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Art at its best lifts the veil that obscures reality in things seen.

Dear <<First Name>>,

Today's note is about thinking about what art is, what is the philosophy behind why we are driven to create and share this with others. I gleaned this note from a favorite book, Oil Painting Techniques by Harold Speed. I hope you like it!

1. Art Theory - Philosophy of Art
Oil Painting Techniques by Harold Speed
Ch 1: Introduction, p 5-6

“Art at its best lifts the veil that obscures reality in things seen, and gives us a glimpse of things more harmonious and permanent than the fleeting images that pass upon our retina. More permanent because they satisfy the deeper and more permanent elements of our being, in much the same way that a deep corespondence set up by religious ecstasy does.” pg. 5-6

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Art is a spiritual experience, whether or not you practice a religion. I believe that all people have the ability to express their feelings and thoughts in ways that lift the spirits of those who come in contact with them. For artists, we have an added advantage in that we are trained to share the deep feelings in a visual manner, circumscribing any impediment of language and interacting with others at a visceral level.

COME PAINT WITH ME!

WEEKLY CLASSES AND A WORKSHOP ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE 2019-2020 ACADEMIC YEAR.

Weekly Art Classes

Floral Still Life with Oils

This class concentrates on capturing the natural beauty found in flowers and the vases they partner with, working directly from life using oils. Specific lessons will cover all aspects of painting with flowers, learning to work with the individual characteristics of the different flowers available for each season as well as working to capture the silver, pewter or glass vases they are in. Alla-prima painting techniques will be taught and demonstrated to emphasize the importance of color and form when expressing the unique beauty found in flowers. All levels are welcome, however some experience with oil painting and accuracy in drawing will garner more realistic representations. Supply list provided upon request or with registration. *During the growing season, flowers will be provided from the instructor’s garden. During the offseason, a flower supply fee will be collected to purchase fresh flowers.

TAUGHT AT THE ARTS OF GREAT FALLS, WEDNESDAYS FROM 1:30 TO 4:30PM

Still Life with Oils

This class concentrates on capturing the beauty found in simple things, elevating them into something more significant. Still-life painting is fun in all aspects, whether you are exploring color, value, and composition, or whether you want to investigate how to paint the different textures and patterns found in objects, such as the shiny reflections of glass or the variegated colors found in a Macintosh apple. Setups are designed to teach painting fundamentals such as: seeing the big shapes, analyzing value shifts, controlling edge quality, and color mixing. All levels are welcome.

TAUGHT AT THE ART LEAGUE IN ALEXANDRIA, VA, TUESDAYS FROM 9:30AM TO 12:30PM

Workshops

Painting Silver and Pewter with Oils

Join in on a 2-day intensive workshop focusing on capturing the dynamic and reflective glory of silver and pewter. Painting metals asks you the artist to observe with intention while also seeking ways to simplify and abstract the color shapes seen. Demonstrations will be given each day, with the first day focusing on laying in the base layers of oil paint, and the second day will show how to apply transparent and opaque glazes to further heighten the shine and visual depth found in silver and pewter objects. All levels are welcome.

TAUGHT AT THE ARTS OF GREAT FALLS, SEPTEMBER 18 & 19, 2019 FROM 10:00AM TO 4:00PM

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