Last Week’s Creative Update

Below are some of the photos I took last week.

First, is Mary Shapiro, (more about Mary), who is an incredible portrait artist. Notice how she has turned her art work upside down in order to figure out and paint an area that was giving her trouble. Also, see how she has included a vine of roses in the painting that is not in the original photo, left of painting.

If you want to improvise when you are painting, you will be much more successful  if you have practiced drawing and painting, not only from photographs but also live subjects and using your imagination. All three skills are helpful for aspiring artists.

Below is Maddie, (read my blog about Maddie taking a chance), who has taken another chance and tried painting a landscape in acrylics. She was not too keen on the idea at first. She felt she was not good at painting, just like all of us when we are not comfortable with something new.

Once again, however, she was willing to take a risk. Look at the lovely painting she  completed in just two classes. She was so happy with her progress that she asked to come a second time in one week. Luckily, we had room and her mom said OK. Great job Maddie! We don’t know if we don’t try and sometimes that means trying several times before we succeed. Maddie is learning that everything painted with acrylics is fixable. I think that was the knowledge that gave her the confidence to go for it.

Eleanor, (below, right) from the Thursday afternoon class brought one of her best friends, Nicole, to class  and is shown below explaining how to develop a shaving cream painting. Welcome Nicole! I hope you enjoyed the class as much as we enjoyed you.

Also, from the Thursday afternoon class, below, are Ginny and Harris putting their creative heads together to build something for a game. These two are team players. They get along well. They are thoughtful and interested in each others ideas. These are the kids (read more about them in my Creative Pleasure blog) I told you about – the ones I am always learning something new from.

Alice (left) had been doing a watercolor, but in this photo it looks more like she is laying the paint on thickly like acrylic painting. With all that goes on in the studio it is hard keeping up with who is doing what from moment to moment. It sure is an interesting place to be! I wouldn’t have it any other way!

The happy young gal below is Kincaid. She is showing us how pretty and fun shaving cream can be. Boy, do the kids enjoy this activity. Look at the photos below. We were all just as happy as she was with her heart shape. Unfortunately we can’t always do this activity because it is very messy. Luckily, it was quiet on Thursday, so Kincaid had a ball. Most of the kids at one time or another have had a chance to try it. Please let me know if you haven’t and want to. I’ll try to make it happen.

I have been wanting to show this photo of Beck (below) but I couldn’t until after Christmas because he was giving the paintings as gifts. Look at that wonderful huge pear. He is only 7 and doing really well with painting. Everyone in my classes loved this pear and some of them are still talking about it. Great job Beck, and thanks again for my Christmas Color Wheel gift.

Thanks, as always, for reading my blog. We have had over 2500 people read it in just 4 months. That seems amazing to me! It is because of your encouragement and support that I feel inspired to do this. Like I’ve said I am not a writer but I sure am loving writing about all of you. Not to mention I get to give a lesson every once in awhile.