The Many Benefits of Creating A Series

"A series is a collection of paintings that when viewed

leaves no doubt the same artist created them all.

The theme running through the work is stated and restated

in different yet interconnected ways and the viewer can

look at the collection and understand more easily

what the artist is trying to convey."

~ Lynette Ubel / Ubel Arts, LLC Blog

In Lynette Ubel's excellent blog post, she states, "After the commitment to begin a series is made, it begins to take on a life of its own. With each additional painting in a series, the original thought grows into something more refined and bigger than a singular painting could ever be. Every addition allows the artist’s voice to get louder and clearer, demonstrating that they are on a path,

know what they’re doing, where they’re going, and what they have to do to get there."

I have noticed something happening every time I do a series. It refines my skills as well as my vision. This week's advice to an online student was; "You will really benefit from playing with the pigment without trying to create a masterpiece. (Case in point, below) Because I am rusty at this technique, I did 16 backgrounds - all one right after the other, to re-establish and refine my skills and get comfortable with the results. I didn't get it the first one or two or half dozen, but by the 12th or so try, I felt like I was starting to get the hang of it again. The bottom line is, get help from someone with real experience and don't give up. You need to set up a factory. 

Over the past four Saturdays, I've been giving private lessons to a student
who's been creating a series. She is flourishing and astounded by her progress
and inventory by "building a factory" and doing them assembly-line fashion.

I'm convinced that working on the pieces together and repeating one step at a time,

over and over again can really reinforce and expedite learning and spark individuality.

See John Cage's "Rules for Students and Teachers." 

Actually, I think I'm always working on a series of series these days, lol.

I can't really even remember the last time I worked on a one-on. 

"Not many of us can be convinced that working in a factory is a lot of laughs.

Being a factory may be even worse. But there's something to be said

for building one and getting into it."

~ Robert Genn

Happy Creating!

X ♥  O

 

Purge, Emerge and Flourish

"If we go for the easy way,
we never change."
~ Marina Abramovitt

Alcohol Ink on Ceramic Tile

My September Alcohol Ink Workshop

is now more than half filled.

Don't get shut out! For information and to register,

please go here.

Alcohol Ink on Ceramic Tile

AND new workshops have just been added for 2015.

Including a Watercolor Workshop on Sat., October 3rd.
We'll be painting trees on cotton rag and Yupo paper!

 Enjoy what's left of your summer.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Creating!

X ♥  O

The Art Of Teaching

"I tried to stir the imagination  and

 enthusiasms of students to take risks, 

to do what they were most afraid of doing, 

to widen their horizons of action. " 

