Showing posts with label stephen Filarsky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stephen Filarsky. Show all posts

Monday, May 11, 2015

ART CAMP for the GROWN UPS!

A Grown UP art camp?
Well sure! A group of young at heart participants gathered together on Saturday May 9 and they  had a ball creating the same art the kids do at our summer art camps in the country!

First, the day was perfect-sunny,breezy and in the 70's! The first tropical storm of the season, Anna, did not dampen the area till the following day :-)

Take a look below at some of the fun art we created!

Working in and around both studios!

Watercolor blotches with ink

Alcohol inks on tiles

They met the ponies, the dogs and tried to photograph the chickens :-) We worked with watercolor, ink, alcohol inks on tiles, painted cans and planted flowers....the one thing no one did was eat lunch in the trees (as the kids do!)  Enjoy a few more scenes from a terrific day!

The men relaxing :-)

Notice the men know how to relax naturally?

But that was the point of the art camp-open a beer or a cold drink, bring a bagged lunch and simply enjoy a day for yourself!











In the big studio

Front view of the large studio
Full house inside. But the day was nice enough to spread outside with no problem!












They enjoyed not just the many varieties of roses beginning to bloom but the peonies!

Visit us online and sign up for our newsletters so you can see when our next Art Experience will be!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Getting the Creative Juices going!


Our January after school classes are back in session, the evening class at Vance Granville Community College has started and both track out and summer camp weeks are up!

It's not hard to find inspiration to paint COLD when it is in the teens outside!






And it's not hard to think spring when it's in the teens outside! Add a beautiful cardinal and you have a stunning painting for these beginners.
















THe VGCC had a great turn out on a frigid night but 4 newbies came with no supplies-so....we made do with some gathered oil pastels and they had a blast! (hey all ages love this Op Art!)

And finally inspiration comes in spades-art outside and in!

A Track out camp in Feb, March, April and May!


http://www.artstudentacademy.com/Track-Out-Camps.html

http://www.artstudentacademy.com/Summer-Program.html


Outdoor fun makes for happy artists!

And of course art, art and more art!


Sunday, February 9, 2014

What our Children's ART classes are up to! Clay, design and painting!

We have a talented group of kids in our "after school" programs and they have explored sculpture, clay, design and more recently-abstract design!
Our clay work, so far, has been working in relief and from the few examples below you can see how creative their work is!

 We are not finished in clay! We will be using hand tools to build our own armatures to make 3 dimensional sculptures. It's a great way to learn about hand tools such as pliers and wire cutters and how to balance their piece, add clay and then paint. A super cool project!










Snowy weather didn't slow us down this past week! Enjoy the collage below (I have more coming) of the "Abstract Tree". It's a fabulous painting exercise in going right to the canvas with no pencils, no erasers...just pure imagination. There are pretty much no rules in this one so it's also an excellent exercise for them to show other family members :-)
We'll continue painting the week of Feb 10-15!
One group
another group of paintings!
Stay tuned for examples of the adult class taught by Stephen Filarsky Feb 1-Drawing Trees from life. Amazing!

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Watercolor Wednesdays! The Art Zone!

Feeling stressed? Well, we know of a beautiful solution! There is NOTHING like being lost in the "Art Zone" before, during and after the Holidays to reduce stress! Join watercolor expert, Stephen Filarsky as he takes you through a relaxing 2 week course in painting in watercolors. Follow the links to sign up today. Take a look at what first time students did below!



WATERCOLOR WEDNESDAYSwatercolor class

Wednesday December 4 and December 11,  6:00 - 8:00 Instructor Steve
Wake Forest Art and Frame Shop, 139 S. White St, Wake Forest NC 27567

student watercolor

First, I'd like you to take a look at the watercolors of barns in a snowy landscape. They were painted by first time watercolor students. Just to let you know that watercolor is not "difficult" nor is "harder than oils or acrylics." In fact all you need is a cup of water, a brush, a few watercolor paints and a piece of paper. That's it. Well, a pencil might come in handy, but none of the fumes or smells that you get from acrylics and oil paints. You can paint on your kitchen table without worrying. Simple.
Our first class will look at the types of watercolor paints, brushes and papers. (The water is pretty much standard, what you get from your faucet will work fine.)
We will experiment with the materials and try different techniques. And of course, we will create a painting, after all, leaving a class with a finished painting sort of makes it worth while.
I will provide you with paint and materials for this first class. I will also discuss and give you a list of recommend paints and brushes. If you have any paints and brushes at home, please bring them along. We will take a look at what you have and how you can use it.

