How Did You Do That?

‘How did you do that?’ is a question I was asked more than a few times after I presented the paintings in the December 2020 Glimmers Of Hope series. It just so happens that I took some photos of the process so that I could write about it and share the magic with you. Here’s how it went.

 

First, I cut watercolor paper into five inch squares.

I prepared a number of different colored ‘mats’ for the work by applying masking tape to the paper squares.

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Saturday Morning Adventures With Paint

I spent a few hours this morning as a student in a couple of on-line watercolor workshops. Although I might prefer to be face to face in a workshop setting, still it’s a treat to be able to learn from artists all over the world from the comfort of your very own studio.

Thanks to Dillman’s Art Workshop Retreat in Wisconsin for sponsoring a live one hour demo paint-along with Colorado watercolorist, Janet Nunn. 

Janet works with Dr. Martin’s Hydrus Liquid Watercolors, but I improvised with my own tube paints. She demonstrated techniques featuring crumpled wax paper and a credit card. 

  • Here’s my version of her winter scene. I love the energy in the sweep of the sky and the snowdrifts.

Dillman’s regularly sponsors online demonstrations with all kinds of artists. Follow their Facebook feed to be alerted to upcoming programs and enjoy replays of past sessions.

Immediately on the heels of that session, I spent two hours in another paint along workshop with UK urban sketcher, Ian Fennelly. Ian is known for his lively, detailed, colorful sketches created with Tombow markers, permanent ink liners, and watercolors. 

  • Even though I live in the middle of the prairies, it was fun to imagine myself seaside as I recreated this rickety beached boat and its sentinel seagulls.

Fennelly’s session was sponsored by EtchrLab, maker of fine sketchbooks. They offer an extensive range of online mini-lab workshops at extremely reasonable prices.

There’s lots of online learning to be had if you keep your eyes and ears open. Have fun!

Making This Paris Lantern Glow

I’ve really been enjoying working with the members of the Artists’ Workshop group this year.

One of the best parts of our weekly sessions is learning more about how other artists approach their work.

I have long been intrigued by the way that colleague, Val Miles, incorporates foil work into her bird images.  You can see more of Val’s work by checking out ‘Val Miles Mixed Media’ on Facebook.

Val graciously offered to show me how she handles this process, and led me through the steps involved in adding foil to one of my watercolor lanterns.

Val uses a multi step process that involves: sketching your image, deciding where you would like to add foil, adding a background color in those areas, applying an adhesive, and then burnishing the foil into place.

Once the foil is adhered, you complete the rest of the painting in the normal way. In my case, this involved ink and watercolor.

Here are a few pics that show how the process unfolded on this Paris Lantern. You can have a first hand, up close and personal look at the end result at our Artists Workshop Spring Show & Sale, where this beauty will be putting in an appearance.

The show and sale takes place at Grace Westminster Church, 505-10thStreet East in Saskatoon. Friday, April 13 (7 – 9 pm). Saturday, April 14 (10 am – 5pm). Sunday, April 15 (Noon to 4 pm).

Thanks, again, Val for your patience and for sharing your how-to know-how with me!

  

Artists’ Chats – A New Feature At Our Spring Show & Sale

Have you ever wondered how someone got his or her start as an artist? Or why an artist works with certain images? Or how someone creates those special effects in their work? Well, here’s your chance to learn the answers to some of your questions.

Our 2019 Artists’ Workshop Spring Show & Sale is just a couple of weeks away. Our theme this year is ‘Bridging – Do You See What I See?’

As a way of sharing more about how we experience the world of art, our group will be featuring a series of ten minute Artists’ Chats throughout day two and three of the show.

Join us to learn more about your favorite artists and their backgrounds, motivation, influences, and processes.

See the schedule below for the interview times for your favorite artists.

Saturday, April 13

  • 10:30 –Val Miles
  • 11:30 – Monika Kinner-Whalen
  • 12:30 –Patricia Katz
  • 1:30 – Sharron Schoenfeld
  • 2:30 – Kathleen Slavin
  • 3:00 – Paige Mortensen
  • 3:30 – Kathryn Green
  • 4:30 – Lorraine McGrath

Sunday, April 14

  • 12:30 – Molly Clark
  • 1:30 – Cindy Wright
  • 2:30 – Jean Dudley

Where & When: The show and sale takes place at Grace Westminster Church, 505-10thStreet East in Saskatoon. Friday, April 12 (7 – 9 pm). Saturday, April 13 (10 am – 5pm). Sunday, April 14 (Noon to 4 pm).

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!

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.

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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….

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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.

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Commissioned Painting For CAPS

I’ve been a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers since its inception two decades ago. Over the years, I’ve attended and presented at conventions and chapter meetings, played roles on various committees, and served as the President of our National Board.

Last year, CAPS celebrated its 20th anniversary as an organization. In honor of the occasion, I was invited to use my skills as an artist to create something unique to mark this special milestone.

Since our 20th Anniversary aligned with the 150th anniversary of Canada, and our 20th convention was held in Ottawa, I was asked to create a painting that featured Parliament Hill and to include a special element that would reference the CAPS 20th.

The image you see here is the original painting that I created featuring an autumn view across the Ottawa River looking towards the Peace Tower and the Parliamentary Library. Cruising down the river in the foreground is a boat carrying the name, CAPS 20.

This original painting was presented to the CAPS National President, Suzanne Stevens at a special pre convention reception hosted on Parliament Hill. Here is a photo of Suzanne with the framed original ready to take a place of honor in her home.

In addition, each person who served on the planning committee, volunteered for special tasks at the event, or presented a session at the convention received a reproduction of the image, matted and ready to frame and display.

Print in Recipient Grant Ainsley’s Office

The paintings were a tremendous hit. Some declared it the best convention gift they’ve ever received! Many recipients have sent me photos showing their prints proudly on display in their homes and offices.

I was delighted to be able to use my skills as an artist to support an organization that has played such a significant role in my professional life. Special thanks to Rhoinda Scharf for the inspiration that led to the request and, ultimately, a throng of happy recipients.

 

PS – You can purchase your own copy of Celebrating Canada 150 – CAPS 20 through this online link.

 

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