Primitive Watering Can

Watering Hole -

I mean can!

Well, Nancy and I had a great time painting

these primitive watering cans last night.

 

You have to start at the beginning and that's just where we are here.

  Getting in the watering can and giving it a little patina

Now we're adding in the flowers, sticks and twigs.

 

 Look at her finished masterpiece!

 Does she look happy or what?

 

You could have that same look by coming in and taking a class, by yourself or with your posse.

 

Escargot

Escargot?

Snails?  Really?

Cute Ones Anyway!

Saturday was a great day in River Run Gallery
as Kelsey joined me to paint some a really cute snail.

Here we go.

You can see Kelsey is really concentrating on this.

   It's hard to say who's cuter!
OK, not really!

We all can see for ourselves who's cuter!

Thanks for coming Kelsey.   

Artist Appreciation Month

2 - 4 - 6 - 8

What Artist do I appreciate?

(yes, in a former life I was a cheerleader)

August is Artist Appreciation Month

and Patience Brewster has really made me think about which artists have inspired me most.  

She creates some pretty incredible Christmas ornaments I love and if you click the above link,

you'll find all sorts of beautiful ornaments.

Here's an example of her work.

8 years ago or so I was hungry to learn to paint and I took my very first painting workshop with Jerry Yarnell in Bardstown, KY.

I was terrified, because I knew nothing, but after two days I came home with a beautiful painting and I have loved every frustrating, exhilarating moment of painting ever since. 

 This was much later when I went to Oklahoma for an open studio and a private lesson.

Can't say enough great things about this great guy, great teacher, wonderful artist.

 Another artist is a local guy where I live.

I admired his work for several years before I gathered up my courage and tried it for myself.

He has no website.

He has no blog.

I'm not sure he has email.

But Ron DeVore is an incredible artist who paints things I love, like barns, cows, beautifully soft almost photographic acrylic paintings.

I did manage to find this article about Ron in the 

Madison Roundabout. 

Ron is soft spoken, plays the dulcimer and inspired me to give it a try.

I have lots of artists I've learned much from and I appreciate every one of them.

Here are a just a few

• Meredith Adler at http://meredithadler.blogspot.com/ Meredith has become a great friend and confident. 
• Barbara Ball Pask a friend from my hometown of Mason, OH at https://www.facebook.com/paintingsbyBarbaraPask
• Dreama Tolle Perry at http://dreamatolleperry.blogspot.com/  
• Kathy Papasso at http://fineartbykathie.blogspot.com/ 
• And many more too numerous to mention.

 

Learning in the Fun Art Studio

Fun Art

When I named the gallery,

River Run Gallery

Fun Art Studio

I really wanted people to have fun here.

I wanted people to create art here.

I wanted to teach art here.

But I really wanted the emphasis to be on

FUN!

Here's some of this weeks fun. . .

 

This is the first class of the advanced drawing class.

We are going to be using charcoal in this class,
so I think messy is a good word to describe what we'll all be.

Our instructor Jeremy Cobb does a demo of The Thinker.

His talent is amazing and his ability to teach a very varied class is pretty incredible.  You can see the age range of the class in the photo above.  From middle school to old geezer girls like myself.

We have a beginning drawing course starting next Tuesday,

August 25.  The beginning course is just that.  It's for beginners.  For people who have never drawn before, but want to.

Leave me a comment or call me at 502-523-0663 if you want in on the chance of a lifetime, in our area anyway.

It's a six lesson course spread out over 12 weeks.  We meet every other Tuesday, beginning August 25.  All six lesson for $150.

We Have Room For YOU!

More art, more fun!

Amy told me earlier in the summer she wanted to paint a sunflower, so here she is with her very own 

FIRST EVER painting.

Did she do super job or what?

If you'd like to try your hand at painting,

scroll up to the tab that says

calendar of classes and events.

If there's a buy now button on there, 

use that to pay and sign up and you're in.

Otherwise, just contact me

and you can have a painting of your very own.

 Just a reminder,

all our artists who create the beautiful items in River Run Gallery Fun Art Studio

are from within 50 miles of the gallery.

They work everyday creating art you will love,

so give them a look at www.riverrungallery.com 

 Click on the work gallery

and it will take you to several types of art in our gallery.

Thanks for stopping in today!

Have a fun creative day.

 

Brave Mom - Cute Boys

Two Plus Two

Boys under Five

 

 Both boys were dialed in and worked hard

on their paintings. 

 Wait till you see what's in that stroller back there.

That's right

Not only did this mom have two boys ages 4 & 5,

she also has twins. 

And they were all so well behaved 

and mom was as calm as a summers breeze.

 Check out their footballs.

They are going to hang them in their new house!

They were just visiting before their move to Maryland.

