Abstract Butterflies

Abstract Butterflies

It seems like a painting is either an abstract

or about butterflies.

But this class was definitely

Abstract Butterflies.

  In our own lives we like to pigeon hole things and people.

They're either this or that.

It's either black or white. 

But just like these paintings,

Sometimes it's like putting a square peg into a round hole.

Now that you've seen them,

Are they abstract paintings

or

butterfly paintings?

 Just for fun. . .

Painting For Me

Painting For Me

I haven't painted something just because I wanted to paint it for quite a while.

I've worked a lot on paintings for classes here in the gallery,

but today, in the middle of a terrible snow event this week,

I thought I would paint something I wanted to learn something from.

I painted on Arches 12" x 9" 140 lb paper and used only a very few colors.

Very FEW!

I told you I used very few colors.

Dioxazine Purple,  Sap Green, Cad Yellow Med, Lime Green and Titanium white.

There's a little bit of Ultramarine blue in there too, but I could have done without it.

I like the color combination of purple and green,

so that's why I used these colors.

Several different layers and depths of field in this one giant blossom,

and that was one of the things I wanted to work on.   

My reference photo was taken on my deck and there was a blue and white striped chair behind the flower and it needed to go away.

   Any way,

I'm happy with it today.  

I needed to let that little bit of creativity out for today,

after all this cold, snow, blowing snow, and soon to be ice comes tonight.

Probably won't be opening the gallery tomorrow.

In fact,

I'm calling it right now.

River Run Gallery Fun Art Studio will not be open for business

Saturday, February 21, 2015.

Snowmeggedan

?!?Are You Kidding Me?!?

We Got SNOW

Snow

and

More Snow. 

Are you cold?

It's going to get much worse before it gets better.

 I trudged,

I scraped,

I drove, 

I shoveled,

I gasped for breath, (hehe)

BUT

I was victorious!!!

I opened for business!!!

Now I don't know about tomorrow,

because right now my car is being completely covered over again

and the temperature is dropping.

The scene from the back deck of the gallery.

OK, I did nothing back here.

Do you see that lump covered with snow,

no, it's not a dead body,

it's my tent we use here at the gallery.

The wind blew it over on Saturday

and then to add insult to injury,

it was covered over by snow.

 It wouldn't be an art blog,

without some art.

So in honor of 2015 Snowmeggedan, 

here's a snow painting.  

Winter Sunburst 

16" x 20" framed acrylic $200 + $20 shipping

You can always shop online at www.riverrungallery.com

I am re-scheduling my rooster paint along class for tomorrow, (Thursday, 2-19).

Watch for a new date.

I might cancel the rest of the week and stay home and drink hot chocolate and read.

I'll get back to you on that.

Creativity Is In Each of Us.

The Importance of Creativity

Creativity is at the heart of everyone. 

I really learned this last May as I spent almost a month traveling around rural Ohio campaigning for my son in law.  My grandson and I would go out every day knocking on doors, leaving literature, door knockers, yard signs and I saw nearly every home had some type of welcoming decoration in their yard.  Even the very oldest and the poorest had some form of mailbox decoration, potted plants by the walkway, a wreath on the door, to some very elaborate decorations.

It was amazing to me the way people have a need to say:

"I'm Here"

"I'm Different"

"I'm Special"

"Look what I created"

Artists are like that to the tenth power.

We can't seem to stop creating.  I know I can't.

I think about what I want to paint, how I want it to look, how can I get it there, how can I accomplish it???????

 

Then I start to think about the classes I teach.

What can we paint, what can I teach, how can I break this down, what will be hard for my students, how can I make it easier????? 

Below are some of the paintings we've done in the gallery since we opened last July.

I hope many of you will enter at least one of your paintings in next months Benefit Art Show.

Who does it benefit you ask? (Hint: It doesn't benefit me or the gallery except for seeing all your fabulous artwork).

Great question!  Click HERE to read all about it.

 You can use your creativity to benefit animals in Carroll County.

 

Here are a few of the creative pieces from some talented artists currently in the gallery.

Yes, we even use creativity in things we purchase.  It says something about us.

Classes are forming every week and these represent just a few taught on different levels this month.  Even though you're in a class and everyone's painting the same painting, they all look different as each persons individual creativity comes out. 

Let our artists help the creative in you come out.

 

Art Concepts Class - Achieving Perspective

Achieving Perspective

Making something look real

or in proportion

or have depth

or the right value

That's all part of perspective.

