Helen K. Beacham

Student's Acrylic Painting a Success!

2012-01-14T18:23:00.000-05:00

This painting was recently completed by one of my students during an acrylics workshop! I love how she treated the background, and how the focus stays on that gorgeous edge of the tree and its delicate limb! Can't wait to see what she creates during this coming week's workshop with me!

"The Thicket" wins an Award!

2012-01-13T15:06:00.001-05:00

Thank you to judge Michael Haga, Asst Dean, College of Charleston, for my Honorable Mention! My watercolor on Yupo ("The Thicket") was entered into the 2012 Charleston Artist Guild's Member Exhibition. Congratulations to all of the winners!

In this painting, as in all of my watercolors, I chose to include my various graphite and charcoal marks. I think our "marks" are our own personal calligraphy. They say so much about me, the artist.

"The Thicket" (watercolor on Yupo) by Helen K. Beacham

QR Codes - what lurks behind them?

2012-01-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

As if we didn't already have to be careful about plenty nowadays (concerning the internet), here's something else that McAfee recently posted:

"You know those graphic black-and-white codes that seem to be popping up everywhere these days? They are known as QR codes, or scannable barcodes, which you scan with your cell phone to take you to webpages with special deals or content. The problem is that scammers are taking advantage of our curiosity for QR codes and are embedding links to dangerous websites and applications."

Read more about the dangers....

http://www.darkreading.com/mobile-security/167901113/security/news/232301147/qr-code-malware-picks-up-steam.html

From watercolor to acrylics!

2012-01-11T19:47:00.001-05:00

"Swamp Jewels V" (acrylic) by Helen K. Beacham

I just finished teaching a watercolor workshop this week, where we learned to paint orchids in a beautiful, loose fashion. This coming Mon-Tues-Wed, I'm teaching an acrylics class where our focus will be to paint a successful painting with fresh color, with as few strokes as possible (because sometimes the simpler, the better!). My students excite me when their eyes light up during their own, personal aha moments!

My Newest Painting! Enjoy!

2011-12-03T12:25:00.000-05:00

"Lowcountry Splendor" (acrylic) by Helen K. Beacham

When I wander through the plantations and gardens of our beautiful Lowcountry, I am often drawn to the scenes that are off the beaten path. This particular scene is magical and can be found at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens on Hwy 61 between Charleston and Summerville, SC. Driving down Hwy 61 is a breathtaking experience, in and of itself. It builds up the suspense as you approach Magnolia!

Italian Villa for Sale

2011-11-06T14:21:00.000-05:00

The "Under the Tuscan Sun" house, in Cortona, Italy, is for sale! The village of Cortona is where my watercolor workshop will take place in April 2012. Email me for details!

Click on: Bramasole for Sale to view the house's quaint offerings.

Thinking Italian!

2011-11-06T09:22:00.000-05:00

Dreaming about my upcoming workshop in Italy next April! Here's a recipe to give you the urge to join us! (Thanks to Linda Doeser's "Food of the World: ITALY")

VENETIAN SEAFOOD STEW IN SAFFRON SAUCE (Serves 4)

8 oz live clams
8 oz live mussels

Scrub the clams and mussels under cold running water and debeard the mussels. Discard any damaged or broken shellfish and those that do not shut immediately when sharply tapped. Set aside.

2 T. olive oil
1 onion, sliced
pinch of saffron threads
1 T. chopped fresh thyme
salt
2 garlic cloves, chopped finely

Heat the olive oil in a large, flameproof casserole. Add the onion, saffron, thyme, and a pinch of salt. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, until the onion has softened. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

28 oz canned tomatoes, drained and chopped
3/4 c. dry white wine
salt and pepper

Add the tomatoes and pour in the wine and stock. Season to taste with salt and pepper, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.

12 red snapper fillets, cut into bite-size chunks
16 oz angler fish fillet, cut into bite-size chunks (note: monkfish or another meaty fish may be substituted)
8 oz squid rings
2 T. shredded fresh basil leaves
Fresh bread!

