Instagram Giveaway!

“It's not how much we give

but how much love we put into giving.”

~ Mother Theresa 💖
~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Announcing - I'm having a
#CantQuarantineArt #LearnLoveCreate #OnlineArtCourse #Giveaway

on Instagram 🎨

🌻 See part of the lesson in alcohol ink on Yupo HERE.

I will be giving away 12 FREE ONLINE SUNFLOWER SKETCHING COURSES 

on Sunday, April 5th! 🌻 See part of the lesson in watercolor on Yupo HERE.🧡

Enter to win and see more information on
my Instagram page.

“When one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so
regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."

~ Alexander Graham Bell 

Hugs, Stay Safe and Happy Creating!

X ♥  O

The Depth Of Your Education

"The length of your education is less important than its breadth,

and the length of your life is less important than its depth." 

~ M. vosSavant

New Sketching Class Launches on January 17th!

Get 20% Off with coupon code until 1/21/20.

1. Watercolor on Cotton Rag ~ 5 x 7", matted to 8 x 10"

2. Watercolor on Yupo Paper ~ 5 x 7", matted to 8 x 10"

3. Alcohol Ink on Yupo Paper ~ 5 x 7", matted to 8 x 10"

 

X ♥  O

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

"Only one thing has to change for us

to know happiness in our lives;

where we focus our attention."
~ G. Anderson

 

2020 Calendars now available HERE.

Get yours before they sell out!

All sold out as of 1/1/20, thank you!

"What we call the secret of happiness is no more than our willingness to choose it."

~ Leo Buscaglia

X ♥  O

P.S.
My paintings and prints are available for purchase online now at 15% Off.

Boundless Black - 2019 Art Calendars

“A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black,
because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light."
~ Leonardo da Vinci

 

My 2019 "BOUNDLESS BLACK" Desk and Wall Calendars

 

Please preview the images and purchase while supplies last. 

2019 calendars make memorable presents for all the art and nature lovers
on your holiday list! They're sure to be appreciated year round. 

Desk calendars make awesome family, hostess, co-worker,

 neighbor, teacher or client gifts.

Discounts apply for multiple purchases.

Thanks for taking a look and supporting small American businesses like mine!

X ♥  O

👩‍🎨

Owl Bet You'd Love Joyful Art Making

"Misery comes free.
Joy, fun and laughter take planning."
~ C. W. Metcalf

This is one of the demo pieces I did for tomorrow's Alcohol Ink Studio Class here at The Sandarosa. Now WHOO doesn't love having fun, while learning how to paint whimsical owls in alcohol ink? I teach beginners through accomplished professionals all together in one class and the results are nothing short of amazing. I still have a couple of spots available for October 27th (tomorrow's class), but it looks like that may the last ones that are up for grabs during my last studio session for 2018! Get more information HERE and send me a message to reserve your spot!! Go ahead, make a difference in your life, Give a HOOT and come and grab yourself some FUN! OWL always be happy to have you here!!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Fall.

X ♥  O

👩‍🎨🍁🧙‍♀️🔮

Hey, Is That Michael Jackson?

"Well begun is half done.

~ Italian Proverb

Phase One - MAC Scarecrow

Jerry started working on our Medford Arts Center

entry for the Annual Scarecrow Contest in Medford, NJ.
It still needs a lot of work, but it's fun work,

and we're both happiest when we are creating.

Hey, is that Michael Jackson?

 

Happy Fall and

Thanks So Much for Stopping By!

X ♥  O

Awaken The Joy!

"It is the supreme art of the teacher  to

awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."

~ Albert Einstein

Getting excited about this weekend's Spring Alcohol Ink Workshop here at the Sandarosa.

I have done numerous test demos, trying to whittle my time down to 30 minutes.

Here are the steps taken to achieve the dark background on this one. 

"I'm convinced that the best way to learn is by teaching."

~ John Ferrie

Have a great weekend and Happy Spring!

Spring Is In The Air!

"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries

of the earth are never alone or weary of life."

  ~ Rachel Carson

April 9th- Sandarosa Studio Workshop

Celebrate Spring - Get Creative and Play!

