Countdown To Open Studio – One More Sleep

I’ll be bringing a handful of 8 x 10’s to tomorrow’s Artists’ Workshop Open Studio Show And Sale. A sampling of them appear in this post.

 

But don’t let the 8 x 10 confuse you. Our doors will actually be open from 11 to 9! You’ll find us at Grace Westminster at 505 – 10thStreet East, here in Saskatoon.

 

With all of the prepping and packing behind us, I’m excited to actually put up the show in the morning.

 

It will be fun to share what we’ve been up to with visitors and lovers of art. I know that my colleagues in the Artists’ Workshop are excited, too.

 

All of us are visual artists – who work in many different styles and mediums.

 

If you’d like to learn more about the group, this link will take you to a listing of Group Members.

 

The membership roster includes links to individual artist websites where you can preview the range of styles and approach.

 

Many of us will be working on pieces during the Open Studio and available to share background info on our techniques and approach to art. Hope to see you tomorrow. Just one more sleep!

 

Countdown To Open Studio – Two Days Out

Well, it’s two days until our Artists’ Workshop Open House, and I’ve worked up quite a sweat running up and down the stairs between the studio and the workshop as I gather together all the bits and pieces and pack up for the show. I’ll spare you a photo of my current state – cause it ain’t pretty!

I can tell you this, though. Creating the works of art was a pleasure. Seeing them come to life when matted and framed was exciting – except for the part where I gouged a chunk out of my index finger on a piece of metal frame. Ah well, occupational hazard! What I have found is that much of the rest of the work to get ready for a show is just plain slogging.

What’s involved? Well, it looks something like this:

Researching options for displaying the work. Figuring out which direction you’ll try this time out.

Rounding up the materials and supplies to make it work – from grids and hooks to table covers and other elements that will make the space look good.

 

Choosing and finding lighting that will help you show the work off to best advantage.

Designing and ordering new business cards, so that visitors and collectors can keep in touch.

 

Ciphering and calculating costs and returns to set prices that make sense for both the artist and the buyers.

Creating a master price list for recording sales – and information tags to mount with each image.

Promoting and getting the word out about the event to those who might be interested – without overwhelming them or you. Coordinating and collaborating with colleagues on show set up, arrangements, marketing, and a thousand and one little details.

Protecting and packing up the work for transit so no frames or pieces get scuffed or scratched.

Well, that would be the short list. I do believe, though, that I’m almost ready.

Here’s what a show looks like when it’s all packed up and waiting to be loaded for transit.

And once I get a bit of a rest, I’ll be eager to visit with those of you who are able to take in the show. Seeing your smiling faces will make it all worthwhile.

In case you need a reminder, the details are:  Artists Workshop Open Studio Show and Sale next Monday, November 26 between 11 am and 9 pm in the auditorium of Grace Westminster Church at  505 – 10thStreet East here in Saskatoon.

PS – In case you’re counting and are wondering what happened to the Countdown – Three Days Out, it didn’t get posted. I made a short video of the small works that I have in the show, but had trouble uploading it to include in a post. I may yet get there, but at the moment, I’m a bit too pooped to tinker with it again.

Countdown To Open Studio – Four Days Out

In addition to the panorama format I described in yesterday’s message, I’ve also been experimenting this fall with creating images in a square format.

This was inspired when I began taking square photos to populate my Instagram account. That’s the only format Instagram accepts.

Once I started cultivating a ‘square’ point of view, I found it to be an interesting way to look at the world.

I will have eight images at the Open Studio Show and Sale that have been created and framed in the square format. I think you’ll find them interesting. I know I do. You can preview a few of them in the photo below.

Again, the doors will be wide open and welcoming at our Artists’ Workshop Open Studio event between 11 am and 9 pm next Monday, November 26 in the auditorium of Grace Westminster Church at  505 – 10th Street East here in Saskatoon. Hope to see you there!

Countdown To Open Studio – Five Days Out

I’ve been experimenting this fall with the panorama format – long and narrow. It really lends itself to landscapes and in this instance, waterscapes.

The first of these panorama images – Autumn Along The River – was created on location along the South Saskatchewan River here in Saskatoon on a warm autumn afternoon.

The colors were strong; and the winds and rain had not yet dashed the leaves to the ground.

I used a black pen with a calligraphic tip to add line and form to the trees and shrubs.

The second of these panorama images – Emma Lake Sunset Bay – was inspired by a photo shared with me by my cousin, Wendy.

She and her family own a cottage on Emma Lake, and are lucky that they are able to enjoy scenes like this all summer long.

I enjoyed laying on the color in the foliage and the reflections on the water.

And I had a lot of fun using a stick pen and sepia ink to accent the reeds poking through the surface of the water.

You can see both of these panoramas and many more of my works at the upcoming Artists’ Workshop Open Studio event between 11 am and 9 pm next Monday, November 26 in the auditorium of Grace Westminster Church at  505 – 10thStreet East here in Saskatoon.

Join us for art and conversations about art with all 13 of our member artists. Hope to see you there!