Add the snapper and angler fish and let simmer for 3 minutes. Add the clams, mussels, and squid rings and let simmer for about 5 minutes, until the shellfish have opened. Discard any clams or mussels that remain shut. Stir in the basil and serve immediately with plenty of fresh bread to mop up the delicious broth.

Happy Cooking! (This might even make a great painting before you devour it!)
All meals will be provided during our 6 day watercolor workshop in Cortona, Italy! One evening, during our workshop, a local Cortona chef will teach us to cook our own Italian meal! Bravissimo!!!
http://toscanaamericana.com/helenbeachamwatercolor.html

What to do next weekend!

2011-10-29T14:18:00.000-04:00

"Uptight, Everything is Alright" (oil 24x24) by Judith Perry

Wondering what to do next weekend? Come to Indigo Fine Art Gallery for our Champagne Reception for Judith Perry's show on Nov 4 (5-8pm). Show title: "Wait Till the Midnight Hour". Show of figurative works.

Then, on Nov 5-6, head to the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival:

http://www.hiltonheadmonthly.com/around-town/calendar/111-calendar/2040-calendar-of-events-november-2011-in-the-lowcountry

Classes for Everyone!

2011-10-05T10:25:00.000-04:00

Take a peek...then take your pick! Of classes, that is.
Click on: BEACHAM LESSONS & WORKSHOPS

I love to take classes in the fall, don't you?

I'm offering watercolor and acrylics classes that start in November...with a schedule all the way through April 2012. Check out details on my website's link shown above! Come to Charleston and take a class with me.

The Dreaded Bio

2011-09-28T20:29:00.000-04:00

Just one more chore that artists hate to face: the dreaded bio! We hate to brag on ourselves!!! How do you all deal with it?

The City Gallery requested updated bios for our upcoming group show through the South Carolina Watermedia Society. I just spent an hour updating mine. Done!

City Gallery at Waterfront Park (Charleston, SC)

Entering Contests

2011-09-27T09:11:00.000-04:00

Every now and then (and not often enough), I slow down and take the time to enter contests. I'm too used to taking my work to my galleries and showing them for sale. Lately, I'm trying to make myself do some inner reflections, and narrow down my work to my very best pieces. Then I take professional images of them and send them off into cyberspace where they will be juried and judged by "often-unknown" judges. You "offer them up" and then you wait...and wait...and wait. And just when you've forgotten all about this episode in your life, you get "the call" (or the email) that lets you know it was all worth it! And, if you never get the call, you've already forgotten about the whole thing anyway! Until next time, when you once again slow down your life to start the whole process again. This time, I'm entering "Pajama Dance". I took the painting to a show recently and, based on strong reactions from both women AND men, I'm giving this one a shot! Hurry up, December results! (And for those of you in the Summerville, SC area, I will display this piece during Art Central Gallery's 13th Anniversary Party on Third Thursday - Oct 20).

"Pajama Dance" (watercolor on Yupo) by Helen K. Beacham

Tuesday's Musings

2011-09-20T09:55:00.000-04:00

Recently found out that my painting "The Reveal" has been accepted into the South Carolina Watermedia Society Exhibition being held this Nov-Dec at the Charleston City Gallery!

"The Reveal" (Watermedia on Rice Paper) by Helen K. Beacham
Also, I just finished the weekend at the Atlanta Arts Festival, where I ran into the "Chicken Lady", Madison Latimer (a fellow artist). Does anyone think she looks like her subjects???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fun lady!

2011-08-08T20:28:00.000-04:00

Have you ever met yourself coming & going? That's how I feel lately.

- Teaching "Watercolor on Yupo" workshop this coming Monday.
- Teaching a workshop in Charlotte at the end of the month.
- Traveling to Memphis to help with the babies (!)
- Painting for the Atlanta Arts Festival in Sept.
- Choosing which painting to submit to the South Carolina Watermedia Society show this month.
- Submitting 3 paintings for fundraisers.
- Continuing to plan for my Italy workshop (April 2012)!!!!!!!!!
- ....
It goes on and on. But you know what? That's my life and it just wouldn't be the same if it were any different!