Our second class we will continue by student watercolorcreating another painting the easy way, playing with our new toys.
Now a side note, a few years ago Theresa and I took some swing dance lessons. What I learned from those lessons was that when you go to the second class, you probably could use some review of the previous lesson before jumping into some new steps because I had completely forgotten them. And the practice we did at home, well it probably could have been better. (The instructors didn't seem to have any trouble, but boy was I lost in that second class when they began telling us to do steps that they assumed we not only remembered but were able to do.)  So our second painting will also consist of some time reviewing what we learned, and we will do that the easy way. by painting another watercolor.
Continuing Classes  We will be continuing these classes, sometimes working on a single theme and other times going in individual directions. There might be homework.
Please take a look at the bottom of this page, there as some examples of my watercolors for you to look at. After all, you do want to know what your instructor can do, don't you.
Only $50. for both classes in December.
 You can register on line with Paypal or Credit Card. Please select the option, then click the "Add to Cart" button. You can select the number of students you wish to register at the next step.
 

Watercolors by your instructor, Stephen Filarsky
steve watercolorsteve watercolor
steve watercolorsteve watercolor

Monday, September 2, 2013

School and ART and new studios are starting!

Wow, where did the month of August go? Kids are already back in school!
Panic mode-must get out newsletters!

So THIS week our after school classes begin, http://www.artstudentacademy.com/After-School-Classes.html  
We have some new and exciting programs for the kids, so sign up for September now!

The weekend of Sept 7 and 8 is the Wake Forest Artist Guild tour. I can't call it a studio tour as it will all be concentrated in downtown Wake Forest, but I will be there painting portraits and showing the art room to parents both days!

We're expanding  a few of our art courses to include a serious classical training course at our Franklinton studio. It won't be a course for everyone as it is does NOT involve creativity-it involves discipline...lol, the way it used to be taught actually back in the Old Masters Day. We'll keep you posted!

We've added a smaller studio to our mini-farm...or maybe I should call it an Art Compound? What with our large art studio, the 2 story woodworking shop and now the smaller studio (re-purposed 12 x 20 storage building!) we'll need to re-think our parking areas!  Read all about the studios on my other blog: (http://www.mtheresabrown.blogspot.com/)

Shed being positioned after moving
Fall is a time for  art shows for us as well so it's incredibly busy! But we always find time for your questions....new 2 hour classes coming up on the calendar on our webpage!


STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES and
Have a Safe and Great LABOR DAY!



Our working art studio

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Painting Mountains

Since my artist husband, Stephen Filarsky and I are full time artists, we must constantly coordinate our art schedules with our instruction schedules and it takes some serious organizing to do that!

Recently, we completed a show in the stunningly beautiful mountains of NC near Blowing Rock. It must be the cool weather combined with mountain vistas that is so inspirational but whatever it is we squeezed in a workshop for a group of ladies. Only one had painted before. The others were total beginners. Apparently a former group experience had not inspired confidence nor enthusiasm so it was fun to watch them not only create a beautiful painting but become enthused enough to later run out and purchase paint to continue their art studies!

Learning to paint is all about learning to"see". That was the missing component that no one had ever showed them. None of them will ever look at clouds or mountain vistas again without experiencing that "AHA!" moment when what we shared, clicked with them! And that is a good place to be for an artist of any skill level!  The tips and techniques we shared for painting mountain vistas is the same for ALL mountains whether it is the Blue Ridge, Adirondacks, Himalayas or the Rockies. Painting such a scene once and painting it well is often the inspiration needed for a beginner to become and enthusiast.  And painting is one hobby that can be enjoyed year round, at all ages and for minimal expense (compared to other hobbies!)

Happy Painters :-)
If your group would like us to to share our methods of instructing with them, contact us!
classes @ artstudentacademy.com  (just re-do without spaces!)

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Art camp-suitable for adults!

The kids are having a great time in my ART camp in Henderson, NC. In fact, I have 16 students!
Today we studied seascapes and landscapes-quick and easy-and it was designed to help them move quickly, use a brush properly (you would be amazed!) and each skill built upon the previous one and we'll use the same techniques tomorrow.....but it did occur to me that adults could use the same series of projects to heighten THEIR art abilities :-) Just think-two hours each day for 5 days-think of what they could learn! So maybe we've been going about this the wrong way-maybe we should have an art camp for parents? What could be better than looking at clouds with your child?






Friday, August 24, 2012

Whimsical POP Art PETS!

