10/30/2021 7:54:00 AM
Every day, I try to progress from the work I am currently doing. While I feel like my technical skills are improving and that I have a recognizable style, there are other aspects to learn to evolve. In the past year, I've taking some interesting workshops and lately, I've been taking composition workshops.
This is why next weekend, I start a 6-week class with Angus McEwan, one of the world's watercolour masters. I'm so excited to learn some new skills and have my work critique by someone who is one of the best in the world.
When I start that class, I may not have much free time to paint some personal projects. This is why this weekend I started a new painting with a silver teapot and a few small cups. Here is where I'm at (minus the shadow of me taking the painting). You can imagine that it may take me a week or so to paint the details of the fabric.
In just over a week, a dozen of my small paintings will be hanging in
Da Artisti Gallery in Cumberland ON. Do drop by to pick up something for a Christmas gift.
Here are two new paintings that you'll find in that exhibition.
During the next couple of months I hope to be painting more small paintings and will be teaching two workshops before the holidays. In addition, on November 10th, I'll be giving a demo to the members of the Kanata Art Club.
Have a great week and stay tuned on the progress of my latest painting.
Danielle
10/23/2021 8:01:03 PM
Art changes how we see our surroundings and amplifies what we notice. I am so fortunate because I get to make art every day in a studio that I love, for people who share my love for my unique topics and seek out the joy in my paintings. This is why I believe in affordable art.
With my sense of wanting to give back, I also enjoy helping students develop their natural creativity and increase their skill levels, but most important I enjoy sharing my passion for watercolours in hoping they will also develop that same passion.
In a couple of weeks, I'll have the honour of participating in Da Artisti Gallery's exhibit about small artworks. This will be a great opportunity to scoop up incredible original pieces of art and gifts for the holidays.
Here are three of my latest artworks that you will find at Da Artisti as of November 10th. This first one was completed during a workshop that I finished teaching yesterday.
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| Charming Old Lock |
These two landscapes are each 12" X 10".
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| Quit Corner of the Lake - 12" X 10" |
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| Splash - 12" X 10" |
Have a great week,
Danielle
10/16/2021 5:25:27 PM
I just finished teaching my class on cut crystal. It was very rewarding to see the participants' art works evolve week after week. I sense that all of them are living a creative life with the ambition to perfecting their skills. Their enthusiasm will certainly take them to interesting place.
Good paintings are life enhancing. It follows that if the artist is unhappy, he/she gives it away with every little stroke of his brush. This is why they say, "paint with gusto". Therefore, put in the work to give yourself the courage to be happy when you paint.
Here is my latest demo painting for my crystal class.
Yesterday, I was at it again, teaching a new class on an old charming lock. Painting texture was on the agenda.
Other goals in the coming weeks including painting a few more small artworks (12" X 12") for a new exhibit at
Da Artisti Gallery in Cumberland, ON.
Have a great week,
Danielle
10/9/2021 8:01:19 PM
Whether it's their intention or not, artists develop a unique style. Style is developed over time. Sometimes this happens on accident, sometimes on purpose, and often times both.
You can recognize style by the message, techniques, color choices, compositions, subject matter and/or media. The best part about style is that it continues to evolve over time.
It's easy to identify someone who is in the exploratory phase of their art. When an artist jumps around between many subjects, or when their pieces are lined up together and appear as if they all could come from different artists as if they haven’t quite figured out their style yet. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this! It takes time and a lot of work to develop a style.
To cultivate a unique style it's important that the artist has a solid grounding in the basics. By basics, I mean that a person is comfortable and somewhat proficient with drawing, composition, colour control and other technical skills.
Here is a little painting for an upcoming workshop. Stay tuned for more information.
Today I spent some time workshop on a special project. Here is my WIP for my Kanata Art Club class on Cut Crystal.
If you want to hear from my upcoming workshops and when there is still some availability, I suggest that you sign up to my newsletter.
I still have a few spots in the following workshops and classes
- Old lock on Sat Oct 16 and 23
- Squashes on Sun Oct 24
- Fruits to introduce in your still life will be held on Thursday evenings from November 4 to December 9th. During these classes, I provide you a more comprehensive detailed level of instruction and feedback.
Did you know that my workshops are recorded and that participants have unlimited access to those recordings?
Have a great week,
Danielle
10/2/2021 9:03:51 PM
When I consider what experience has helped me improve my paintings, what clearly comes to mind is the honest critique that more advanced artists provided to me. This is why I enjoy providing constructive feedback to my students.
It’s beneficial for novice and emerging artists to receive feedback to help them understand how to improve over time. Critiquing is a vital part of the artistic process that is ultimately needed to further one's skills. Personal introspection is useful as is support from those around us. However, what I often see is hope for more validation of those efforts rather than a true evaluation of what is technically weak in a painting.
Prior to receiving feedback, it helps to know what you like about your painting before asking for feedback. The better you know what it is you like or dislike before receiving feedback, the better able you will be to put it into perspective.
Most people do not like receiving a critique, still critiquing is one of the best processes artists have to give them a jump in their development.
These past two weeks, I have been fortunate to have been able to set up a Pop Up Art Gallery in a local shopping mall. However, since the foot traffic in malls these days isn't what it used to be, I took advantage of the quiet times to paint rocks in water. I want to thank all of those who came out to say hi to us in the Pop Up.
I hadn't painted rocks in months and enjoyed painting these.
Now that I'm almost back to my regular painting schedule, I look forward to painting subjects I haven't had time for in the past weeks.
Lastly, stay tuned for some
new classes on fruits coming soon.
Have a great week,
Danielle
