Class on "Tippettes" to start!

In April 2013, I posted one "tippette" per day (a snippet of a tip) and so many of you reached out to say how much they helped you.  (I'm so glad!)

Starting Jan 7, I'll teach a Wednesday class (5:45pm-7:45pm) for 6 weeks and we'll cover at least 6 of the tippettes.  I'll demonstrate, and you'll grid off a section of paper to practice what I show you.  By the end of the 6 week session, you'll have a real good grasp of how to tackle these subjects in your paintings.

Examples of some subjects we'll cover:
- bricks and stones
- cast shadows
- glass
- fabric
- realism to abstract (almost)
- sunlight through objects

Location:  St. Padre Pio Church, 102 Trolley Road, Summerville, SC  29483 (just south of Stallsville Loop)

Hours:  5:45pm-7:45pm

Skill Level:  Intermediate to Advanced (if you've taken a beginner's class from me, or if you've been painting for a while, you'll benefit from these classes).

Fee:  $120 for all 6 classes.  Single classes are $50 each.
(Note:  Although I usually try to accommodate you, there can be no make-up class if you need to miss one or more of these.)  Class will fill on a first come, first served basis.  Your payment is required in order to hold your spot.

Supply List:  Furnished upon request or at signup.  Anything you already have is probably going to be just fine.

Contact Info:   To sign up, call me at (843) 871-5637 or email me at helenKbeacham@gmail.com (be sure to insert the K into the middle of the email address or it won't come to me).

I look forward to painting with you!  p.s.  I know that those of you that live out-of-town can't attend.  If you'd like me to teach in YOUR town, reach out to me and we'll make it happen!

www.helenKbeacham.com

Come paint with me! 

In 2015, we're going to Venice, Niagara Falls, Montreal and so on!!!  
Find details HERE.

SEE MY LATEST POST HERE.   

Tippette #12 - Sunlight through Objects

Tippette = Snippet of a Tip (in watercolor).  One per day...during April...right here!

Sunlight through Objects

As painters, we're captivated with light and shadow.  Light that seems to be shining THROUGH objects is even more enchanting...and elusive.  In these two examples, I hope to show you my attempts at painting this mystery.

"Hearts of Gold" by Helen K. Beacham - Sold.

Detail of "Hearts of Gold" by Helen K Beacham

First of all, you have to keep in mind your objective, and not randomly fill in those areas (with dark paint) where you want it to look like the sunlight is shining through your subject.  A thumbnail sketch beforehand can be very handy in a case like this (to show the light and dark patterns that you'd like to preserve).  The use of yellow seems obvious but any warm colors will be useful here (burnt sienna, cadmium red, orange).  I like to leave a glow around the subject as well...notice the glow of yellow that is allowed to bleed outside of the subject's perimeters.

Below is another example where I played up the "feeling" of sunlight through my subject, even though the sun was to the left of the subject.  It's effective nevertheless, and you can see a close up of the area in the last image.

"Ocean Breezes" by Helen K Beacham - Sold.

Detail of "Ocean Breezes" by Helen K Beacham

Come with Helen K. Beacham and Kelly Medford to paint Venice this October...

click HERE for details!

www.helenKbeacham.com

                                                   READ MY LATEST POST HERE.