Classes and workshops!

Hello everybody!
Sorry you haven't heard from me in a while. It's been crazy busy!
Tut mir leid, dass ich schon ewig nicht mehr von mir hab hoeren lassen. Ich hatte soviel zu tun!

The year started off with me driving South to teach a 2-day intensive on Pen and Ink in Jupiter, FL. It was great fun with all the ladies there, and they produced some wonderful sketches, and sparked new ideas for my own art.
Das Jahr fing gleich damit an, dass ich in den Sueden fuhr, um fuer 2 Tage einen Intensiven Kurs in Tuschezeichnung in Jupiter, Florida unterrichtete. Es machte total viel Spass, und die Ideen und Kunstwerke meiner Schueler gaben mir auch viel mehr Ideen fuer die Zukunft.

Back in my own area, I am now currently teaching another 3 classes of Pen and Ink for four weeks each. One in Mt. Dora at the Arts Center, and 2 different sessions at our Artists Workshop here in New Smyrna Beach. Everybody just loves how quick and easy these charming little sketches are done, and how many different techniques are possible with just a simple pen and some watercolor!
Zurueck in meiner Gegend unterrichte ich gerade 3 verschiedene Sessions von Tuschezeichnung, einen Kurs in Mt. Dora, und zwei in New Smyrna Beach, da ich die vielen Schueler nicht in einer Klasse unterbringen konnte! Jeder hat Spass damit, wie schoen und schnell man diese charmanten Zeichnungen anfertigen kann, und wieviele verschiedene Techniken man mit nur einem einfachen Stift und ein bisschen Aquarell ausprobieren kann.

Here one of my demos for Pen and Ink, with watercolor wash.

Hier eine meiner kleinen Demo-Skizzen mit Tusche und Aquarell.

I also finished my two beginners classes. Wow, did these 15 students come a long way! Back in October, we started with simple exercises like circles and shading apples in various drawing mediums, then developed further scenes in watercolor, acrylics and oils. So much fun, and so much progress! I am so proud of my beginners, who are now taking more advanced classes and/or delving into one of their favorite mediums.
Ich beendete auch meine zwei Klassen fuer totale Anfaenger. Wow, sind die 15 Schueler weit vorangekommen! Im Oktober fingen wir mit einfachen Uebungen wie Kreisen und Schattierung von Aepfeln in verschiedenen Medien an, und dann malten wir einige Szenen in Aquarell, Akryl und Oel. So viel Spass, und so viele Fortschritte! Ich bin so stolz auf meine Anfaenger, die nun andere Klassen mitmachen, und nun endlich wissen, was fuer ein Medium sie am liebsten moegen und damit weiterkreiren wollen.

1. Charcoal/Holzkohle

2. Pencil/Bleistift

3. Colored Pencil/Buntstifte

4 Pastel/Pastell

5 Pen and Ink/Tuschezeichnung

6 Watercolors/Aquarell

7 Acrylics/Akryl

8 Oils - layered old master technique/Oel, Lasurenmalung

9 Oil - alla prima/Oel alla prima

None of these students had a brush in their hand since elementary school! 

Keiner dieser Schueler hatte eine Pinsel in der Hand seit der Grundschule!

In addition to teaching a beginners class to Plein Air painting, I finally had time to join the group for a nice outing this week. We went to a horse training facility, where the rolling fenced-in pastures are dotted with wonderful-looking old barns. Here is my 2-hour effort, I'm very pleased with it.
Noch als Zugabe unterrichte ich auch gerade eine Anfaengerklasse zum Plein Air Malen. Und trotz all dem Unterrichten (5x die Woche!) hatte ich endlich mal Zeit, diese Woche mit der Plein Air Gruppe zum Malen zu gehen. Wir fuhren zu einer Pferderanch, wo die eingezaeunten huegeligen Weiden mit Pferden und tollen alten Scheunen gepunktet waren. Hier ist mein Gemaelde nach 2 Stunden, ich finde es total gut gelungen.

Location photo - as you can see the cart has no hay. I made it up, and it looks pretty darn good!

Meine Sicht - der Heuwagen war leer, und ich habe mir das Heu ziemlich gut vorgestellt, so dass der Wagen im Gemaelde dann acuh voll war!

