Don't forget, Thursday, February 14th is Valentines Day. Happy Valentine's Day from Creative Catalyst!
Telling Stories with Collage and Paint with Ann Baldwin
Save $10 : $19.95 - SKU# AEB1d
Join internationally acclaimed collage artist Ann Baldwin in an energetic art instruction DVD filmed in a live workshop at the Asilomar Art & Soul Conference, on the topic of Telling Stories with Collage and Paint.
In this painting DVD, Ann shows you how to use texture painting techniques to tell a story. Ann first walks through important topics of material selection and image preparation. She divulges where she finds her collage artwork and gives useful artist tips on how to organize all of those collage elements. Next Ann shares her approach to color in art, explains her process for directing the viewer's eye to the important parts of her design, and discusses the importance of being willing to sacrifice parts for the good of the whole. Learn More
Draw with Confidence: From Basic to Brilliant with David N Kitler
Save $10 : $24.95 - SKU# DNK1d
Join wildlife artist David N Kitler and learn his process for capturing accurate likenesses in the wild or in the studio. David has developed a straightforward method for observing and conveying the information critical to successful drawing. Learn to see basic shapes, locate important value shifts, understand the role of different pencil grades, create depth, and so much more. David combines these skills to help you develop a center of interest and to lead the viewer’s eye around your composition. David reviews basic concepts and then demonstrates the entire process by completing a lifelike, fully textured drawing of a ground squirrel.. Learn More
Watercolor from Within: Transparent Layering with Barbara Nechis
Save $10: $29.95 - SKU# BN1d
Drawing technique is important, but sometimes you just want to paint. If you've ever wished you could skip the thumbnails and dive head first into watercolor then join Barbara Nechis and paint "Watercolor from Within." This watercolor painting DVD focuses on building your confidence with your paint. In her DVD painting lessons, Nechis instructs students how to fully use the watercolor painting technique wet-into-wet to create a stunning floral scene. Without a reference photo, physical subject, or sketched outline, Nechis demonstrates how to paint from within using a single spot of magenta paint placed confidently in the center of the page. Using memory and emotion as her only inspirations, Nechis works outward from this center. She uses the flowing paint as her guide for what should come next. Learn More
I don't consider myself a very patient person. I do consider myself a persistent person. It can be an awkward combination.
That said, I'm trying to learn to draw. I've read that it takes about two years of persistent practice. (I define practice as serious attempts, not doodling, although I imagine that helps as well.) I think my frustration and impatience was intensified because my motive for learning to draw was, basically, in order to paint better. I saw drawing as a path to something else. That, in turn, intensified my impatience.
I’m happy to report that this has all changed with my embrace of drawing as an end in itself. I’ve come to enjoy the feel of the pencil as it runs across the paper, the love of line, shading, thick and thin marks. Yes, it's still a struggle. Perhaps more so now that my appreciation of good drawing has bumped up a notch or two. But my patience has increased, because the process is more enjoyable.
This is an important lesson for me. I know that it has a lot to do with what I choose to focus on. It's like when the kids were young and parenting classes said to "catch them being good". I need to pay attention to the part that I enjoy rather than amplify the failures that accompany any attempt at growth.
I've heard it so many times but now it has greater meaning: Enjoy the process.
Happy painting… or whatever!
Cheers,
Lynn