Nothing is more fun and less stressful than painting with no holds barred! No expectations, no predictable outcome! Bring a photo of a pet and turn it into a whimsical pop art experience! Why should Andy Warhol have all the fun?


See what others have created and enjoy!







A husband and wife team
mother and daughter
 










A family Painting event








So the next time you are at a loss of what to do or want to reach into that artsy side of you, come to one of our no stress (well they are all no stress!) classes and unleash your creativity!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Painting Mountain sunsets

One table of painters
 Who has not enjoyed the brilliant colors of the sun setting  (or rising!) over the Mountains?

10 Painters of all ages participated in this recent Wednesday night class (we hold them from 6:30-8:30) and a few of the results are below!
Harrington came with Grandma!

This group of friends had a blast!
Steve instructed and enjoyed it as much as they did!

It takes some concentration to paint layers of mountains fading into the distance but as you can see, they all figured it out with Steve' help. :-)

Friday, July 20, 2012

Painting the Figure and getting past the fear

Although we are missing a few additional examples from this collage, the participants stepped up to the plate and in 2 hours painted their beautiful renditions in the "Gone Fishing" class! The figures on the dock were changed into what they envisioned as each artist made her (yep all women for this class!) painting into personal  masterpieces! Painting the figure from the back presents less challenges to the new painter of figures than trying to get a likeness from the front. It opens up a whole new range of options and paintings and many a famous painter from the past only included figures in their paintings from the back or small scale. It's a very good beginning!

Were they doubting artists beforehand? Sure. But they did it!

Speaking of doubts.......I had a phone call yesterday from a woman wanting to join our upcoming "Paint your Pet" class and she shared with me all her doubts and concerns about her artistic abilities. Seems her current instructor kept telling her she
wasn't ready to paint her dog, needed more instruction, etc, etc.

Seriously-why would anyone hold someone back in the realm of painting using that ridiculous statement? Why turn the creation of art into a mystery that can only be unlocked by the hallowed halls of professionals?
I am a professional and yet nothing brings a smile quicker to my face than to see a student of any age realize that "they can do it!"

Having said that-Taking just one class isn't enough to begin to master the art of painting. One class isn't enough to master ANY hobby! So get over your fear and jump in. If you are committed, you will know that a whole new world has opened up for you. We are there to help you and guide you but the dedication must come from you!

So join the many others who have discovered their "inner artist!"
Class schedule (remember August is SHOW times for us!) for August coming and Sept-full steam ahead!


Let go of the dock-start swimming!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

The Two hour Blitz...

The Two Hour Blitz that we  refer to, is the two hours of the Art Zone where you are literally, "one with your art."
For many of our participants, it's a totally new concept and a totally new event. And it only becomes apparent at the end of class......and they all marvel at it!  Because for two hours, they were encompassed in a world of art. And while they were creating, they thought of nothing else-no worries..... nothing to distract them from "the Zone." A happy place. 

And that is a wonderful place to be!
Look at the results below and join us in our next class on Wed, July 18, 6:30-8:30 for a beautiful painting "Gone Fishing" http://artstudentacademy.com/Gone-Fishing.html




Painting the Hammock on the Beach!

Fun painting the Abstract Cow!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Follow us on Facebook!

For our blog readers: Follow us on Facebook for up to the minute posts!

http://www.facebook.com/ArtStudentAcademy

(LOL-got your attention!)This morning's class:
Abstract COW
This afternoon's class!
Hammock at the Beach

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Hammock on the Beach, Dolphins and Abstract Cows!

Summer is a busy month for us! We are artists after all and participate in many events such as shows, gallery showings, etc. so take advantage of the upcoming classes if summer painting is what you want to do!

So what's coming up? 
How about painting a fun,  Abstract Cow?  


Maybe a beautiful "Fishing on the Lake?"  
Hammock on the Beach

July 11, wed we will be painting DOLPHINS! 

Want something specific for your kids (or the kid in you?) Try our July 13 6:30-8:30 fun class at the Wake Forest Art After Hours event! Peace Sign or Skateboards!  

"Gone Fishing"
 More coming but we will not have many classes in August due to shows so come on this month!


Thursday, June 7, 2012

Watercolor and the Beach!

Wow, getting busy for the kid's art camp next week and falling behind on updates...oh no!

But we're not falling behind on classes! Check out what these watercolorists did last Saturday with Steve as instructor and then check our calendar for what's coming up  June 8 and 9!

A collage of a few participants

Happy with her watercolor of Black Eyed Susans

Super happy with her BEACH watercolor.