"Look Within" (Acrylic on Canvas) by Helen K. Beacham

Isle of Palms Watercolor Workshop

2011-07-31T16:15:00.000-04:00

Kind of unusual photos for the Isle of Palms...but this is what awaits us when we head over there in 2 weeks for my "watercolor on Yupo" workshop! Ahhh, another mini-vacation!

My Student! Multi-talented!

2011-07-29T18:16:00.000-04:00

One of my teenage art students, Hayley Daderko, is not only a fabulous artist, but also a talented singer! Proud of you, Hayley!

http://www.journalscene.com/news/-American-Idol--competitors-reflect-on-experience

Pretty in Blue

2011-07-22T15:03:00.000-04:00

A blast from the past! Went through my old "transparencies" (anyone remember those days?) when I came across this painting that I had already forgotten about. Since I've lost track of who owns this piece, let me know if it's You!

Watercolor on Yupo Workshop

2011-05-24T19:14:00.001-04:00

Just finished a 3-day watercolor workshop for my students at the Isle of Palms in sunny South Carolina! In between painting our little hearts out, we enjoyed luxurious walks on the beach before and after class. Here are some photos which show the work of one of my talented students! She says it's not finished yet, so maybe I'll post the final masterpiece as soon as it's deemed done! Enjoy!

Research Photo


Watercolor on Yupo (still in progress but nearly done!)

2 New paintings

2011-04-10T09:45:00.001-04:00

Just finished two more paintings in my latest series (on Yupo paper).

"An Invitation II" (watercolor on Yupo)

"Welcome Home II" (watercolor on Yupo)

How do you know when to quit?

2011-03-25T10:38:00.000-04:00

How do you know you're "done"?! I get asked that all the time. As the painting progresses, I slow down more & more....that's the first sign. Would another stroke help? Then, I snap a picture of it and make it my screensaver. I spend some time with it this way...and darned if I don't see just one or two more things that I never saw in my studio (the smaller size matters!). Back upstairs I go and execute what I saw in my head. One more photo, and I repeat the process till there are no more "aha" moments to be had. Then...it's done.

Take a 3-Day Workshop with me!

2011-03-23T10:33:00.000-04:00

"Resilience" (watercolor by Helen K. Beacham)

Let's paint in a unique way, on a unique watercolor surface - Translucent Yupo! See how I created the artwork in my newest series entitled "The Essence of Vapor". I'll demonstrate my technique every day, for 3 days. For workshop details, please visit my website (www.helenKbeacham.com) and click on LESSONS. The location of our workshop is right across the street from the beach on the Isle of Palms, just outside Charleston, SC. Stroll on the beach to get inspiration, then come to class ready to create, create, create! This workshop is appropriate for beginners, all the way up to advanced painters.

Appearing in a book near you!

2011-03-14T19:27:00.000-04:00

One of my paintings entitled "The Swimming Hole" will be featured in this new hand-bound book called "The New Guide to Charleston". The Charleston City Paper writes a lovely explanatory article about it...check it out...(note: "Surcee" means a small surprise or a gift for no reason!)

