face because he wanted that to be the focal point.

Pastel deer from a demo by professional artist John Forcucci

The artist had been primarily a watercolorist when someone gave him a “plein air” (outdoor) pastel class as a gift and he fell in love with the medium. Sometimes he combines watercolors and pastels. Many of his finished pieces were on display in the gallery at the arts center and some were really impressive. He mostly paints animals in the wild.

My thinking now is this:

Pastels look fun and I might like to try them again someday, but not now. I’m not ready to invest in the supplies and the dust they create is somewhat of a concern (both because of the mess and the potential toxicity).

I like the idea of painting “plein air” (outdoors) at some point, but that would require me to purchase an easel and other supplies. I’ll keep my eyes open for a workshop or other class that’s not too expensive. In the meantime, I have a full set of colored pencils, I should really just head outdoors with those and do some drawing, when the weather gets warm.

Bottom line: you can spend all kinds of money on fancy, new-fangled art supplies but they might not help you become a better artist. The only way to do that is practice. I feel I should keep working with the supplies I have and see where things go.

The other “problem” with pastels, is that you really need to put them behind glass (with separators) if you want to display your work, which is expensive. Watercolors typically require glass frames too, but at least you can just stick them in cheap frames from Michael’s. Pastels have a delicate, powdery surface. (In the old days, we sprayed our pastels to set them, but this artist strongly discouraged that.)

Still, pastel paintings can be absolutely exquisite and unique. Check out @CindyCrimmin on Instagram for some truly stunning examples of pastel painting.

If you read this to the end, thank you! I’m basically thinking out loud here. I feel like my blog is turning into a retirement journal and is very boring to anyone but me.

Another pastel from high school

Watercolors—baby farm animal #1

~ MaryG ~ 14 Comments

I started my 5-week class at a very nearby community arts center yesterday. I don’t like the set-up as much as the fancier arts center where I took my first watercolors class in the fall. The room is nice and sunny, but it’s quite crowded and no sinks. You have to use the restroom in the hall to get water and rinse your brushes.

The people seem nice. It’s a similar vibe to my first class. Lots of retired people who re-register each semester because they like the teacher and have gotten to know one another.

The difference is that we all paint the same subject each week, with the teacher giving a demo for each step. It’s not exactly a recipe for developing one’s own unique creative voice, but I’m sure I’ll learn some stuff by painting along with a pro.

It’s surprisingly hard to make a chick’s face look “not mean.” I think the spotted Easter eggs help a bit.

Next week: 🐇

Last Watercolor Class

~ MaryG ~ 10 Comments

Yesterday was the last week of my 8-week class called “Loosen up with Watercolors” at our local (amazing) community arts center.

Against advice from the teacher, I attempted to paint a portrait of someone I know and love: my granddaughter. The reference photo (taken by my daughter) was from last summer when my granddaughter was 9 months old. (She’s walking now!)

I had the idea to use wine bottle webbing in the background for her playpen siding.

I had fun doing this, but I get why the teacher said not to paint family members as a total beginner. You’re too attached to the subject!

I want to learn how to make smooth skin tones, but I was too afraid to experiment on her adorable little face. I will try a stranger again next time, like that random chef from a magazine, which was my first ever watercolor portrait.

I also used those experimental gradients as backgrounds for some giraffe silhouettes. I have always loved giraffes.

I’m definitely glad I took the class. I may sign up for another session. I like the teacher and it gives me some structure to keep at it.

Watercolor Class Week 2

~ MaryG ~ 11 Comments
Dried hydrangeas in a glass jar with some lavender sprigs

Teacher provided the still life and then did a bit of a technique demo.

I’m realizing that some of the women in this class already know each other. I think they sign-up together every term.

Watercolor Class Week 1: Just Paint

~ MaryG ~ 12 Comments

Started one of my art classes today and was wildly impressed with the community arts center where it’s being offered. I’ve lived within half an hour of this place for years and I had no idea how nice it is. Galleries, theaters, studios…kilns! It really has a lot going on.

Anyway, our teacher’s approach was to basically just dive right in. I haven’t used watercolor paints since elementary school, so that was a bit unnerving. I hadn’t even unwrapped my paints yet. Shouldn’t she teach us some sort of technique first? I guess she wanted to see where everyone is at. There are 12 of us in the class (all women) and some are total beginners, but others are quite experienced.

She pulled out a bin of objects and I got two plastic pears.

Day 1 painting. Let’s see if I improve over the next 8 weeks.

Our teacher has a degree (or two) in visual art and is a wonderful ceramicist, but said she’s “self-taught” in watercolor painting. She said she learned by trial and error and feels that’s the best way to learn. It seems like she’s one of these “there are no wrong answers” type of people.

I tend to like a bit more formality, so we’ll see how this goes…

My classmates seem nice.