How Do You Do That?

How do you do that? It’s a question that artists hear a lot when others look at their work. It seems there’s a bit of mystery around the art of putting brush to paper or canvas – especially if it’s not part of your own experience. Sometimes a bit of show and tell is the best way to shed some light on the answer to that question.

To that end, I’m sharing a time lapse video of a recent sketch – Autumn On The Doorstep– that I created in the studio. The piece took about 45 minutes to draw and paint. But through the magic of time lapse editing, I’ve shortened it down to just 5 minutes.

A voice-over narration describes a few of the tools and supplies as well as some of the choices made as the work evolved.

I hope you enjoy tagging along for the ride.

A Sun Filled Bouquet – Recapping The Process

The Inspiration

A late August trip to pick summer annuals at Black Fox Flower Farms was the inspiration for my latest painting.

This sunny bouquet featured sunflowers, rudbeckia, zinnias and queen anne’s lace.

As you can see from the photo here, those yellows looked so fresh and bright against the background greens.

Let me show you how the painting process went.

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Travels

What a joy it was when the world opened up post-pandemic and we felt freer to travel around the world once again.

I made the most of it, and many of those travel sights and experiences showed up in my sketchbooks and in my studio works.  This is a sampling of my travel themed works you will find at our upcoming show.

All are presented in the traditional watercolor way with mats, glass and frames.

You can see them on view and on offer at our upcoming Artists’ Workshop Show and Sale happening at Grace Westminster Church (505 10th St E in Saskatoon) on Friday, April 21 (5-8), Saturday, April 22 (10-4) and Sunday, April 23 (12-4).

Bold Florals

Creating this collection of Bold Florals was a fun way to make it through the long winter months. The bright blossoms partnered with strong calligraphic line work on a white background really pop!

These watercolor beauties on paper (a collection of nine works) are mounted on gallery depth cradle board – varnished and waxed. There’s no need to protect them under glass.

They are ready to hang solo or in combination with each other.

You can see them on view and on offer at our upcoming Artists’ Workshop Show and Sale happening at Grace Westminster Church (505 10th St E in Saskatoon) on: Friday, April 21 (5-8), Saturday, April 22 (10-4) or Sunday, April 23 (12-4).

I Did It & It Feels Great!

About two months ago, I promised myself that I was going to be completely ready for our Spring Artists’ Workshop Show a full ten days ahead of time. That would be today!

And as of last weekend, all the works of art are finished, framed or mounted, labeled, listed, priced, grouped to show, and packed in boxes ready to tote to the show along with the tools and equipment to set things up.

Trust me, this is an unusual situation. More than once I have found myself working on the last of the finishing touches in the final hours leading up to an event – fingers crossed that all would be ready and stressing myself out just a tad in the process.

Why so different this time? Mainly because I was motivated by a very strong ‘why’.

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Tools For Sketching On The Go

 

Sketching on the go, whether it’s while vacationing in a foreign country or while sipping coffee in your local neighborhood cafe, is an exciting way to experience the world.

I’ve had a number of requests to share some info about what I take with me on these excursions. The answer varies depending on where I am, how long I’m planning to be out, and what I’m hoping to capture. But, that said, here’s the scoop on the basics and the extras.

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Another Class – Another Great Experience

I just wrapped up the third virtual offering of my Sketching With Ink & Watercolor Class presented through the Community Arts program at the University of Saskatchewan.

Five sessions (once a week) spread out over a month from start to finish. The series is designed for artists and would be artists who are attracted to expressive line work and lively colors and keen to create images inspired by everyday life experiences.

We worked with ink and watercolor on paper, and engaged in a series of ‘see & try’ experiences – brief demos followed by hands-on exercises and assignments.

The aim: to build a set of skills to help people capture vignettes on paper wherever they find them – from their own backyards to street cafés halfway around the world.

These are some of the topics we covered:

  • Cultivating the art of noticing as a way to breathe more life into images
  • Experimenting with dynamic lines to add variety and emphasis to the work
  • Mixing and applying watercolors in ways that keep them fresh and lively
  • Approaching a scene, exploring compositions, choosing a focus & completing a sketch
  • Putting it all together – including specific tools and tips for sketching on the go
  • Developing skills in critiquing your own sketches to keep growing as an artist

I enjoyed connecting with another lively group of committed students. They were quick to share their questions, eager to try to the techniques, and steady on the follow through with their practice assignments.

This time I delivered an evening class (5:30-8:30). So special thanks to husband, Dave, who created a 5:00 snack to nosh on before class, and was ready with dinner to enjoy after it was over.

More than once, during the delivery of the sessions, I found myself smiling to myself and thinking, “This is fun!” What more could you ask for?

Cafe Series Backstory Video

If you’ve been following my posts on social media (Facebook and Instagram), you may have caught one of more of the ten brief videos vignettes in which I shared some of the experiences and inspirations that gave rise to the ‘Care For A Cuppa’ exhibition and the Café Series in general.

The series touched on all of these themes:

  • hospitality,
  • contribution,
  • community,
  • relationship,
  • connection,
  • contemplation,
  • beauty, and
  • creativity.

The entire series of vignettes has now been combined into one video shown here interspersed with paintings from the show. If you are so inclined, I invite you to grab a cuppa your favorite beverage, press play, and reflect on your own life experiences connecting with self and others over a mug of coffee or a cup of tea.

If you haven’t yet seen the ‘Care For A Cuppa’ exhibition which has been featured through the fall at City Perks Coffeehouse in Saskatoon, this link will allow you to browse the individual works virtually and enjoy a virtual video tour of the show online at the Pauseworks Studio website.

BTW, the show run was extended two weeks until December 15th at 801 7th Ave N.

 

 

 

Artists’ Workshop: A Day In The Life

Monday (September 13th) was the first day of the 2021-22 painting season with my Artists’ Workshop friends and colleagues. It was great to all be together again. The Covid situation gave us quite a merry ride through last year’s season.

The fact that all nine members of our group are double vaccinated brings some level of comfort. Still, with Covid numbers through the roof in this province, we’re being cautious – working at a distance from each other and wearing masks when we are moving around the space….

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Sending Love To Patrons Of The Arts

Ever since I first put my art ‘out there’ for others to see and to buy, I’ve marveled each time someone liked my work enough to purchase a piece. I’m still honored when people add my images to their life and world.

Some collectors own multiple pieces of my art, happily display them, and keep their eyes peeled for more. I call these folks patrons.

What’s a patron? Someone who supports a person, an activity, an institution. Patrons come in many shapes and forms, and are universally appreciated by those they champion.

Just last week, someone whom I would consider a patron, contacted me and asked about commissioning a new painting to accompany a pair of my paintings she already owned. Based on the description of what she was looking for, I determined that I already had on hand at least seven paintings in the desired theme and format.

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Copyright © 2016 - Pauseworks Studio - Patricia Katz, Optimus Consulting
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