~ James Broughton

"The Circle Game"
~~~~~~~~~~~8 x 10" Dbl. Matted Alcohol Ink Collage on Yupo paper~~~~~~~~~~~
email: sandy@sandysandy.com for purchase info.

We had another snow storm and got 6" here in Southern NJ

on Friday, "the first day of Spring". 

By yesterday, Sunday, there was hardly any trace of it though.

I truly hope that's the last we see of it until Christmas time.

I have been getting ready for more Alcohol Ink Classes, Workshops and Drink & Ink events. Enthusiasm is spreading as more and more people discover the magic of alcohol inks. I am enjoying teaching, meeting like minded folks and making lots of new art friends in the process. 

I took my flyers and tiles down to the local high school craft show on Saturday and talked so much I nearly lost my voice. Of course, I ran out of flyers, but next time I'll be more prepared. I sat and inked and let a few others try their hand at it too. It was fun because everyone was quite impressed and amazed with them.

Have you created yet today?

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Have a wonderful day!

X ♥  O

Free 10 Week Photoshop Course!

I just signed up for Creative Techs' 10-Week Photoshop Course by Jason Hoppe. My friend, Nancy Louie, alerted me to this incredible deal! This course is FREE, but since it is already in session and I didn't want to miss any of the ones that have already aired, I opted to purchase the full 10 weeks of recordings on audio file and PDF handout for only $50.00! Wow, how awesome is that! Now I can listen to all of them at any time and repeatedly if I need to. Sometimes (or I should say usually) this technical stuff takes some trial and error and review with me. Each new weekly recording should be active by the Monday following each Thursday class.


Feb 26: Week 1 - Photoshop Basics
Mar 5: Week 2 - Photoshop Layers
Mar 12: Week 3 - Selection Basics
Mar 19: Week 4 - Advanced Selections
Mar 26: Week 5 - Masks
Apr 2: Week 6 - Pen Tool / Shape Layers
Apr 9: Week 7 - Drawing Tools / Brushes
Apr 16: Week 8 - Retouching
Apr 23: Week 9 - Color Correction pt1
Apr 29: Week 9 - Color Correction pt2

A Wonderful Drawing Exercise

BLIND CONTOUR DRAWING
This is a photo of the blind contour drawings I demoed in this past weekend's workshop. This photo shows two different angles of a wooden Cardinal carving. Blind contour is an excellent exercise which improves hand - eye coordination and really helps you to SEE. The idea is to refrain from looking down at your paper while you slowly draw your subject, caressing the object with your eyes. If you loose your way, you can look down and reposition your pencil if need be, but while drawing, you must not look at your paper, concentrating only on following the contours of the shape. The results will not be completely accurate, but often makes for some interesting studies.

My Workshop Portrait By "Nano"

For more about my workshop and this portrait, see my Spirit Art letter for today.

Workshop Participant Portraits

Here are photos of the participants of my weekend workshop. College classmate, Nancy Louie, came with her art supplies and extensive photography gear in tow. I should have taken a shot of the studio set up with speedlights, umbrellas and stands. "Nano" is an expert at photographing many things, especially people. With amazing knowledge and impeccable standards, these examples show off Nan's ability to capture the likeness, energy and essence of her subjects.

This is Lee with her lovely painting and her subject.

Carol also has a very successful piece.


This is Nan, taken by me in the Wharton State Forest last Tuesday. (Hard to believe, it was over 70 degrees here today!)


And last but not least, Princess, the Art Director here at The Sandarosa.

More photos and highlights of this "Spirit Art Workshop" coming soon.

Student's Work - Workshop, Day One

Day one of my two day watercolor workshop was a lot of fun! We ended the day with some monotone Cardinal paintings. Here is my students' work. I am very happy with their end results and I think they were too. More to come tomorrow. We turn the clocks ahead tonight! Yeah, longer days!!

March Watercolor And Drawing Workshop

Today I'll be organizing my thoughts, lessons and my studio space for my two day workshop tomorrow and Sunday. Saturday morning we'll start with drawing techniques; gesture, blind contour and my six step pencil and wash technique.


In the afternoon I'll proceed with handouts to discuss the principles and elements of design. After doing a demo of basic technique applications, we'll do a watercolor with a limited palette so we can focus on the all important techniques of wet-in-wet watercolor. Focus will also be on the foundation of any painting - values. I will wait to discuss with the students how they would like to build on and expand these lessons so I know how to proceed on Sunday. One student has already said that she would like to learn how I paint my Sunflowers.


There is still a spot available for one or both days, so don't be shy give it a try!

My Upcoming Drawing and Watercolor Workshops

I've been getting organized for a few workshops I have coming up. I'm posting them here, incase any of you local followers are interested.

