Who Let TheButterflies Out?

Butterfly Weather

I know, this weather is crazy.

It is December 12, and it's 75 degrees in Kentucky.

Today was probably my last class in

River Run Gallery,

and we painted,

Wait for it!  

Butterflies!

 It's Rileigh's birthday

 (girl in the middle)

 

  And a few people showed up to help her celebrate.

Rileigh and her mom, Stacie have been very

supportive of River Run Gallery,

and it is fitting that they were about the last class.

These girls were so creative as they painted butterflies.

These are right on the verge of being abstract,

so all I had to do was put some paint on their palettes,

and let em fly.

Look at these great butterflies,

and painters.

I just want to thank everyone for all your support over the last year and a half.  We've had some great times here in the gallery and I hope we've created some wonderful memories and learned a little bit about art.

I will continue to teach painting classes to groups at your place.  Just email me at slgraves6@gmail.com,

call me at  502-523-0663,

or message me from facebook.

I will also have art camps this summer at the farm.

I have an online painting course for beginning painters.

Click HERE to see the program. 

I also have a facebook page for beginning painters.

Click HERE for that link. 

I have posted several free short courses on there for beginning painters.  

If you could hop on over there and give it a like

(or a share)

that's where I'll be posting lots of free content

for beginning painters.

Also, I'll still be giving away a free painting every month,

so scroll up to the top and click on the blue box on the right that says, Enter to win a FREE painting

and leave me your name and email

and you'll be in for every FREE painting I give away.

Till then,

See you in the funny paper.  

 

   

Mother/Daughter Painting Together

Painting and Bonding

Ever wanted/needed to have that great bonding

time with your child?

This mother/daughter duo came in and did just that.

 We've got our backgrounds on

and now we're beginning to put in our trees.

Branches and reflections.

 

 

 Just shows you, a sky does not have to be blue.

 

Now for a little video of their process.

 

Check out their finished masterpieces.
 

These two ladies prove anyone can paint.

But here's what I like that is going on in each painting.

On the left, Trinity looks like it is dark outside and there's just that last little bit of light left in the day,

and on the right it almost looks like a sunrise.

River Run Gallery
will be closing permanently December 19,
but I will continue to teach at private venues,
such as your home, a church group,
at a winery,
anywhere you can get your posse together to paint.
I'll supply everything you'll need to paint,
and you'll supply the tables and chairs and the place.

I'll also continue to give away a painting
once a month,
so you want to stay signed up.

Merry Christmas

 

November Winner

And The November Winner Is. . .

 Kelsey Clay

I give away a small painting every month

to one of my subscribers.

So if you want your name in the hat,

you have to enter to win.

At the top of this blog on the right is a button

that says,

Enter To Win a FREE Painting.

I can't make it much more obvious than that.

Give me your name and email 

and you're in

for every painting I give away.

Here's the painting I'm giving away in December.

It's an Osprey from the Naples, FL area.    

If you want to learn to paint from the beginning

principles and finish two paintings,

click HERE to view my online

beginning painting course,

Painting With Acrylics 101. 

 

Mermaids in Winter

Technically It's Not Winter,

but it sure looked like it here this morning.

We had a very heeaavvyy frost this morning,

and it looked like a winter wonderland.

But we were snug as bugs in a rug

in River Run Gallery as we painted mermaids.

 

Abby and Shaela kept things lively this morning

as we painted mermaids.

Abby's mom, Katie owns the store next to mine and Abby's been after me to paint a mermaid.

So here we are painting by request.

Here's a short video of their process.

 I know it looks staged,

but it's not.

Just caught them in the very same stance.

 We're starting to paint the flowing hair now.

 They added bubbles

and water,

and aren't they just too cute.

(and the mermaids aren't bad either)!

Refreshed and Revitalized

Wow!

I Needed that Vacation!!

Yes I know it really rained in Myrtle Beach,

but I needed to go and sit on the beach

 if only for a few days. 

So, we did.

 

 Everyone needs to play mini golf on vacation.

 My husband Jim, loves to create sculptures on the beach.  So here he is with his alligator.

I FOUND my first sharks tooth

on the beach.

I know!

It was huge and it was just laying there on the beach.

So I took it to Heather at Beach Beads

and she wired it up and put it on this beautiful

silk necklace for me.

Another small business lady makin good.

She has a beautiful bead shop, teaches classes and blows her own glass beads.  

You'll want to check her out.

And NOW

the party's over.

It's time to get back to work.

 My view out the back of the gallery.

I call it research.

Don't forget about our Meet The Artist Night

coming up October 23, 5-8 p.m.

OK, I won't let you forget.

Our jeweler, Mary Ebert will be demonstrating her jewelry making talent at 5 p.m.  She will also have her new fall line in the gallery.

Our drawing instructor, Jeremy Cobb, will be demonstrating drawing at 6 p.m. and you can get signed up for a class of his that night.

I'll be batting clean up at 7 p.m. demonstrating painting and you know I'm going to sign you up for a class. 

No pic.  You know what I look like.

Any way,

come on by on Friday night, October 23,

5-8 p.m.  

