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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Virtual Art Classes

I would tell you that I’ve dipped my toe in the waters of virtual delivery of art classes, but in fact the experience was more like being thrown in the deep end of the pool!

The good news is that I survived, enjoyed it, and will be diving in again later this fall.

This spring, the University of Sask Community Arts program asked me if I would teach a virtual Watercolor summer class.

I agreed to offer a five class series in July titled Sketching With Ink & Watercolor; and I delivered it via zoom to eight eager, energetic and enthusiastic students.

It was a TON of work preparing to facilitate this program.

I had to figure out not only the content, but also the technical end of things – linking phone for demo with desktop computer for the theory and conversational end of the class.

Once the class was announced, before I could even turn around and let people know that the class registration had gone live, the session was already full.

And when I agreed to deliver a repeat of the session later this fall, the same thing happened again. The November 2021 class was fully registered in less than 24 hours.

The photos you see featured in this post are from the first offering of the program.

I thought you might enjoy seeing what things look like from the instructor’s side of the screen!

I am maintaining a list of people who are interested in classes I offer, so if you would like to be added to that list just drop me a line and let me know.

‘Lanterns Of The World’ Solo Show & Sale

And it’s up! I spent a couple of hours on Monday of this week – with the help of my able ‘studio assistant’/husband, David – hanging my Lanterns Of The World show.

This collection is my contribution to shining a little light in this pandemic battered world of ours.

My first solo public exhibit is open now and can be enjoyed throughout the month of July at the Brainsport Gallery off Broadway in Saskatoon – 616 10th St E.

Take in the show and treat yourself to Beppi’s Gelato – situated right next door. That’s what we did after we hung the paintings earlier this week!

An informal ‘Meet The Artist’ is tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, July 17th – pandemic willing and the creeks don’t rise!

All works are available for purchase directly from the artist. Details are on the tags posted beside each painting.

I hope you are able to visit the show and enjoy the work.

Make More Of Life Through Art – Feature Article

If you think that during this Covid pandemic that time stretched – and then stretched again – you might be right.

I was originally interviewed by Hillary Klassen for an article on my journey as a visual artist back in January of 2020. The plan at that point was for the piece to be published in the Star Phoenix YXE Living lifestyle magazine. With the onset of the pandemic, all kinds of things changed, including those publication plans.

The article eventually appeared in December of 2020 in a Regina Leader Post publication, and a copy made its way into my hands in the new year.

Now, it’s taken me another half year to get around to posting the piece to my blog. That last delay is totally on me. Fortunately, the contents aren’t time sensitive.

As we move into the summer of 2021, I hope you enjoy reading the backstory on my journey to the world of art. Hopefully it might inspire you to undertake an adventure or two of your own – all in good time.

PS – If you click on the images of the article, they will enlarge and be easier to read.

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.

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