Surcee Press kick starts a new brand of local lit

For the Love of Books

by Erica Jackson Curran

You won’t find the real Charleston in a Fodor’s guidebook or in a tourist rag sitting in a hotel lobby. There’s a special side to the Holy City that only locals know about, located somewhere beyond the City Market and Rainbow Row. It’s that side that Savannah Rusher and Anna Kate Lister hope to capture with their New Guide to Charleston.
“There’s such a rich artisan culture here, and I don’t think it’s portrayed often in literature about Charleston,” Rusher says. “Not from a local standpoint."
The book is the first major project from Surcee Press, founded by Rusher and Lister in an attempt to preserve the art of tangible publication. Funded in part by donations made by supporters via Kickstarter, the hand-bound books will include a diverse range of creative memoirs from locals, a time capsule of sorts illustrating how they’re influenced and inspired by the city. Rusher and Lister received a flood of submissions after distributing screen printed posters around town last year.
“We have a pretty incredible body of local work that ranges from recipes to paintings to photographs to essays — all kinds of different stuff,” Lister says.
Kristen Gehrman contributed an essay about the transformation of the Garden Theater into Urban Outfitters. Mary Edna Fraser offered shots of her batiks based on aerial photos of Charleston. Other contributors include Kristy Bishop, Conrad Guevara, Elizabeth Gouldon, Matthew Foreman, and Lauren Fuller, along with about 20 others. Besides highlighting local talent, most of the pieces are based on specific locations, creating a map of inspiring places around town.
“Some places which the work is based on are very personal, like a downtown home or secret dock, while others are based on public places like coffee shops, parks, or swimming holes,” Rusher says. “We have a variety of scopes on Charleston as transcribed through a multitude of mediums.”
Lister and Rusher developed their own love affair with the Holy City while attending the College of Charleston. Lister studied creative writing and Rusher studied communications and studio art. After separate post-grad stints in New York (during which Rusher worked for Random House), the pair returned to the Lowcountry and founded Surcee Press.
They’ve been honing their binding skills by making handmade journals for the Lowcountry Artist Market. Once they have secured funding for the New Guide to Charleston, they plan to spend a week in the North Carolina mountains putting together the books.
“It’s a lot of tedious labor, but it’s definitely worth it,” Rusher says. “It’s like the antithesis of reading something on a Kindle. There’s so much handiwork that goes into it.”
At the rate of five or more books per day, they plan to make 75-100 limited edition hardcovers and offer an unlimited, by-request run of paperbacks.
“All the money that we’re getting toward Kickstarter will hopefully help keep the cost of the books down,” Rusher says. “We want the books to be accessible to as many people as we can, and we hope we can avoid high prices.”
After the guide, Lister and Rusher will continue making books and expanding their company and their library. They’ll also host local literary events — on March 20, they’re hosting a Scrabble tournament at Taco Boy.
Lister says, “We want to keep building out from Charleston, making art literature books that are as gorgeous to hold as they are to look at.”

In the Studio Again!

2011-02-11T16:33:00.002-05:00

After a yummy week (visiting with my sister who came down from Montreal) I'm back in the studio again! Still working on my new watercolor collection for my show at the end of April ("The Essence of Vapor"). It will hang at Indigo Fine Art Gallery from April 30 through May!

The Good Earth

2011-01-28T18:31:00.000-05:00

I just spent time (again) with Pearl S. Buck's "The Good Earth" (audiobook). It was read by Kate Redding, in a beautiful, melodic cadence that inspired me to paint just a little differently this time around. Dreamy, smooth, ethereal paintings. 4 down, and many to go. I shall display them later this spring at Indigo Fine Art Gallery. Now, if I can just hang on to the feeling I had while listening to that book, I'll be good for 4 more paintings! (they're in my head!). Are you all inspired by literature like I am?

"Wildflowers" (watercolor) by Helen K. Beacham

Honorable Mention!

2011-01-17T16:09:00.000-05:00

"Live Oak Canopy" (shown in the post below) won an Honorable Mention award at the "Member Exhibition" of the Charleston Artist Guild on Friday! Judge was Everett G. Powers, who said this about the piece: "This is a competent handling of a typical Southern subject that stands above the average! Its unusual palette, with autumn colors, has a luminescence with the earth tones, especially under the trees. Although it is typical in its composition, with the accomplished use of the medium it works well here! The artist also used effective placement of the moss--she drops it in from the edge of the painting, which places the viewer within the canopy of the trees."
The painting will now be available at:
Indigo Fine Art Gallery,
102 Church St., Charleston, SC
843-805-9696

The Finished Painting

2010-12-19T13:05:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I started a demo of watercolor on Yupo paper (as shown in one of the posts below). Today, I'm posting the finished painting which, to me, captured the feeling of the day perfectly! Enjoy!

"Live Oak Canopy"
(watercolor) by Helen K. Beacham

Woodlands Inn Demonstration

2010-11-15T09:06:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I enjoyed painting for the guests at the Woodlands Inn...

The view before guests arrived for their gourmet Sunday Brunch at the Woodlands Inn.

Nickolai with his soothing guitar

Chuck & Connie, patrons from Mt. Pleasant, admire my "Golden Silence"

Work in progress...based on the photo shown below in the previous post. Will eventually show the final result!