Start your Christmas shopping,

get inspired,

meet some "starving" artists,

or

sign up for a class.

 This is the painting I'm giving away in October.

It's a 7" x 5" acrylic of The Mains Garden

in Augusta, KY.

Art in the Garden is held there each year 

and I've been 4 years in a row.

Scroll back to the top and on the right hand side

you'll see a blue button that says,

"sign up for a free painting".

Click that button and magical things begin to happen for you.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Let It Snow!

This Just In From Perry Park

Six women are reported 

to have been painting snowmen

in the RAIN!

Yes, our Perry Park Paintsters

painted in the garage of a member of this 

fearless group as it poured just outside the open door.

 

The groups painting choice for this month 

was a snow covered blue spruce

and a well dressed snowman 

on a slate roofing shingle.

 Neither rain, nor storm, nor snarled traffic kept this devoted paintster from her appointed class.

 

Learning how to paint trees was harder than expected,

but Shirley would not be defeated by a blue spruce.

 

Pamela steadies her hand as she painted this cute snowman's hat.

 And here are the finished snowmen,

painted on slate shingles.

These are fun and easy to paint on.

Your next opportunity to paint a snowman of your very own, will be Wednesday, October 14, 10-noon.

The class is $35 and I supply everything you need to complete the project.  

If you want in on the fun,

email me at slgraves6@gmail.com

and put painting class in the subject line.

Thanks for stopping by today,

and sorry I ate so many of your snacks paintsters. 

If you haven't heard about 

my online beginning painting course,

Shame on me! 

I have created https://www.paintingwithacrylics101.com

with the beginning painter in mind. 

 

This online course has 11 modules that will take the beginning art student from understanding color, what brushes do I need and how do I use them, how to set up a palette, creating form with color, perspective, composition and so much more. 

Then we'll take all that knowledge and I'll walk you through,

step by step,

how to complete two paintings.

 

The introductory price is only good until November 1.

After that the price will increase $50.

 

This course offers the beginner a complete course in acrylic paint all in one place.

 

No need to try to find that two minute video again,

I have over 50 videos here to show you exactly how to do  everything.

 

Hop on over and give it a look right now, 

before you FORGET.

 

 

Click HERE to learn all about this course.

 

 

First Day of Fall Painting

Happy First Day of Fall!

Here's how we celebrated.

 

Sandy came,

she saw,

she conquered 

this scare crow and pumpkin slate shingle.

What a fun morning.

Still have room in this one night drawing class.

Thursday, Sept 24, 3-5 p.m. $30.

You will need to bring a sketchpad not smaller than 11" x 14", a set of varied size graphite pencils, a kneaded eraser and a pencil sharpener.  All supplies are available at Carrollton Office Supply.

Let me teach you how to paint. 

My new online beginning painting course will walk you through step by step as you learn about paint, brushes, supports, brush strokes, creating form, perspective, composition, how to practice and then finally I teach you how to paint two full size paintings.

It will never be any easier to learn to paint because I've taken all the parts to create a painting and put it in one place for you.

No chasing down books, videos, workshops, classes.

It's all here right now.

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Drawing On Their Patience

Drawing Takes Patience

Learning to draw takes patience.

Just ask these ladies as they study drawing

in a six-week beginning drawing course.

Before class instructor Jeremy Cobb looks at the practice Lisa did at home.  Lisa had done several drawings she was working on and Jeremy was helping her see the success she was having.

D'anne and Jeremy looking over her practice drawings.

Drawing, just like any other skill improves with practice.  It doesn't really matter what you draw, it's learning to see what you're looking at.  Learning to see the shape, the highlights and shadows, and the depth perception.  Then practice, practice, practice.  

Many artists carry a small sketchbook with them and while waiting in the car line, waiting for a game to start and many other places while waiting, draw what they see.  It is good practice.

I have some friends who paint in the car while their spouse drives. 

That's dedication and the ability to not get car sick.

Class is in session and these artists listen intently as Jeremy goes over some of the terms in drawing.  

Jeremy is offering single classes in drawing as well.

 Thursday, Sept. 24 from 3-5 p.m. Jeremy will be teaching this still life drawing.  In this class you will learn to see shapes, how to draw an elipse, how to draw shadows, the perspective of the apple in front of the jar 

and many other art concepts.

The one day class is $30 and you will need a set of varied graphite pencils, a kneaded eraser, a pencil sharpener, and a sketchbook, no smaller than 11" x 14".  Supplies can be purchased at Carrollton Office Supply, Fifth St., Carrollton.

If you're ready to learn to paint,

I have a great online painting course for you!

 Painting With Acrylics 101

was created for the beginning painter.

I walk you through step by step in understanding paint, brushes, brush strokes, how to make color wheels and color charts and what you learn from them.  You'll learn about perspective and composition, how to practice and then. . .

 

. . .Then you'll learn how to paint the two paintings shown above.

You'll also receive several bonuses including shopping lists of art supplies and where to look for them and a step by step tutorial for how to paint trees and rocks.

 

Everything you need to learn to paint

is in one place.

 

You won't need to figure it all out for yourself.

It's all here in one course just waiting for you.

 

Thanks for stopping by today.