I have an art concepts class once a month on the second Thursday of the month and we delve into some deeper topics than we can in a paint along class.  Last night we worked on perspective.

These were some of the exercises we did last night while learning about achieving perspective.  We started with the red rectangle and blended paint to see how you could take it from only a rectangle to something with a different shape by blending light to dark, left to right.

Then we did the cups showing roundness and shadows.

Then we did the hydrangea by starting with the dark color in the back and came forward with with lighter shades, then finally adding a few petals.

Then we did a simple landscape showing how to give it dimension by using different values and colors.  

Perspective is a very deep subject and you can study it for a very long time, but you have to start somewhere.  Everyone needs to learn basic concepts and then add on them.  

Hope to see you next month on Thursday, March 19.

I'm putting it the third Thursday because on the 2nd Thursday I'm having a reception for a student show I'm holding to benefit my students and the Carroll County Animal Support.   

Click Here to find out more about the benefit. 

Kids Learning Through Art

Why Should Your Child Paint?

That's a great question.

Let's look at some of the answers.

1. Creativity is an important part of life:  Children need creativity in their lives.  Children get creative in almost everything they do.  They are creative in doing math, writing, the way they  put on their shoes, the way they eat their food and almost everything else they do.
2. Children are naturally creative.  They come here very creative and and not afraid to show it.  Then life happens and by the time they are adults it's almost gone.  They are fun to watch as they play, imagining, creating.
3. How can you help your child keep their creativity?  Watch your child in their creativity.  See how, when and why they are creative.  Do they sing, dance, play being a superhero, play dress-up, make up their own plays or games, color or draw.  Find out what they like and provide as many of those opportunities as possible.  Another important thing is to do it with them.  Give them permission to make believe, play, wonder, and learn as much about their interest as possible.

Music

Art

Theatre

Sports

Gardening

Cooking

Dancing

Martial Arts

 Sewing

Building

Designing

Just some of the ways your child may be creative!

Do you see your child in any of these activities?

I've seen some very creative children in my painting classes.  Some I'm related to, some I'm not.

 Learning to paint lights and darks

 Painting snowmen.

 Cooking.  The son of a chef loves to cook.

 Painting a butterfly all on her own.

 Painting what they love.

 Acting the part of the White Witch in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

 

Brownies earning badges painting elephants.

These kids have all found things they love to do,

and hopefully they will not lose their creativity.

It takes creativity to become:

an entrepreneur,

a teacher,

an actor,

a builder,

a chef,

an artist,

an inventor,

an engineer,

a writer,

a fill in the __________blank.

Even though creativity is most often messy and time consuming,

it should be encouraged every way possible.

It should be cherished and nurtured and given the opportunity to grow.

Creativity helps in every type of learning and will carry your child towards their

DREAMS! 

Click HERE to see what classes are being taught in the gallery this month you or your child might enjoy.   

Just A Swingin!

A Tree Swing For Christmas

These ladies received gift certificates for Christmas,

so tonight they came together to paint these tree swings.

They are so fun and notice the little heart on the swing.

 

Here's a short video of them painting.

They painted these fun tree swings.

Don't they look great.  

If you'd like to paint something like this leave me a comment.

 

Thanks for stopping by today.  

Don't forget to click on the tab Calendar of Classes and Events. 

You Know I'm Afraid of Dogs But. . .

Art Show Benefit

I want to offer an opportunity for my art students to show off their art in an art show environment 

AND

benefit the animals in Carroll County.

If you've painted a painting in River Run Gallery, adults and kids, and would like to show off your art, I'm having a student art show, with an opening reception, Thursday March 12 from 6-8 p.m.

All art must be in the gallery with your name and phone number on the back by Thursday, March 5 by 4 p.m.

I can take the first 50 people who get their art to me.

Your art will be hung in the gallery until Saturday, April 4.  

The public will select the winner by voting with cold hard cash, (pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters).

Each painting will be designated a number and will have a cup with the corresponding number for people to vote for. 

Final day of the show is Saturday, April 4 and all art must be picked up Wednesday until 6 p.m.

 

Here's the DOG part.

All the money will be donated to Carroll County Animal Support (CCAS).

The winner of each category, Adults and Children, will receive 5 tubes of acrylic paint.

Second place winners of each category will receive a gift certificate for a free painting lesson.  

This is a unique opportunity for all student artists and hopefully you'll want to participate, either by entering your art or by judging with your cash to support CCAS.

  

Here's a flier for the event.