Demonstration at the Woodlands Inn

2010-11-11T08:56:00.000-05:00

Scene for my Sunday demonstration: Middleton Place Plantation in Summerville

This Sunday (Nov 14, 2010), I will demonstrate my watercolor techniques during a gourmet Sunday Brunch at the 5-star Woodlands Inn in Summerville, SC (I'll be in the dining room area). I will paint this scene (above) from Middleton Place Plantation. I might also work on a painting of one of the sunrooms at the Inn. Here's a picture of my work in progress so far, and the photo of the room below it. Call the Woodlands for reservations for their special Sunday Brunch (843-875-2600). http://www.woodlandsinn.com

Waterfront Gallery Farewell

2010-08-08T09:32:00.000-04:00

Last night, we spent a bittersweet evening with Waterfront's artists and our art lovers who wished us all farewell... Waterfront just turned 15 years old and there were lots of memories floating around the gallery. Many of our previous artist/members also came to the party to show their work alongside ours, which really added to the special feeling of the event. I invite all of you to come see me at the new gallery I'm opening in September http://indigofineartgallery.com/
See you on the "other side"!

"Before the Storm"

2010-08-08T09:12:00.000-04:00

Last night, at WATERFRONT ART GALLERY's farewell party, I met the nicest couple (ok, I met LOTS of nice couples but for now, I'm referring to THIS special couple...). They said they walked around the whole gallery, and the only painting that they BOTH liked, was my "Before the Storm". I told them that this scene represents what the ocean looked like, right before Hurricane Bruce (I think I have that name right!?) made its way along the eastern shoreline in August 2009. We rarely see the waves so boisterous and playful at the Isle of Palms. I have great respect for the ocean and whenever I need to calm down my day, I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of the water hitting the shore. I'm glad this painting is in a good home where it will be loved!

Indigo Fine Art Gallery

2010-07-28T09:24:00.000-04:00


INDIGO FINE ART GALLERY 102 Church St., Charleston, SC 29401 843.805.9696

I'm thrilled to announce that I and my two artistic partners are opening Indigo Fine Art Gallery in September! It's as if every single step I've ever taken has led me to this point in my life. You're all invited to our Grand Opening on Friday, October 1!

Indigo Fine Art Gallery
..."This new gallery, housed at 102 Church Street (just South of Broad), evokes Charleston's own elegance and charm. Featuring florals, landscapes, waterscapes, architectural and figurative works by established artists and owners Helen K. Beacham, Paula Lonneman and Judith Perry."

Sisters AND Artists!

2010-06-19T10:50:00.000-04:00

I enjoyed spending 2-on-1 time with Emma & Henley, who are sisters & artists! They are my neighbors, and with the girls living across the street, I get to watch them ride their skateboards (although nowadays I guess they're called something else when they're split down the middle...??), and ride their bikes, and chase Goldie! But the best time is when I get to watch them paint.

Rejuvenation Ahead finds a home!

2010-06-16T22:45:00.000-04:00

My painting that I posted below ("Rejuvenation Ahead") has found a home with Nick B! This young man loves both watercolor and graphite (especially graphite from what I gathered). This painting incorporates both of his loves. Walked in, fell in love and had to have it! Nick, if you read this, I hope the painting brings you joy every time you look at it. Let's stay in touch!

Rejuvenation Ahead

2010-06-07T18:40:00.000-04:00

Just hung this painting at Waterfront Art Gallery in downtown Charleston today.

The spotlight is on RELAXATION!
"Rejuvenation Ahead" (watercolor & graphite) 24 x 30

Painting & Living Downtown

2010-06-07T18:35:00.000-04:00

Ran into artist friend Karen Hagan today in downtown Charleston...she is lucky enough to have a working studio in downtown Charleston on Broad St. I think that would be the best! Good luck at Piccolo, Karen!

New Painting

2010-05-31T15:34:00.000-04:00

"Spring Lyrics" (watercolor & graphite)

This little setting is almost right around the corner from my house in downtown Summerville. It seems so unassuming, but with the light behind the wisteria, I just knew it would end up being a painting.

Painting goes to fellow artist

2010-05-11T20:38:00.001-04:00

Fellow painter, Anne Peterson, fell in love (!)...with my painting "Interwoven Fibers". She had to have it!!! I'm glad it's in a good home now and I can visit it any time I want to! (aren't they just like babies to us?)

