Alcohol Ink on Yupo Demo Sponsored by Legion Paper

"I value a "don't know" attitude highly,
because it's ambiguous, and fosters a 'beginner's mind'
in which there are more possibilities than in an 'expert's mind'."
~ Theresa Bayer 

 

I had the pleasure of doing an alcohol ink on Yupo demo
sponsored by Legion Paper at a local art club on Monday.

  
I was able to view the awesome art that these dedicated
seniors were working on when I first arrived. I could see that
the group was comprised of some very accomplished artists.

  
All were very attentive and eager to learn something new.

There was so much enthusiasm and so many great questions.
I just love those qualities!

OMG! I LOVE my job!!

Thanks to Marc Schotland and Legion Paper

for making these demonstrations possible! 

And thanks to the inspiring group of artists from the

Leisuretowne Art Club for having me.
 

"We don't stop playing because we grow old.

We grow old because we stop playing."

~ George Bernard Shaw
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks so much for stopping by and for

helping me spread the joy of painting on Yupo paper!

Have a great day and happy creating!

X ♥  O

Highlights From New York City

"Take risks:  if you win, you will be happy;

if you lose, you will be wise."

The artist is one who must have the courage to fail. To challenge ourselves, to be brave and to experience different things is the only way we grow and stay fresh. If our work is not exciting to ourselves, how can we expect it to be so for others? Nobody likes to fail and look like a fool, but the only way to evolve is by experimenting, stepping outside of our comfort zone and leaving behind the safety of what is already known. The habit of learning from new experiences and from our mistakes keeps life and painting exciting. 

My painting demonstration at the grand opening of the new Dick Blick store in New York City on August 22nd was a huge success. 

"Of all the people I have ever known,

those who have pursued their dreams and failed

have lived a much more fulfilling life than those

who have put their dreams on a shelf for fear of failure."

After two months of planning, everything fell into place ...
I packed all my paintings and cards in this Pissaro Portfolio that I got ages ago. I never used before and it was the perfect case for what I needed.

I LOVE this watercolor bag! It's a Debbie Rankin Design and I've used the heck out of it for years. The bottom pocket is for your palette so it stays flat and everything else you need (and everything I'm packing here), always fits neatly inside. Great for every watercolor situation. I strongly recommend it!

The whole New York City experience went so well and WAS SO MUCH FUN! The crowd was so engaged and encouraging. They really were some of the nicest folks I've ever met!! 

I completed four paintings on Yupo paper.  Here I am doing my first one, rainbow feathers. It was a hit! Notice how I pre-mix all of my colors and each one has it's own brush, eliminating time wasting washing and mixing. Watercolor sits on the surface of Yupo paper, so you don't lose 30% of the brightness like you do on regular rag watercolor paper. At one point, I dropped my brush and got purple pigment all over the place. It was a perfect opportunity to show how forgiving Yupo is. I just calmly wiped the mistake back to clean bright white paper to everyone's amazement. 

"Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions.  All life is an experiment.  The more experiments you make, the better.  What if they are a little course, and you may get your coat soiled or torn?  What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice.  Up again, you shall never be so afraid of a tumble."  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jackie, the lady here in the hat, was my self-appointed, volunteer promoter. She spent the whole time giving out cards and samples and signing up people for a giveaway. She talked to everyone who passed by and encouraged people to stop and take a look at what I was doing. She came up with countless great slogans about working on Yupo. I wish I could remember some now.

This lady, Ingrid, used my little camera throughout the demos and took lots and lots of pictures! 

Here's the second demo I did. There were lots of Ewws and Ahhs on this one too. (It was music to my ears).

The subject of the third painting I demonstrated was Fuschia flowers.

Here I talked about experimenting with values, composition, color mixing

and complimentary colors.

The final painting I demonstrated was the wet-in-wet background

on this Bird of Paradise.

Are you in the mood for something different?

Ready to experiment and take a risk?

Why not give Yupo paper a try?

Because the watercolor pigment can always be wiped back to clean paper, I think it's the most forgiving, the most exciting and the most stress free way to work in watercolor!

12 Tips for Painting in Watercolor on Yupo Paper

Fear of the unknown and of failure or embarrassment could have kept me from embarking on this New York City adventure. I am really happy I took the leap of faith and I am so much richer in so many ways from the whole experience.

