Filling my Blog with PICTURES!

Oh my we have been so busy-I have been so busy.....I have been remiss!
So many new classes I am teaching starting at the Vance Granville Community College! Summer semester coming....My students are awesome!

recent VGCC class

Recent VGCC class

 So many techniques-so many styles-so much fun!

recent VGCC class

After school teens

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!)

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. :-)

The Irish CASTLE!

What an amazing job these ladies did in class today. Our 10-12 found us painting Ross Castle in Ireland. 

What did one of the students email to me?



"Hi Theresa!
We loved our time painting this past Saturday. The Irish castle was a hit! Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with us. We all walked away more confident in our artistic abilities than when we walked into the studio. Here are some photos to enjoy!"  ~Stephanie

Ah, makes me feel warm and fuzzy when people achieve that "art" feeling!

For two solid hours and these beginners  were lost in the art zone :-). But their resulting paintings are spectacular!

Bonding with your offspring

They come to us in pairs. All ages, all abilities....husband and wife, father and daughter, mother and daughter (or son), couples looking for new horizons, sisters, cousins, neighbors, friends...the point is that when they leave two hours later, they have shared an experience together, a few hours from their lives, schedules and a new appreciation for each other and each one's abilities!

Now really, it doesn't get any better than that!

Three sisters-NC Mountains in Watercolor

Father and daughter-NC Mountains in Watercolor

Mother and daughter "Children Sledding" in acrylics

Grandma with her 3 grandchildren "Paint your Pet"

Husband and wife "Paint your Pet"

Mother and Son "Blue Ridge Parkway" in watercolor

What new watercolor students did!

These are amazing paintings by beginner watercolor artists in our Art Student Academy Mountains in Watercolor!

Take a look at the detail, the transparency and the colors of these stunning mountain views.

We could not be any prouder of their efforts :-) 

Steve guided the group through their assignment. An uncle brought his 3 nieces (lol-see what the 5 year old did!), a father and daughter bonded for 2 hours over watercolor, and 2 friends shared a bottle of wine at the end of class and caught up on their news.

Nope. It doesn't get any better than that. Friends don't let friends paint alone! Great job!

Mountains in watercolor!

Tomorrow, Jan 7, from 1-3, we'll paint mountains in watercolor! A fun 2 hr. class that will leave you wanting more watercolor! This class is full but keep watching for another one!

Watercolor Mountains by Stephen Filarsky of Art Student Academy