new workshops and classes!

I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Charleston, South Carolina, where I taught an advanced watercolor painting workshop. My students finished 3 paintings in this workshop, which was hosted and organized by my friend Helen Beacham.

Helen is an extraordinary artist, and after my workshop we spent a day playing with alcohol inks in her studio. I enjoyed trying out this fun new medium, and will add it to class line up soon! 

Some of my students holding up some of the paintings we finished in my workshop.

 Helen also took me out to see all the sights and sounds of the low country, and we toured Charleston, the nearby plantations, the marshes, and the waterfront. I had a blast, and I'm looking forward to going back again next year to teach another workshop!

When is it time to move beyond beginner level?

Something I tell my students all the time! 

Don't be afraid to use up your art supplies. When you've completely gone through your first set of paints and brushes, you will have practiced painting enough to move on to more advanced work. If you're not using up your supplies, then you're just not painting enough. You will never graduate from the level of Beginner if you never use up your materials.  

Sometimes my students are frustrated that they haven't attained artistic genius after one workshop, or after taking one semester of instruction. I have to remind them, that if they are still using the first set of student grade materials that they've ever bought, then they are still students. Use up those paints! When you've painted so much that you need to replenish all your paints at least once, you can move on to intermediate. 

floral paintings from my recent class

My winter semester classes are over and I have a couple of weeks to rest up before I head off to Charleston, South Carolina, teach my next workshop. Here's a few photos from my class last week,

 Another one of my demo paintings, a watercolor floral on hot pressed paper.  I introduce my students to the different paper surfaces by having them paint the same subject, techniques, and styles on each of them. Scroll down to see a few of their floral paintings from my class...

Tomorrow I'm heading over to the Chadds Ford Historical Society to pick up my paintings from the plein air exhibit that just closed. I've happy that several of my paintings were sold, and I don't have much to pick up! This painting of the Hwy 1 Junction road sign is still available!

Route 1, 8x10 oil on board, $195.