Countdown To Open Studio – Six Days Out

As I mentioned in yesterday’s Blog Post, our Artists’ Workshop group will be holding an Open Studio Show and Sale next Monday, November 26 in the auditorium of Grace Westminster Church at  505 – 10thStreet East here in Saskatoon.

You’ll be able to enjoy art and conversations about art with all 13 of us that day.

As this week unfolds, I promised to tempt you with a few pieces of art in the lead up to the show.

Here are two of my images with a floral theme – each of them 12 x 16 inches in size.

The first image, Meewasin Leaves, is an autumn bouquet that was inspired by the colorful leaves and branches that I gathered on a September walk along the Meewasin Trail.

It is one of the first images where I experimented with this technique for creating a mottled ground.

 

The second image, Au Nom De La Rose, was inspired by a flower shop of this name in the Latin Quarter in Paris.

The displays outside this shop are always interesting – with their unique stands, brilliant colors, and petals that drift across the sidewalk in the breeze.

Watch for more blog posts with samples of pieces from the show. And let me know if something ‘twigs’ your interest.

Artists’ Workshop Open Studio Show & Sale

Next Monday, November 26/18, our group will be hosting an Open Studio in the auditorium of Grace Westminster Church at  505 – 10thStreet East here in Saskatoon. This is where we hold our weekly sessions. and we’re throwing the doors open that day from 11 am to 9 pm.

Since September, I’ve been spending Mondays painting with these lively members of the Artists’ Workshop group. They’re each fine artists in their own right – and exceedingly generous with their time and their expertise.

I’ve enjoyed experimenting with different techniques in ink and watercolor, and feel myself growing as an artist as I watch and learn from what others are doing.

And now, it’s time to share with all of you the kinds of things we’ve been working on and playing with.

You will discover displays of work from each of us. You’ll also find members of our group available for informal show and tell conversations so that you can learn more about how we work with our ideas and materials to create the images you’ll find in the show.

I hope you’ll be able to drop on by sometime during the day or evening to share in our world of art – and perhaps pick up some fine art to spice up your world or gift to someone else.

One of our artists, Paige Mortenson, has created a compilation of images which features one piece of art from each of our members. (See below)

In this week’s count down to the Open Studio event, each day I’ll be posting here in my Pauseworks Studio blog a couple of sample images from my collection – items that you can expect to see in the show. I hope they entice you to drop on by.

Thrilled To Join the Artists’ Workshop

After so many years of working and painting solo, I decided to take a leap and try something different. Earlier this fall I joined the Artists’ Workshop group, and I’ll be working and showing with them for the 2018-19 fall and winter season.

The other twelve members of the group have made me feel very welcome. It’s been a treat to spend my Mondays painting at what I refer to as ‘Studio 2’.

The group itself has been in existence for 27 years – although various members have come and gone over the years. Each Monday finds the artists hard at work in the hall at Saskatoon’s Grace Westminster Church. Members develop and bring their own projects to work on. However, there is rich informal exchange of ideas and information about techniques, resources, and marketing during each of the weekly sessions.

Read More»

Artists’ Workshop Group Show At Hues On Now

One of the first things I learned after I signed on as a member of the Artists’ Workshop at the beginning of September is that plans were already afoot for a group show for the month of October to be displayed in the gallery space at Hues Art Supply.

Fortunately, I had a couple of pieces ready to go that I could contribute to the show. So you will find my work in the mix.

The show runs through the entire month of October. The gallery is located at 1818 Lorne Ave here in Saskatoon.

The exhibit reception is scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, October 13th between the hours of 2pm and 4pm.

I already had plans to be away that weekend, so I won’t be able to attend the reception. However, you will find most of the other members of the group on hand. I know they will be delighted to make you feel welcome, chat about art, and share the behind the scenes stories about the pieces on display.

I hope you are able to drop by sometime this month to check out the show.

Kristi’s Cottage Commission

Back in February of 2016, I celebrated the 30thanniversary of my business by inviting supporters to enter a draw for: a bundle of publications, a donation to a charity of their choice, and an original ink and watercolor sketch inspired by a photo of a place that mattered to them.

The first two prizes were dispatched right away. However, it took the winner of the original sketch, Kristi Glover of Saskatoon, a couple of years to claim her prize.

Life has a way of tossing roadblocks in our path from time to time, but now Kristi has her prize in hand. I was delighted to be able to create for her an original sketch of her family cottage at Waskesiu Lake in Prince Albert National Park.  Read more….

Read More»

Ink & Watercolor Workshop Round Up

The temperature was hot (35C), and the enthusiasm was high for the Ink & Watercolor Workshops that I delivered through Black Spruce Gallery in early August.

I’m not a novice in the world of leading workshops. I’ve been doing that my entire career. However, I am new to delivering workshops in the world of art. And, in a word, I had a blast!

When participants are eager to learn, it adds so much to the workshop experience. And that was definitely the case with the two groups of enthusiastic artists who took part in these programs.

Read More»
Copyright © 2016 - Pauseworks Studio - Patricia Katz, Optimus Consulting
Share