See the slideshow from this workshop here.

"Nature is my medicine."  ~ Sara Moss-Wolfe

Thanks for stopping by and
Happy Creating!

At The End Of Your Comfort Zone

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it,

move with it, and join the dance.”
 ~ Alan W. Watts

1996 -2016 ~ SandySandy.com

 SandySandy.com is now over twenty years old! I created it in 1996 and have updated and maintained it since then. Long story short, I moved the site, SandySandy.com over to a new web hosting site. The old hosting site, where I still have my domains registered, is merging with another company, so everything is in transition there. After days of talking to over a dozen and a half different technical support reps., in the four separate companies that are involved, I am still unable to hook up my main emails; info@sandysandy.com or sandy@sandysandy.com. I don't know if or when this - finally admitted "known issue" will be resolved, so I am notifying all friends, family and companies that I have used those emails with (99% - for the last 20 years) that my email address has now been changed to: ssandyssan@gmail.com. Ugh! So please update your records everyone!

Hugs and Happy Creating, xo Sandy

“The comfort zone is a psychological state in which one feels familiar, safe, at ease, and secure. You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.” ~ Roy T. Bennett

Learning Is A Treasure

"You don’t understand anything

until you learn it more than one way."

~ Marvin Minsky

The FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink - January 2017

The FUNdamentals videos are short and to the point. There are no long, boring demos or lectures on theory. Through various demos, you'll see that there is no one way to paint or one style. The lessons presented here encourage you to find your own way, your own voice and your own joy in painting what you love. Registration for the January 2017 Session closes December 18, 2016!

• Learn How To Create A Variety Of Backgrounds From Smooth and Varied To Abstract.

View My Last Pre-Course Sample Demo Video here.

"Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back."

 ~ Chinese Proverb


Removing Oil Spots on Yupo Paper

"A teacher is one who makes herself progressively unnecessary."

~ Thomas Carruthers

Use Dawn Dish Soap to remove grease spots

See the step by step slide show here:

Thanks so much for your friendship,

X ♥  O

Happy Creating!

A Revolutionary Approach To Painting And Design

"Invite the viewers into the picture

and entertain them everywhere." 

~ Edgar Whitney

Ed Whitney 1979 - discussing the Three Bears
(Momma, Poppa, Baby Formula) photo by Shirley Landgraf

Edgar Whitney was a brilliant artist, writer and watercolor instructor. His Seven Elements and Eight Principles Of Design can be applied to any art medium and truly revolutionized my own artistic journey. Ed's students benefit from an accelerated understanding of art and visual design, leading to a broader scope of exploration and creativity.

Edgar A. Whitney spent twenty-five years in commercial art before devoting himself full time to painting and teaching. He taught at Pratt Institute in NYC and lectured regularly at New York University. Twenty years after his death, his book, Complete Guide to Watercolor Painting, continues to be one of the foremost and extensive manuals on philosophy, design, and watercolor painting. In his golden years, Ed demonstrated and taught workshops from Maine to Florida, producing many extraordinary modern day watercolor masters while establishing himself as a legend in the Art World Hall of Fame.

THE SEVEN ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

THESE ARE THE PARTS OF A PAINTING

* SHAPE - Anything with height and width - They can be . . .
* Curved
* Angular
* Rectangular

* SIZE - The relationship of objects to each other - think 3 bears - Momma, Poppa, Baby
* Small
* Medium
* Large

* LINE - There are two main types
* Curved
* Angular

* DIRECTION - The overall dominant direction of an art piece can be
* Horizontal
* Vertical
* Oblique

* TEXTURE - There are three basic textures
* Soft
* Hard
* Rough

* COLOR - Warm or cool, one should dominate

* VALUE - The lightness or darkness of a color
* Light
* Medium
* Dark


THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

These are the building blocks OF ALL ART!
This is what we should strive to do with the SEVEN ELEMENTS, listed above.
For better understanding; read each principle and then apply it to each element, one at a time.

* UNITY - The painting must be consistent throughout. Each part must look like it belongs to the rest.

