latest videos are now available

The recording of my online demo for the Baltimore Watercolor Society is now available for a limited time! 

 My upcoming workshop for BWS sold out immediately, but I'm pleased to announce that they added a second workshop for the artists who were on the waiting list! Although that second workshop filled from the waitlist, there is a possibility that they might add MORE workshops from the waitlist. All my workshops sell out extremely fast, so I recommend adding your name to a waitlist for a chance to get into one of these additional workshops.

 Here's another new painting that I just finished! I'll be teaching the techniques, tips, and skills needed to paint koi like this in my upcoming workshops for BWS.

Dancers, 16x12 wc, Annie Strack

And I'll be in southern Delaware in April to teach a 3-day workshop for the Delaware Watercolor Society. Registration will open soon, so keep an eye on their website for details! This is an in-person workshop, but there are several nice hotels in the area for the artists who want to travel to take this in-person workshop. As always at my in-person events, there will be special surprises and exclusive bonuses for attendees! 

And finally, here is the recording of my live demo for Art Chat TV, where I demonstrated how I create the unique backgrounds in my series of seagull paintings. 

More workshops!

It's a "go!" My upcoming workshop for Baltimore Watercolor Society sold out so fast that they have added a second workshop, Feb 17-18 for the people on the waiting list. Join the waitlist for a chance to get in the new workshop!

In between all my demos an workshops I still found time to finish another painting of seagulls.

Circling, 12x16 WC, Annie Strack

And did I show you this one, yet? I painted this from some reference photos I took when I was teaching in France.

Birds of a Feather, 14x20 wc, Annie Strack

workshops and demos

Wowsa! I just found out that my painting demonstration for Baltimore Watercolor Society drew a RECORD BREAKING number of people registering to watch a BWS demo! Thank you, everyone, for coming to watch me splash paint around! 

Annie Strack, BWS

I painted two paintings in my two hour online demo for BWS, although now I will let them sit for a few days to ferment. I will look at them next week and see if I want to add or change anything before I call them "done."

BWS demo paintings

Once again, my upcoming workshops sold out immediately. BWS added a second workshop for the waiting list, which was already overflowing, too. Please go ahead and add your name to the waitlist anyway, as they MIGHT also add a third workshop from the waiting list. My workshops sell-out so quickly that I highly recommend getting on a waiting list to try to get a chance to attend. 

Annie Strack, example of color lesson

Speaking of workshops, I'm putting together a workshop for Delaware Watercolor Society right now, as we speak! This 3-day workshop will be "in-person," in a venue in southern Delaware in April. It too, will sell-out quickly, so be sure to watch for announcements from DWS. The DWS workshop is Color Theory and it's all about experimenting and learning to think outside of the box when it comes to color.  

color lesson example, Annie Strack

We'll do several techniques in this workshop and participants will gain a stronger understanding of how to choose and use color to create better paintings.  

I will be using watercolors in this workshop, but the lessons apply to all painting mediums. 

New painting!

 I just finished this latest painting! I'll be demonstrating how I create these types of abstracted backgrounds in my next FREE online demo Thursday, January 16th. Click here for details! 

The Scream, 12x16 Annie Strack

This demo is not a paint-along, as the background is painted in stages that need to dry between applications. That's why I've drawn out three paintings to work on. Each will have masking fluid covering the birds while I layer paint to show my new techniques to create the abstracted compositions around them. 

drawings for the next demo

Then on Sunday, January 19th, I'm demonstrating tips and secrets for painting great seascapes in watercolor for the Baltimore Watercolor Society. Click here for details about that online demo! 

drawings for the BWS demo

This is a two-hour demo so I am planning to demonstrate with two paintings to show a lot of different techniques for painting water, light, shadows, reflections, and more. This event is also a painting demonstration, not a workshop. I know a lot of you are trying to get in my workshops and are frustrated that they always sell-out so quickly, but hopefully I can add more workshops to my schedule soon. I have several dates still available in my calendar for events, so if you want more workshops from me then please tell your watercolor societies, art guilds, art centers, etc., to contact me. I would love to teach a workshop in your town! 

more online demos coming up!

 I have more online painting demonstrations coming up in the next few weeks! I just added this one for January 16th -- it's totally FREE but you need to preregister. Click here to register! I'll be painting seagulls and (most importantly!) demonstrating how to create intriguing compositional interest through use of abstracted elements in the background of the subjects. 

I'll be demonstrating watercolor seascapes online for the Baltimore Watercolor Society on January 19th, and this demo is free for members of the BWS. If you're not already a member, it's worth it to join (only $30!) just to watch my demo! Plus, BWS members get first dibs on signing up for BWS workshops, and my workshops always sell-out quickly (my next workshop sold-out long ago) before they are open for public registration!

In February I'm traveling to New Jersey to demonstrate acrylic painting methods live IN PERSON for the Salem County Art League. As I always do for my in-person events, I'll be bringing lots of extra art supplies to give away as door prizes at this event! 

And if you missed my online demonstration for Sennelier last month, you can still watch that on YouTube! 

Want to see my FIRST painting of the new year? Well, here it is! I still haven't settled on title for this one yet, so if you have any suggestions, let me know!

Beach Bocce, 14x20 wc by Annie Strack

And finally, my last news tidbit -- I am now officially retired from the National Watercolor Society Board of Directors as of 12 noon yesterday. My two year term went by in a flash, the first half as the Web Director and the second half of my term was as the Exhibition Director. I started volunteering for NWS in 2018 and joined the Board a few years afterwards. Very few people ever knew that I was volunteering at NWS and managing the exhibitions, their website, and online activities. It was a tremendous amount of anonymous work done behind-the-scenes, with no public recognition or acknowledgement and no opportunity for advancement on the Board of Directors or within the Society. It will be a nice change to take a break and work on my own projects now.