End of the year events

Here's some of my painting demonstrations from Art of the Carolinas! 

Lighthouse, 9x12 watercolor

Beach, 9x12 watercolor

Beach II, 9x12 watercolor 

Beach, 8x12 acrylic 

 I can hardly wait for next year! I hadn't taught a class in acrylic painting for nearly two years. When I worked for Royal Talens, I taught acrylics exclusively for them at artist supply retailers up and down the east coast. I haven't used acrylics since I since I signed on with Chartpak, until they asked me to teach this workshop at Art of the Carolinas this year.  I had forgotten how much fun painting with acrylics can be!

Swag bag for teacher at Art of the Carolinas!

Next week I'm teaching at the Howard Pyle Studio in Wilmington, Delaware. I'm looking forward to sharing my tips and techniques for painting in watercolor! This is a private workshop, only open to members of the Howard Pyle Studio Group. However, I still have a few spaces left in some of my workshops scheduled at other locations, for next year -- check out my schedule of Upcoming Events on my website for details!

Art of the Carolinas 2019

What a week! Art of the Carolinas 2019 was a huge success again, with record breaking attendance and sales. I taught workshops all day on Saturday, and worked in the Charpak booth all the other days.

Unpacking and setting up the booth for Chartpak at the trade show

I met up with a lot of old friends and former students while there, and it was just like old times.

Me with some of my students from Charleston, 

Several of my friends from the Louisiana Watercolor Society came to visit me!

My workshops sold out within a week of opening registration, and were the first workshops to sell out. I can hardly wait until next year! Remember, workshop registration begins on July 1st, so be sure to get on their email list now so you'll get notified when registration starts! 

Happy students in one of my workshops at Art of the Carolinas!

My old friend Linda Lopez flew up from New Orleans to help me with my workshops, and she was a godsend! I could not have done it without her! 

Linda Lopez and me at Art of the Carolinas

On the last day of the expo, the PRESIDENT of Jerry's Artarama stopped by the Chartpak booth where I was working and told me I will definitely be invited back to teach workshops again next year. YAY!!! 

upcoming classes and workshops!

Registration is now open for my Winter Semester classes at the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, Pennsylvania. I only teach there during the winter semester, and my classes fill up really fast so if you're going to sign up you need to do it now!

My annual Workshops in Charleston in March has only 4 spaces left, so that's another one that I recommend you sign up now for. Charleston in the Spring is beautiful and I highly recommend to my students that they stay a few extra days to take in the sights (and food!) of this enchanting historic city.

Tomorrow I arrive in North Carolina for the annual Art of the Carolinas, an expo put on by Jerry's Artarama. As a representative of Chartpak I will be working in the trade show, and teaching workshops. My workshops sold out long ago (my workshops are always the first ones to sell out!) but there are still other of great workshops with from other instructors to choose from. I also recommend shopping the trade show, as many of the art supply manufacturers have tremendous one-time deals at this event. And of course, be sure to stop by the Chartpak booth on Friday or Sunday and visit me!

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention! This recently came in the mail from the Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society! I actually earned Signature Status a few years ago, but I guess I never got a certificate at the time. A nice little surprise to come in the mail!

Preparing for more workshops!

I'm loading supplies and getting ready for my workshops at Art of the Carolinas, the annual trade show and expo produced by Jerry's Artarama in Raleigh. All the supplies are included in my workshops at AOC, and as the Brand Ambassador for Chartpak I am happy to say that Chartpak is providing Indigo Handmade Paper and Grumbacher Academy watercolor and acrylic paints for all my students. 

12x9 Floral watercolor demo on the Indigo handmade watercolor paper.

9x12 watercolor demo on the Indigo Handmade watercolor paper. 

My workshops at Art of the Carolinas all sold out immediately, but there are still other great workshops and instructors to choose from. Also, I'll be demonstrating in the Chartpak booth on the tradeshow floor during the expo, so be sure to come and visit me! 

Filling palettes with Grumbacher Academy watercolor paints in preparation for my workshops at Art of the Carolinas. 

Unpacking the boxes of Indigo Handmade paper and Grumbacher Academy colors for my workshops at Art of the Carolinas. 

 I did a couple of simple little demo paintings on the new Indigo Handmade watercolor paper, and I have to say I love it! I found it to be highly absorbent and slow drying, and buckling, and yet it allowed me to lift dried paint from it. The texture was quite rough, which I like, although it does show a bit of a pattern from the screen process. It's a softer paper than traditional mould made papers and that takes a little getting used to, but like fine wine it is an acquired taste that improves with use.