* CONFLICT - or Contrast - Must be present in all of the elements.

* DOMINANCE - The most important principle because without it, there will be too much variation and no unity of the elements. In each of the listed SEVEN ELEMENTS, one should dominate in a painting.

* REPETITION - Elements should repeat.

* ALTERNATION - Repetition with variation.

* GRADATION - Gradual change from one element to another.

* HARMONY - Similar elements.

* BALANCE - Most noticeable with shapes and should generally be informal (asymmetrical) vs. formal (symmetrical)

Come Create Online With Me in January 2017!

More of Edgar A. Whitney's Teaching and Philosophy Woven into 

the FUNdamentals of Alcohol Ink ECourse coming soon!

Click the link to see a short video of student work from the September 2016 ECourse.

The (Right) Way

"Grace, or Tao, surrounds us always.
Whenever we are open to it for a moment,
it enters into us."
~ Herman Hesse



Tao |dou; tou| - noun
(in Chinese philosophy) the absolute principle underlying the universe, combining within itself the principles of yin and yang and signifying the way, or code of behavior, that is in harmony with the natural order. ORIGIN Chinese, literally ‘(right) way.’

We get caught up in living, "our" way of doing things and sometimes forget
to slow down and ask ourselves what is the "right"way for us.

Are we thinking or doing things in an automatic, rushed, habitual way
instead of savoring our moments by looking inward for joy, meaning and love?

When we are kind to ourselves,
it has a ripple effect and spills out into the lives of others.
While the precepts listed here may seem too idealistic,
perhaps you can find a few concepts that resonate
and inspire you to find more harmony and light in your life.

Miyamoto Musashi describes 21 principles (to strive for) of Tao:
"1. Accept everything just the way it is.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
7. Never be jealous.
8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.
10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.
11. In all things have no preferences.
12. Be indifferent to where you live.
13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.
14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.
15. Do not act following customary beliefs.
16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.
17. Do not fear death.
18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.
19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honor.
21. Never stray from the Way.”

Modern science has recently confirmed that our thoughts
actually change the pathways of neurons in our brain.
Habitual reactions to situations shorten those nerve cell connections,
which in turn physically alters and triggers our own unique conception of reality.



Wishing You Much Joy and Many Blessings!
With Love,

Evaluating Yupo Paper Vs. PI-180

"What works for one artist doesn't necessarily work for another - try anything and everything and go with what works for you."

~ Paul Dixon

Yupo paper Vs. PI-180 Comparison Test

A few months back, Rocheux International in Sommerset, NJ contacted me about trying out their synthetic paper. Chris wrote to me that his company supplies a similar product to Yupo and asked if I'd be interested in evaluating their product. I agreed to let them know how their paper compares.

Provided with some of their PI-180 grade, which was closest to the 74# white Yupo., I immediately noticed that it was not quite as heavy as the 74# and had a slicker surface.

Yesterday, after a little prodding from Chris, some tests were conducted. using alcohol inks - the same colors and process on each set, (Yupo on the left and PI-180 on the right). Each set was painted simultaneously and the sequence and timing were relatively the same for both.

Out of all the tests, I liked the Yupo the best for the ability to lift the pigment from the paper. The surface of the PI-180, although slicker, seemed to drag more as if working on a paper with more tooth. Notice how the middle paintings differ. Once set, the ink hardly moved with the splattering of alcohol on the PI-180. That being said, I really love the colors on the PI-180 in the bottom set.

Playing around a little with watercolor on them and yeilded similar results. The pigment on the PI-180 surface seemed to drag and not lift as easily as on the Yupo.

Bottom line - These experiments are only the tip of the iceberg. Many more would have to be done, using more techniques and mediums to come to more firm conclusions. The PI-180 may be a viable alternative when using some techniques. Price comparison, where it is made, if and when this paper will be available to the public is unknown to me. If you wish to find out more and possibly get some samples to test for yourself, you can contact Chris at: ykao@rocheux.com

"All life is an experiment.

The more experiments you make the better."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Creating!!

X ♥  O