If you would like to create something like this email me at slgraves6@gmail.com. 

Drawing On Your Talent

What Talent?

I can't Draw Stick People

I hear that all the time in the gallery.

"I can't take a class.

I can't even draw stick people!"

My response is always,

"You're in luck!  We're not drawing stick people!"

These are all beginning drawing students and we did a great body of work.  Our instructor, Jeremy is in the middle.

 

New fall drawing classes are forming.

 

 

 

 

   Intro to Drawing Course

is a six lesson course spread out over 12 weeks.

• Aug. 11 - What is drawing?  Intro to materials and methods. Gray scale.  Drawing the still life.
• Aug. 25 - Setting up the still life. A compositional study. Foreground, middle ground and background.
• Sept. 8 - Drawing on the right side.  Additive vs. subtractive.
• Sept. 22 - Pastiche - choose artist and choose work
• Oct. 6 - Intro to portrait,  facial structure/parts of face, self-portrait.
•  October 20- Critique 

Supply List 

1. Set of graphite pencils, about 8-10 pencils, various sizes
2. Kneaded eraser
3. Sketch pad as large as possible, but not smaller than 11 x 14
4. Sharpener
5. Two large pieces of heavy paper for final projects (don't need until 4-6 lessons)

 

Drawing Concepts

This six lesson course is a continuation for those who completed the intro to drawing course.  Much of this course will consist of demonstrations and lots of work at home.

• Aug. 18 = Intro to mixed media, charcoal/pastel/ink/ground/support.  Sketchbooks - charcoal exercise.  Ongoing sktechbooks.
• Sept 1 -  Subtractive demonstration - subject under light.  No drawing materials this class.
• Sept 15 - Shorthand composition - no drawing materials this class, 'Landscape in Pastel'.
• Sept 29 - Conceal/Reveal - mi-tientes, paper/charcoal pastels (Drapery studies)
• Oct 13 - Life studies - Planes/statues/individual critique (sketchbooks due) (final drawing ideas).
• Oct 27 - 'Final Drawing' - Return sketchbooks.

Supply List

1. Sketchbook - Any size
2. Charcoal, (compressed) - squares, pencils, willow
3. Charcoal pastel - Gray scale
4. Color pastel - landscape project
5. Kneaded erasers - 2
6. Two large sheets of heavy paper - minimum 18" x 24"

 

Drawing Workshops

Jeremy is going to offer some drawing workshops, where you will come for a one night class and learn to draw a set subject. These classes are for students age 10 and up.  Students are responsible for their own drawing supplies and the cost of each class is $30.  All classes are 4-6 p.m. and are limited to six students per class.

• Sept 3 -  Drawing the Still Life
• Sept 17 - Drawing Cartoons - this is mainly for children and parents can attend with child. 
• Oct 1 - Landscape drawing
• Oct 15 - The Portrait. 

Supplies

1. Sketchpad - minimum 11" x 14"
2. Set of various sizes graphite pencils
3. Kneaded eraser
4. Sharpener 

There's lots of different classes for you to get revved up about.  

 

If you can spread the word on these new drawing classes we would appreciate it.

 

email me at slgraves6@gmail.com and put drawing classes in the subject line if you want to sign up or if you have questions.

 

 

This could be you next time.  

 

Learning to Create

Learning to Create Art

In A Fun Environment!

We've probably all been there!

In school, social group, or class

and someone says something critical 

about what you just created. 

You are CRUSHED! 

Maybe it wasn't intentional.

Maybe they misunderstood your creation.

Maybe they were having a bad day.

Maybe they are blind.

Still, you are crushed.

How do you get past it?

Being a creative person opens lots of doors of:

fear

negativity

second guessing

and pain,

But it also opens doors of

Joy

Love

Exhiliration

Accomplishment!

Learning to accept your work, your abilities, your linitations and your accomplishments gracefully are all a part of a creative life.

River Run Gallery Fun Art Studio

Is home to

Four displaying artists

Two teaching artists

And many student artists.

We try to put the emphasis on fun,

In the art we create and the art we teach.

Remember how your words may affect an artist the next time you’re at an art show and say something like:

I can do better than that!

I can make that at home!

You better go back to art school!

Why is your price so high!

(Yes I’ve heard every single one of those things)

Encourage your children,

Your co-workers,

Your friends and family,

In every creative endeavor.

That doesn’t mean giving them false praise or applause,

But be gentle and kind and encouraging.

People who are creative can’t help but be creative!

It’s in their make up!

They are hard wired to create.

Maybe they haven’t found that perfect medium yet.

Maybe you can help them find it.

  As you create,

let the love of creation come through into

your project.

People will see and feel and love your spirit

as you create and share and enjoy.