I've already got a few people signed up, so if you are interested, dont' delay! You can see more information on my main web site or here under workshops.

WET - IN - WET / WORKSHOP - Day Three

I really had a great group of artists here for my workshop the past few days! I must say I was impressed by their work ethic. Frustration ran high today as students tackled two wet - in - wet florals. As I demonstrated, they tried to follow along. At times I felt sorry for them. I remember what it's like, but it is all a necessary part of the learning process. I'm fortunate. This is a determined group with an abundance of heart, tenacity and aptitude!


I demoed the top painting in the morning. I wet the paper completely on both sides before starting. We did the bottom painting after lunch. In this one, I wet the back, and front, but left the white flowers dry. I'm showing these clipped to my board, before cropping.

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP - DAY TWO

I started today's workshop with a couple of handouts from ROBERT GENN 's : Twice Weekly Letters for Artists. I have subscribed to this inspirational email letter for artists since the beginning. Starting as far back as 1999, I think. I've been praising Bob and his efforts ever since. His readership has grown by leaps and bounds from a mere handful of readers to probably hundreds of thousands world-wide. I highly recommend subscribing! It is a powerful resource, not just for painters, but for anyone with an interest in the arts and philosophy.

In last week's Sept. 9th, 2008  letter, "Build A Factory", Bob writes; "During the last while I've been giving my two bits worth to several would-be painters. These folks are young, well educated and talented. They want to talk about the business of making art, the possibility of going to art school, their future in art. They also check my modest brain for what I might think galleries want, price points, popular sizes, that sort of thing.

While this is all very nice, I've glazed over a few times, and frankly told one of them to paint a hundred paintings and give me a call when she does. There was a significant silence on the other end of the phone--as if it was just around the corner that I might coach creativity into her. "Think of yourself as a factory," I said. That was the end of that call.

Not many of us can be convinced that working in a factory is a lot of laughs. Being a factory may be even worse. But there's something to be said for building one and getting into it.

Artist-wannabees need to find a physical place to be. For artists who think big and lofty, an unused loft in a rust-belt town might be the choice. But a factory can also be in a corner under basement stairs, or an easel at the bottom of a garden. Factory is a mental thing.

An art factory is a place where unmarked supports enter on one side, become caressed with the physical manifestation of human imagination, and are subsequently pushed out the other side. Whether these modified supports are commercially destined or not, it's a process that needs to take place.

When the factory gets the steam up and things begin to happen, the worker becomes hooked. Also, as skills are learned, techniques defined and directions found, the place begins to look like a perpetual motion machine.

Theoretical folks don't always understand that the factory itself turns its operator back into a student. The factory becomes a school. If you like the idea of do-it-yourself learning, and you are curious about what you might be able to do, a little private factory is one fine institution. If your factory starts small and gets productive, you'll need a bigger factory." ~ Robert Genn


Here is a copy of two days of paintings from my own Sandy Sandy Factory.


In today's handouts, I also included a copy of this addition from yesterday's September 12th Painter's Keys letter, titled; "John Cage - Life is a Workshop"

John Cage's "Rules for Students and Teachers.":

1 Find a place you trust, and then try trusting it for awhile.
2 General duties of a student--pull everything out of your teacher; pull everything out of your fellow students.
3 General duties of a teacher--pull everything out of your students.
4 Consider everything an experiment.
5 Be self-disciplined--this means finding someone wise or smart and choosing to follow them. To be disciplined is to follow in a good way. To be self-disciplined is to follow in a better way.
6 Nothing is a mistake. There's no win and no fail, there's only make.
7 The only rule is work. If you work it will lead to something. It's the people who do all of the work all of the time who eventually catch on to things.
8 Don't try to create and analyze at the same time. They're different processes.
9 Be happy whenever you can manage it. Enjoy yourself. It's lighter than you think.
10 Break rules. Even your own rules. Leave plenty of room for X quantities.

John Cage (1912-1992) was a composer, print maker, performance artist, writer, philosopher, editor, teacher, mushroom expert, collaborator and poet. Fact is, John Cage had a lot of fun in his factory. Considered one of the most influential composers of the twentieth century, he produced works with one note, no notes, notes by chance, and a noted organ composition that takes 639 years to play.

