Tag Archives: artist friends

Jun19

Winding Up The Week!

Posted on by
Image

My weeks are filled with all kinds of fun things including painting classes.  Every couple of weeks I am lucky enough to be able to take time for Richard Hawks classes.  Richard has slowly pushed me to a new level of art.  Is it perfect….NO.  I don’t do perfect, and Richard doesn’t like perfect either.  He is an abstract painter who has been of great benefit to me as an artist.  Certainly I was stuck in a stale, stagnate, rut when I decided to take his abstract workshop.  Here all these months later, I’m doing things I never thought of, and still being pushed to do more.  Where am I going to end up?  It doesn’t matter to me because I know wherever it is, it’s more than I could have accomplished by myself.

Timing is everything don’t you agree?  Since I was part of the abstract workshop, I joined another workshop, Oil on Copper!   Well I really didn’t think I was going to like it because I didn’t want to have to buy Copper or Oil paint.  But there is so much more needed for this process, I couldn’t conceive of myself wanting to create this way.

Surprise  I loved it all,  I ate it up like a little kid with a chocolate sunday.  Now I don’t want to do anything else but paint on copper with oil paint.   So little by little I’m purchasing the supplies I need for this type of art.  My studio is already stuffed with supplies in watercolor, and acrylic.  Not only am I looking for more oil, I’m looking for all the things that go with painting on copper in this manner.   It must be my lucky day,  I love to learn new things.

I’m sure there are all kinds of ways artists paint on copper, this method is different.   That must by my hook! Once again Richard Hawk does a great workshop.

There is going to be another Abstract Workshop, and because it has helped me so much I have posted the information for those of you who might be interested. While I’m here I want all of you to know that the painting I posted is a Richard Hawk painting. I’d love to tell you it was mine, maybe next time!

‘Workshop: Beyond Belief  III’ • Encinitas, California

A meditative, consciousness-exploring workshop based in painting.

Dates and time
July 20, 21 & 22 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) 2018
10 AM to 3:30 PM

Cost
$330 for three days

Over the years I’ve had many conversations with artists/students about the metaphysical aspect of painting. The place where the physical and psychological acts of painting meet the purely energetic, the spiritual, even. There is no question that there is something about art that is ‘beyond’ – that is why we make art and why we look at it. But exactly what is going on here? There is no doubt that it has to do in part with the ‘belief’ system of the artist – and the viewer.

A workshop aimed at the center which is not in the middle. The light which casts no shadow.

Together we will explore the deliberate, intentional pursuit of the non-physical in the creative process. We’ll have some bust-out conversations spurred by readings from the likes Wayne Dyer, Thich Nhat Hanh, Kahlil Gibran, Mary Lou Cook, Rumi and Robert Pirsig. This will be the third in the series for this exciting and uplifting workshop experience.

Note that just because we are expressing freely and intuitively in paint it does not mean that we abandon principles of good design, attention to shapes, edges, values, color, line, pattern and all the other tenets of success in painting. Far from it. Inspired work happens within form. There is plenty of attention to practical technique and practices. There will be painting demonstration each day (if the group desires it).

Call 760.504.4015 or write to me using the form at the bottom of the page and receive a call or email to complete your registration and get instructions. Questions? Please use the same form or call.

Catered

The mid-day meal each day will be catered (organic vegetarian) so that our creative involvement can be as continuous as possible.

• The workshop is small by design. If you’re interested, please don’t delay • Bring objects of or images of personal meaning that you can use for your paintings • Observe painting demonstrations • Learn new ways forward on your own creative path • Enjoy the collective spirit of like-minded creatives

To Sign Up
Simply send a message using the form at the bottom of the page or call 760.504.4015 and you will receive an email or call back for registration and instructions. I look forward to painting with you.

Thank you for taking time to read Karen’s Stone Soup, see you next time…
May15

This is What I’ve Been Doing…..

Posted on by
Image

Recently I started taking abstract classes from Richard Hawk, and although I feel I have a long way to go, I also feel I’m on the right road.  My love is for “Figurative Abstract,”  and finally I’m experimenting with the subject matter and having fun doing it.  One of my art sisters decided to take classes with me, and together we go twice a month for direction and inspiration.

This video is of Richard Hawk.   I hope you can see why I’m impressed and why I’m growing as an artist.  If nothing else happens, I can tell you this…..I’m painting more often, I’m being more bold and less afraid while creating, and have no fear of what the end result is!   I have never believed that there are mistakes, only opportunity to learn and grow.  Richard believes the same.  He has me using pens, crayons, ink and all things are on the table in an effort to explore creativity.