Spring Garden Ranch, Deleon Springs - 14"x11"/35cm x 27cm, oil on panel

Til next time!

Bis naechstes Mal!

Ruth

Talkin' about kayaking and taking classes!

Hi everybody

Austin and I took our kayaks out yesterday and paddled around beautiful New Smyrna Beach. It was relaxing and nice, and I could even do a little sketch during lunch on a sandbar in the middle of the inlet (see red star).
Hallihallo,
gestern gingen Austin und ich mit unseren Kayaks paddeln in New Smyrna Beach. Sehr entspannend und schoen, und ich malte sogar eine kleine Skizze zum Mittagessen, das wir auf einer Sandbank in der Mitte des Inlets hielten (siehe roter Stern).

Summer is over, and classes are starting very soon! 

Hier sind meine Klassen, die ich alle ab Oktober 2018 unterrichten werde. Ich werde mich nicht bemuehen, das zu uebersetzen, doch ihr koennt ja mal die Links anklicken und schauen, was ich alles mache!

Please take the opportunity to sign up for any of my classes. 

They are all held at the Artists Workshop in New Smyrna Beach.

If you would like to learn how to do little sketches like the one above, follow this link to my Pen and Ink w/Color Wash class. It's only 4 sessions and starts mid-November.

If you want to learn how to compose a painting like this, know more about perspective, and how to add people correctly in your artwork, then my other 4-week class might be for you! Follow this link to my Composition and Perspective class. It starts mid-October.

If you want to learn how to paint outside, on location, in front of your subject, EN PLEIN AIR, then you might want to sign up for my 2-day workshop that is held Nov 11-12. Click here to find out more and to sign up! I would love to have you!

I am also starting a new beginners class. I introduced 20 students to the different media in the art world this past season, and they all loved it and are now branching out! My Beginners Class is available for the working folks on Monday evenings, and also on Thursday mornings. Please follow the link here and check it out! Also, tell your friends and neighbors about it, if they want to get into drawing and painting, but don't know where to start.

Additionally, this season I am taking over monitoring the Live Model Open Studio at the Artists' Workshop. It starts late October on Tuesday evenings, and features a new model (nude and/or clothed) every week. Please check out the details here, or call me if you are interested. I am also looking for more models, so if you know somebody, contact me!

For any of these classes you can either sign up online, call me at 386-451-6857, 

or respond to me directly via this email.

Hope to see you soon!

Ruth

New Classes coming Jan 2018!

Hello everybody!

Let's get the new year off to a great start of learning and exploring! I am scheduling 2 new classes starting early January at the Artists Workshop Studios. (map here)

On Monday afternoons, I will be offering Pen and Ink with Calligraphy and Goldleafing.
On Thursday mornings, I will be offering a "Beginner's Class to Art", introducing the most popular painting media and techniques.

Please read the summary of what to expect and details on time and cost below. You can also find the details on my website by clicking here.

MONDAY PM: Pen and Ink Class with Calligraphy and Goldleafing

starting Mon, Jan 8, 2018, 1-4pm at the Artists Workshop Studios

(members $80, non-members $95 per 6-week session)

In this class we will be exploring the exciting small pieces of art we can create with simple tools and materials. Pen and ink, colored with a wash of any water media, will capture sweet little scenes anywhere - and keep you in practice! In addition we will embellish our pieces with text by using simple calligraphy, and if there is interest, I will also introduce you to the wonderful technique of goldleafing to add that extra sparkle to any artwork!

Bring reference photos of what you want to sketch or choose from the assortment I will bring along.

Minimal art supplies needed:

-Pencil and eraser

-Pen, calligraphy pen, ink pen, microliner or similar

-Mixed media paper or sturdy card stock

-Your favorite water media: watercolor, acrylics or gouache

I will incorporate calligraphy and goldleafing depending on interest from the body of the class. I will provide all goldleafing supplies so you don't have to go to the expense of buying everything just to try it out. Doing the goldleafing will be an extra $10 per student.

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THURSDAY AM: Beginners Class: The Basics of Painting

starting Thu, Jan 11, 2018, 9:30am-12:30pm at the Artists Workshop Studios

(members $80, non-members $95 per 6-week session)

This class will be two 6-week sessions consecutively, plus a $55 materials fee.

