HALLOWEEN-the Haunted House!

I was pleased to see parents painting with their children at our October 27, 10-12 class! The subject was HALLOWEEN of course and it was the "Haunted House."  This is one of those paintings that starts the same for everyone but the details are what set it apart...amazing what everyone (including parents!) sees or remembers about Halloween that makes their painting special and unique!
Check out the results below!

Results from the "Haunted House!"

Adding classes to another location

Speaking of news!
Grumbacher Company asked me to teach some art lessons at the Michael's store at 5240 Capital in Raleigh NC....what fun! 
They have not had a painting instructor there in a year so I'm essentially building it back up. BUT it should be a great location for the morning and evening classes and those participants in Raleigh and further south. They have a nice sized classroom where we can accommodate a group of up to 12 comfortably. (no stools in any of our classes-just chairs!)
Classes at Michael's are $25.00 per person. Supplies are not included but a nice Grumbacher starter kit can be purchased with everything in it you need to keep painting for a long-g-g-g time for $49.95. :-) Bring in one of their coupons and get it 40-50% off!

So, first class tomorrow morning 10-12 "Field of Pumpkins!" See what a previous class (all ages and abilities) painted below :-)

Class for Field of Pumpkins

For all of our participants north, don't worry-we keep right on with our classes at 139 S. White St!
The rest of the October classes only have a few spots left and can be found here  http://www.artstudentacademy.com/Getting-Started-Dates-and-Times.html

Start painting for the Holidays!

The cameo pastel

LOL-So I completed this whole blog thinking it was on my personal art site blog but no....it is on the art instruction site...ah well, everyone enjoy! (maybe I can copy and paste to my other blog?)

Lots of small portraits have been ordered from my clients right now so I am busy creating memories for many people. This time of year everything is starting into the secrecy stage :-)

Bella, cameo pastel

This small pastel was photographed on my easel but is a popular size for gift giving. They frame out to around 12 x 15 (with mats) Almost any kind of photo will work-even the old black and white ones pulled from a relative's album :-)
I call them "cameos"...the face (of a person) is usually around the size of roughly a saucer...then of course I add a bit more to balance the portrait and...Walla!, a cameo  portrait

 cameo pastel

 This cute baby was just 2 weeks old when her photo was taken as was her brother (who is now 2). I suggested to their mom to do separate portraits simply because each one at 2 weeks, put together, will look like a set of twins!

 cameo pastel

There was a little coordinating of clothes and colors of course-but all timeless!



So did everyone order pastels? No. Another popular medium is pencil. Yep. Soft, black and white pencils :-)

3 separate pencil portraits, cameos

I have combined 3 pencils together for display purposes but each one is a cameo. Pencil is super hard for me to photograph as you can see! Each background is white but the soft, subtle shades of gray get lost in a photograph! So enjoy by using your imagination!

Coming up later-more cameos featuring dogs and horses!

Island Paradise pink cottage paintings!

Ready for some photos of talented painters? Two classes  today..the first were couples enjoying a beautiful Saturday morning from 10-12. Take a look!

Now if only I could center these things.....

Individual images

The BLUE Peacock class!

You gotta love it when  groups of friends come to paint! We always say that "Friends should not let friends paint alone" and last night everyone took it to heart! A group of four came complete with wine, chocolate and popcorn and had a delightful time!
Another group of four were enjoying an evening in the Art Zone without the complications from the day to slip in and a pair of friends came to encourage each other to create!

The "Blue Peacock" is one on those paintings that can be taken to a very detailed level or a less detailed one. It is easy to just keep painting away and adding embellishments. And any artist can take the same image and paint it a dozen different ways and colors. Maybe a red, lavender, rainbow peacock....it's your painting!

ALL the results were stunning!

And unbeknownst to the painters, they all absorbed some valuable tips about blending, color harmony and details :-) We love to sneak the ART into HAVING FUN!

I think I'll bring popcorn next time.......

Painters of the "Blue Peacock"