My Website

2010-04-20T21:57:00.000-04:00

Have you gone to my website lately? You can sign up to receive notices when I add new images! (just scroll down to the bottom of any page on my website) www.helenKbeacham.com

Spring is here!

2010-04-18T19:13:00.000-04:00

Lady Banksea Roses - outside my back door. Gotta love spring!

My painting goes to a good home!

2010-04-11T09:25:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I sold a painting to a beautiful couple (who, I hope, won't mind that I'm sharing this moment). They had just lost their beloved "Lace" only 2 months ago. When the lady turned the corner and saw my painting, the tears just flowed. She said that she used to kiss her cat goodnight, just like this and that she missed her terribly. Lace was a tabby just like in this painting, which was titled "Who's in Charge?"...something that she felt was so appropriate when you love a cat that much. I'm happy to know my painting is in a good home.

"Who's in Charge?" (acrylic mixed media)

Getting ready for the Open Art Studio Tour!

2010-03-29T09:46:00.000-04:00

My calendar has finally cleared up enough to allow me to start focusing on getting my personal studio ready for our 2nd Annual Open "Art Studio" Tour being held on Saturday, April 17 here in Summerville. 5 of us artists from Art Central Gallery and our potter are opening our personal studios to the public (pottery firing demonstrations will be held at 11am and 3pm!). This is our annual fundraiser for "Meals on Wheels of Summerville"...we are selling tickets to the public ($15 in advance or $20 at the door). This ticket gains you entrance to all the studios where you will meet the artists and see not only where we create, but what is currently on our drawing boards. You'll be served light refreshments at each location and you're going to leave with a better appreciation for how we approach our work. We encourage you to tell your friends about this event so that we can raise as much money as possible for Meals on Wheels. Our favorite name for this event is "Art on Wheels!" ...your ticket is actually a map showing all the open studio locations which are all located in Summerville. Call Art Central Gallery to buy your tickets with a credit card today (843-871-0297).

Comments from last year's attendees:

"The artists were open to questions and showed their techniques. I thoroughly enjoyed the Silver Pail Pottery’s demonstration."

"I’ll be getting extra tickets for my friends. The fact that it went to Meals On Wheels of Summerville is wonderful!"

"My husband and I were seriously interested in the art and the accomplishments of the artists. Loved the openness, the friendliness, the one-on-one...this made our tour very enjoyable."

Flowertown Festival in Summerville, SC

2010-03-24T17:08:00.000-04:00

Come see me at the Flowertown Festival in Summerville this weekend!
Fri & Sat: 9am-5pm
Sunday: 9am-4pm
Location of my booth: On the paved parking lot next to the tennis courts and the Cuthbert Center
(corner of Main St. & 5th Avenue). Booth number is G6.

Update on class painting

2010-03-23T12:18:00.000-04:00

Initial wash (steps 1 & 2 below) and then the result of the first wash (or sometimes called a "glaze"). I usually always start this way and progress to darker glazes and more detail. You can't focus just on one section of the painting...you've got to move around and cover the whole page before you know what to do next.

This is actually a painting I've painted before (about 3-4 yrs ago?) and I'm forcing myself not to look at pictures of the first one. Normally, if I re-do a scene, I'll want to make it look entirely differently than the first one, but because this is for a class, I want to give the students the experience of learning solid techniques that they can incorporate into their own memory banks...subsequent steps will be reflected in future blog updates.

Watercolor class tonight

2010-03-15T09:47:00.000-04:00

Time for our new set of watercolor classes to start tonight! We're going to focus on subjects such as this photo of a Charleston garden. We don't want the background to fight the ironwork up close, so we're going to paint it much looser and allow the iron to play the leading role. I'll post updates on our progress soon.

Studio visitor?

2010-03-09T20:47:00.000-05:00

One of my cats, Squirtie, found this very scared little anole in my studio. Ray was out of town so I had to save the critter by myself (Squirtie had other plans in mind)! I picked him up by the tail (maybe it was a "her"?) and, lo & behold, he held super-still the whole time I carried him to the downstairs back door! Even when I "deposited" him on the porch, he sat there and did not move a muscle, pretending to be "unnoticed".