An introduction to the most popular media and their techniques and materials

If you have decided to make art a part of your life, but don't know where to start or which technique would best suit your lifestyle and temperament, this is the class for you! To go thru all 6 media will require the time of 12 sessions. Each session is 3 hours. The cost for the instruction is $160 ($190 for non-AWI members) plus $55 for all materials and tools. You will have to buy nothing up front. If you already have some art materials, please bring them along so we can compare and evaluate what else might be needed.

We will start with pencil and graphite sketching, then explore some colored pencil and pastel drawing. As a third technique we will continue with pen and ink drawing. Adding a gradated wash in ink, we will naturally progress to watercolor. We then will spend a couple of sessions trying out acrylics and oils. Each student should be able to go home with a completed small piece of art in each of the 6 most common media:
1. Pencil/Graphite
2. Colored Pencil/Pastel
3. Pen and Ink/Ink Wash
4. Watercolor
5. Acrylics
6. Oils
But the most important thing is that you will gain a broader knowledge of techniques and materials and can make a better decision in what would suit YOU to take up as a hobby!

These explorations in chunks of about 1-3 sessions (each session is 3 hours) in each medium will give you a good idea what you like and what would suit your life and ultimate goals of creating.
I will give you advice and tips of what to purchase, what is necessary and what you can do without, with links and recommendations as to further exploration via internet, books, and artists' newsletters.

Sample of Pencil/Graphite

Sample of Pen & Ink with Wash

Sample of Watercolor

To see the scene in the other media, you just have to take the class!

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To sign up for either class or both, please send me an email or call me direct. Please also feel free to pass along this info to anybody who you think might be interested in joining us!

Ruth Squitieri

call 386-451-6857

email to krautgraphics@gmail.com

www.paintingsbyruth.com

Pen and Ink again

Hello everybody
The class I was teaching for Pen and Ink ended last week. Below are some photos. As usual in my classes, I try to teach PRINCIPLES with lots of hands-on demos that the students can understand and hopefully apply to future independent work. So for these 6 sessions I tried to show different subjects and different approaches to this versatile medium. We did drawings from reference photos, learned a bit about perspective, added lettering and fancy framing, and also applied color in different ways: thin watercolor, transparent as well as opaque gouache, and ink wash in one (black) color. Adding color at the beginning in a controlled, and then in a wild artistic manner, or adding color at the end. We also went outside and drew from life, en plein air.
Hallihallo!
Der 6-woechige Unterricht, den ich ueber "Tuschezeichnen" lehrte, ging letzte Woche zu Ende. Anbei ein paar Photos unten. Wie immer in meinen Klassen, versuche ich, PRINZIPIEN zu lehren, vor allem mit vielen Demonstrationen, so dass die Schueler es verstehen, und hoffentlich an zukuenftige Projekte allein ohne Aufsicht anwenden zu koennen. Fuer diese 6 Sessions zeigte ich, wie man verschiedene Themen und verschiedene Anwendungen man mit diesem vielseitigen Medium malen kann. Wir zeichneten von Photos, lernten ein bisschen Perspektive, fuegten Saetze und Rahmen hinzu, und malten in verschiedenen Wegen: duennes Aquarell, transparent und auch undurchsitige Gouache, und Tusche mit Wasser verduennt. Wir uebten auch, die Farbe entweder am Anfang oder am Ende hinzuzufuegen, und entweder kontrolliert, oder ein bisschen wilder und kuenstlerischer. Wir gingen auch raus und zeichneten "plein air".

1. Drawing at the fort in New Smyrna Beach

Zeichnen bei der alten Ruine in New Smyrna Beach.

2. Doing a quick demo en plein air

Eine schnelle Demonstration en plein air.

3. "Wild" color with pen and ink drawing on top

"Wilde" Farbe mit Tuschezeichnung drueber

4. My class and their artwork!

Thanks guys, it was fun!!!

Meine Schueler und ihre Kunstwerke. Es hast Spass gemacht!

I also did a quick sketch of my husband Austin last week. He has been practicing with a local band for a while now, and last Saturday they had their first gig at a seafood restaurant in New Smyrna Beach. I took the kids there, and we had dinner while we listened to them. Bikeweek just started so the restaurant was VERY crowded and we could only find seats slightly behind the band. So this is what I sketched.