"This nation was built by people who took risks -

pioneers who were not afraid of the wilderness,

business men who were not afraid of failure,

scientists who were not afraid of the truth,

thinkers who were not afraid of progress,

dreamers who were not afraid of action."

~ Brooks Atkinson

Thanks for stopping by and please let me know you did!!

As always, your comments are most appreciated!

X ♥  O

Yippee For Yupo!

"The reason most people do not recognize

an opportunity when they meet it is because

it usually goes around wearing overalls,

looking like Hard Work."

~ Author Unknown

Yupo paper's been very good to me, yippee! Only two days to go and I'll be doing my painting demonstration at the Grand Opening Event at the Dick Blick Store in New York City. I'll admit I am a little nervous, but I am well prepared and really looking forward to it too. I get into the NYC train station at 12:15 and should be at the store between 12:30 - 12:45, in plenty of time to set-up. I am planning on bringing some finished Yupo pieces to display and I am all ready to go with four different paintings that are in various stages and I may still do a 5th.

I just sent out my newsletter today highlighting my current events. If you would like to subscribe, you can do it here.

Mr. & Mrs. Red

5.5" x 7.5" hand painted watercolor on Yupo paper

A.F. Double Mat w/ Backing in sleeve - 8" x 10"

Signed and certified by the artist

Sold

Fall is in the air here in New Jersey. The hummingbirds are frantically fattening up for their upcoming migration and the Sweet Gum trees are already starting to change color. The cooler weather has once again turned my thoughts to outside activities and trail riding with the horses.

Sweet Gum tree - 8-20-13

Well, wish me luck in my New York City Adventure.

You know I'll tell you all about it in my next blog post!

Have a great day and as always thanks so much for stopping by!

X ♥  O

Free Painting Demonstration Tonight!

"You don't understand anything

until you learn it more than one way."

~ Marvin Minsky

Tonight, 8/15/13, at 7pm,

I will be giving a painting demonstration

in watercolor on Yupo paper

at the Hammonton Arts Center

219 Bellevue Ave., in Hammonton, NJ 08037

609-567-5360

It's FREE and open to the public!

YIPPEE FOR YUPO!

Watercolor Painting on Yupo (pronounced - you-poe)

is a looser, more forgiving way to work in watercolor.

This synthetic paper can provide a jump start to watercolor for beginners and will add excitement and variety to the skill set of more accomplished painters.

Come see my fun watercolor techniques using this forgiving paper tonight!

The purpose of learning is growth,

and our minds, unlike our bodies,

can continue growing

as we continue to live."

~ Mortimer Adler

Hope to see you there!

X ♥  O

"Practice Makes Perfect."

"Practice does not make perfect.

Only perfect practice makes perfect."

~ Vince Lombardi

TOO HOT HOT HOT !

5.5" x 7.5" hand painted watercolor on Yupo paper

A.F. Double Mat w/ Backing in sleeve - 8" x 10"

Signed and certified by the artist

Painting Options

matted w/ backing (in sleeve) $85.00 USD matted / framed / med- wood $105.00 USD art only (in sleeve) $80.00 USD

"Practice makes perfect." How many times have we all heard that while growing up? Studies show that unless our "practice" addresses our weaknesses and works to resolve those issues, we will get stuck on a plateau, no matter how much we practice. We may be good, but we will never be great. It has to do with breaking out of our comfort zone and actually occasionally working through uncomfortable issues, pushing our boundaries, even expecting to fail. I learn so much from my failures and I do it on a regular basis! Nobody sees everything I paint. Not even Jerry.

Today I purged about forty watercolor paintings and it felt pretty darn good! It was an intimate good-bye with an important learning phase of my career. I knew I had to rip them up in pretty small pieces though or Jerry would be rescuing them from the recycle bin. The first thing he said after he went through what I put in the container was, "You ripped up my favorite one!" Laughingly I replied, "Yes dear, I know. :-D"

Here's the second version of the demo piece

I'm planning to paint at this Thursday's event only in a larger size.

Which color scheme do you like better? Yesterday's or today's?

Thanks, your opinions are most appreciated.

X ♥  O