Suggestions for Paintings?

2010-03-08T16:08:00.000-05:00

Want to get involved in what I paint?? Send me "words" which hopefully will inspire me to create a painting as a result! At a future showing, I will display these paintings! These words can be anything! A mood. A place. A verb. You get to choose! (then I get to choose!). You can email me at helenKbeacham@gmail.com (remember to insert the K in the middle).

Comments about my textured acrylics workshop....

2010-03-04T19:46:00.000-05:00

No, I'm not that short! (I was kneeling down at this point, for some reason...)
Today is the day after my workshop...I just sat down to read through feedback given to me by my students (on a Survey I asked them to fill out), and I'm blown away. That's what makes it so gratifying to teach. I hope you all keep on using what you learned this week! Keep me posted on new work created with this technique, ok?

A few more pics from my workshop

2010-03-03T21:10:00.000-05:00

I stayed at the Isle of Palms during the workshop that I just gave and this was the view from our sunroom one evening!

This was me, freezing my first day of the workshop...but hey...if you're going to be on the beach, why not walk it?!

Can you feel the chill in the air? This is the South! Where's our warm weather going to come back?

This little guy didn't mind the cold...want to play??? My mommy and daddy are tired of throwing the ball for me...will you?

This is the house we rented for our stay at the Isle of Palms. I always feel like I've just come from a mini-vacation when I spend time at the ocean. It's good for the soul (even if it was freezing cold!). Maybe next time the weather will cooperate better (I know this picture looks like it was warm...but trust me, it wasn't!) All the more reason to stay inside and paint some more!

Acrylics workshop is over!

2010-03-03T20:04:00.000-05:00

Well, our long-awaited acrylics/mixed media workshop has come and gone! My students learned a new technique and some painted on large canvases for the very first time (using scary big brushes, no less!). It was a freeing-up of the spirit and a realization that there is life outside of our proverbial comfort zone! I arrived home this afternoon and already miss my old friends and the new ones I've made this week. See you next time around!

Acrylics (mixed media) workshop coming up!

2010-02-27T15:45:00.000-05:00

Starting to pull my supplies that I need to take to the Acrylics workshop which I'm teaching at the Isle of Palms on Monday. Seems like my calendar stays so full that I only have time to focus on one thing on any given day. Today's the day for the "gathering" stage. I'm really looking forward to meeting my brand new students (and seeing my old ones, of course!) I even have a student coming all the way from India...he found me on the internet and is taking 3 different workshops during his visit to the U.S. After I finish my "gathering", Ray will take me to see Elvis tonight! Nice way to ease into the weekend!

Art Walk in Charleston - Fri, March 5

2010-02-26T22:10:00.000-05:00

Come see my new art at Waterfront Art Gallery this coming Friday, March 5. We'll have a reception as we welcome back the first Art Walk of the year again! Goodbye winter, hello Spring!!!

Hot on Broad - Newest Painting

2010-02-26T18:29:00.000-05:00

Just finished this acrylic/mixed media....it's called "Hot on Broad" - I love these quaint little settings throughout Charleston. It measures 20x50 (23 x 53 framed).

Special 1-day Watercolor Class - April 1

2010-02-26T08:25:00.000-05:00

Last night I decided to offer a special 1-day watercolor class (Thurs., April 1 from 6:30-8:30pm) in my Summerville studio. I have several people that are disappointed because my March classes are already full. Wish I could commit to another full 4 weeks for a 2nd class, but my calendar already is filled with pink this's and blue that's that already have to be fulfilled. This April 1 class is for those of you that have been painting in watercolor for a while and want to either improve your own style, or learn how to think about painting in a more loose, "painterly" style.

"Creative Avenues"

2010-02-25T15:59:00.000-05:00

So sad. Today's the last day for our 4-wk Watercolor class entitled "Creative Avenues". I taught my students how to take our paintings from the "technically correct" stage, to the point where we get a 2nd and 3rd look from the judge because something touched his or her heart. That's a big breakthrough in how we approach our art.