Thinking about the life and "happenings" of John Cage, it's not difficult to see that joy, imagination and brilliance flow from factories. "Life," he said, "is a workshop." ~ Robert Genn 

After practicing watercolor techniques, students all wanted to stick to tonal studies today. Building on yesterday's lessons, here is the demo I did today.

Happy Creating!

See A More Current Post About Working In A Series.

DAY ONE - Watercolor Workshop

WARM UP EXERCISE
I started today's lessons with a warm up exercise I came up with at the spur of the moment. Holding the pencil like a wand, I encouraged students to use their whole arm and wrist while making various scribbles on their paper. Everyone seemed to agree that this helped them to loosen up for the sketching to follow.

TWO MINUTE GESTURES
I have some wood bird carvings and decided to use them as models for our two minute gesture sketches. After the allotted time was up, each person turned their bird clockwise a quarter of a turn. Each participant did a dozen sketches, three birds, four views each.

BLIND CONTOUR DRAWING
This is a wonderful exercise that I haven't done in a long time. None of the students had ever done a blind contour. This teaches hand eye coordination. You can't look down at your paper while you are drawing. You must only look at the subject while the pencil is moving. This trains you to caress the object with your eyes. After this exercise, students followed along with handouts as we went on to drawing a hummingbird with my Six Steps to Sensational Sketches Demo.

MONOTONE VALUE PAINTING
After lunch break, we did a value painting of a lighthouse. I explained WET-IN-WET techniques on painting skies, grass, water and buildings. Here is my demo painting.

Instruction on Sketching

Last week I was contacted by Ralph Serpe; artist, writer, musician and webmaster, about having my "Sensational Sketches In Six Simple Steps" featured on his blog. He writes; "I own and maintain a very popular blog on Art Instruction. My site receives over 20,000 unique visitors each month, and I have a subscriber base of nearly 9,000 artists, all hungry for fresh new content." I checked it out and saw it was of very high caliber. Of course I said YES!

Please visit: www.artinstructionblog.com and check it out!

See comments about my demo from artinstructionblg.com and more about this sketch on: www.sketchingeveryday.com



See my sketching posts displayed in reverse-chronological order, on: http://www.sketchingeveryday.com

My sketching posts are presented in chronological order on:
http://www.drawingeveryday.com

MY WATERCOLOR PALETTE LAYOUT

For students and those who are interested, here are the pigments I use.
My Palette Colors from top left clockwise.....

Burnt Sienna
Yellow Ochre or Raw Sienna
Naples Yellow* - love this color, use it often, has white in it.
Lemon Yellow
Gamboge - the bright color in the middle, nice - not necessary.
Cadmium Yellow
Olive Green - Lukas brand - love this - not necessary - can mix it.
Cobalt Blue* - I use it occasionally, not necessary, has white in it.
Viridian, Prussian or Phthalo Green - not necessary but handy.
Prussian or Phthalo Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue* - not pictured - use occasionally - not necessary.
Turquoise* - not pictured - love this color, use it often - not necessary.
Cadmium Orange - not necessary - can be mixed.
Cadmium Red
Alizarin Crimson
Permanent Rose, Rose Madder - not pictured - can be used instead of Alizarin.
Ivory Black - not pictured - Sometimes useful - not necessary, can be mixed.

*In transparent Watercolor, you should stay away from colors with white in them. If you must, use *these colors in moderation. Pure colors with no white added will give you a cleaner, more transparent, luminescent hue.

Watercolor Class Demonstration

I probably bit off more than my students could handle today. I tried to do two paintings in two hours but it turned out to be more like four. Here's my "color" version of today's demo. I hope all you participants can finish up your paintings at home and I can see them next time we get together! The black and white version of this painting can be seen on Sketching Everyday

Colorado Trip

I'm traveling light this trip. Here's a picture of my little sketching box and two different sized sketch books I brought along with me. I did throw in some colored pencils right before I left the studio this morning. I used the small sketchbook on the plane today and did a few paintings using my pencil and wash technique. See my Colorado drawings, starting July 22nd on my Sketching Everyday Blog.

Ahhhh, They're Gone!

Pictures of my cats in the studio after the workshop students left on Sunday. The cats were not very happy with being locked out during the seminar and really enjoyed the privilege of being let back in. There was a lot of smelling, rolling, rubbing and purring!

More Student Work

Some pretty good looking pine trees emerged after the second attempt. See my tree demos on my 2008 Sketching Everyday blog.