It is one of the most fun things I’ve done in years.  Many articles have been written about finding inspiration, unblocking your creativity, and how to start looking at things in a way that sparks ones inspiration, and I’ve written several of them myself.  Richards classes have definitely taught me how to do that and more.

As the days and months go by, I plan on showing just how crazy I can get, and how crazy my art turns out. In an attempt to show all of this to my followers, my hope is that you can see growth in me as well.   I owe all this to my new mentor Richard Hawk the artist.

Thank you for stopping by and reading Stone Soup,  see you next time.

Jul25

An Unexpected Diva Day!

Posted on by
Image

 

Last Saturday was the monthly Diva Day.  The fact is most everyone was either out-of-town, or busy in another way.  So what do you do when your monthly girl day falls apart?   That’s what we did……Maxine and I had our Diva Day together, without the others.   My painting still needs a few finishing touches, they will come in the next day or two.  But it was lots of fun just painting with just the two of us…

It seemed very quiet, and after talking about how, sometimes quiet is good, we decided to put some music on and liven the place up.

Maxine was still working on her art when I left at one in the afternoon, but as always she produces wonderful pieces, and I love watching her work.

While I was packing up, I noticed ants just walking around her home like they owned the place.  We never tracked them down, and haven’t any idea where they came from, or what they were after…..But they cannot stay!

 

Later after lunch, my husband and I went to Trader Joes to pick up a few things, and the entire trip  was nothing but red lights.

Another sit and wait day.

Thank you for visiting Stone Soup, see you soon…..

May30

What About Prep Work?

Posted on by
Image

?

Prep work?  What do you Mean?

We always talk about inspiration, subject matter,  paints, their color,  pigmentation.  All these things are important.  But as a mixed media artist I know how much other stuff is needed just to start painting.

Do you save everything?  Are you obsessed with all kinds of things to put into your artwork?  How about fabric, have you tried that yet?    It seems that isn’t the thing I think about when I’m getting ready to create.  In reality, if you are a mixed media artist,  you collect everything.   Everything!  

My husband is very tolerant of all the mess I create.  Many times my studio is so disorganized, I move into the kitchen or dinning room.   In my defense, my studio is very small!  So small I find myself moving slowly, and very quietly into the best spots in our home.  Still not any complaining from my husband.   Doesn’t he sound like a great guy?  He is!

I have been sitting here tearing out words that look good to me in an attempt to construct a large piece of paper I can copy, tear, and insert into my mixed media work.   I don’t like to do it, and it takes time to tear and paste.  I did it, I completed and entire page….

Sketching has been on my agenda lately also.  I don’t sketch often and I need to keep my skills polished!

The classes I take are an attempt to learn new things.  A way to learn how to see differently, or look at things through a different lens.   As long as I’m learning, I’m growing.

Do you have a sketch book you can grab and a pencil or pen.   Try sitting for a few minutes and just put down on paper what you see.  Pick one thing, don’t try to draw everything, you build up to that!

Also, perfection is for cameras!!!

Don’t try to be perfect, that’s for cameras.  Everything is perfect in it own being.  The more creative the more interesting, and you don’t have to beat yourselves up!  Don’t expect to do a great job at first, it takes time, and practice.

 

 

Apr11

Something Outside the Box!

Posted on by
Image

You know I love to create in different ways, and I’m always up for a challenge. When I ran into this video, I thought it might be an interesting project in the near future.  A friend of mine has been telling me about bleach pen art, and how she’d like to play around with the idea.  I think it might be fun to try…….what about you?

Mar31

Watercolor Demo by Millie…

Posted on by
Image

 

I am amazed that the love of painting clearly is a driver in Millie’s life. I’ve grown to love her zest in life, the drive to still do videos, and the knowledge and confidence she shares with us as viewers.  I’ve always believed that there is at least one thing you can learn by being in a class, or watching a video such as this one.

Today I’m showing “Millie Gift Smith‘s,”   Part 1 –   Michigan Landscape in Watercolor.  In my view,  watching this video gives me more self-confidence.  Being perfect is a cruel allusion someone has dreamed up to make us feel less that we are!  It took me a while, but I finally learned (in my opinion), perfect is for cameras, interesting, clever, and creative is for artists!

Watch how Millie teaches us to easily  paint with watercolors.  You don’t need to know everything,  just where to get the information you need.  I’d say this video is a good way to start using watercolors.