Letzte Woche konnte ich meinen Mann Austin zeichnen. Er hat nun schon seit einigen Monaten mit einer Band hier geprobt, und letzten Samstag hatten sie ihren allerersten Gig in einem Seafood Restaurant in New Smyrna Beach. Ich kam mit den Kindern, und waehrend wir zu Abend assen, konnten wir ihnen zuhoeren. Da Bikeweek gerade angefangen hatte, war es ziemlich voll und wir konnten nur hinter der Band Sitzplaetze finden. Deswegen die komische Sicht.

Austin is the black-haired guy with the black vest on the left. He played the drums. The band is called "The Saltwater Gringos". The song selection and performance was REALLY good! I'm sure they'll have more gigs.

Austin is the schwarzhaarige Mann mit der schwarzen Weste links. Er ist der Trommler. Die Band heisst "The Saltwater Gringos". Die Liederauswahl und die Auffuehrung war echt gut, und ich denke, dass sie nun oefters auftreten werden.

Here is another pen and ink, this one was more involved. It's a large one (14"x11") of the town of Rothenburg in Germany. I did the pen and ink lines with an almost dry pen, so it had an "old" character, and then washed in some subtle watercolors. (My watercolor box of pans is from my youth that I bought in Wuerzburg, Germany. Still brilliant and useful!)

Hier ist eine groessere Tuschezeichnung, die ich letzte Woche fertigmalte. Es ist eine Sicht von Rothenburg, ca. 35cm x 28cm auf Aquarellpapier. Ich zeichnete die Linien mit einem fast trockenen Stift, so dass die Linienfuehrung Charakter hatte, und dann malte mit leichten Aquarellfarben drueber. (Mein Aquarellkasten ist noch von meiner Jugend, in Wuerzburg gekauft. Immer noch brilliant!)

At this time I am teaching a 6-week course in "Composition and Perspektive", and am almost done with another 6-week course where we copy a famous painting.

Zur Zeit unterrichte ich einen 6-woechigen Kurs in "Komposition und Perspektive", and bin bald fertig mit einem 2. Kurs, wo wir ein beruehmtes Gemaelde kopieren.

More next time!

Bis zum naechstenmal!

Ruth

Pen and Ink Class updated

Hello
I was supposed to teach a 4-week course doing pen and ink colorful drawings. Since the studios at the Artist Workshop sustained major roof damage, they were closed for a good month, and all the classes had to be delayed. I asked my students if it was okay to start the class next year, as the last 2 months of the year are always so hectic, and we agreed to hold the class on Thursdays in Jan, starting Jan 5, 2017. So I have a bit more time to prepare and gather more ideas.
Hallo,
Ich sollte meinen 4-woechigen Kurs in Pen-And-Ink Zeichnen vorletzte Woche anfangen. Doch da die Studios des Artists Workshop in New Smyrna Beach grosse Reparaturen wegen des Hurrikans hatten, mussten alle Klassen und Events verschoben werden. Ich fragte meine Studenten, ob es okay waere, es auf Januar naechsten Jahres zu verschieben, da die letzten 2 Monate im Jahr immer so hektisch sind wegen den Feiertagen, und wir einigten uns darauf, dass meine Klasse nun am 5. Jan. 2017 anfaengt. So habe ich nun ein bisschen mehr Zeit zum Vorbereiten und Ideen sammeln!

Above is a new pen and ink, without any color addition. It's from a photo I took in Schwaebisch Hall in Germany in September.

Obig ist eine neue Tuschenskizze. Von einem Photo, was wir im September in Schwaebisch Hall schossen.

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For the new exhibit at the AWI gallery on Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach I entered the mixed media below. I had started it earlier this year, but now that I was face to face with the original Botticelli at the Uffizi in Florence, I had to finish it as soon as we got back home!

Fuer die neue Ausstellung des Artist Workshop in unserer kleinen Gallerie in New Smyrna Beach habe ich dises Mixed Media Gemaelde eingetragen. Ich hatte es schon im Fruehling diesen Jahres angefangen, doch als ich dann in Florenz den originalen Botticelli in der Uffizi Gallerie sah, musste ich es einfach fertigstellen, sobald wir heimkamen!

All the best, and til later 

Also, bis spaeter wieder

Ruth

Feedback and important lesson points

Here's a quick summary of some key points from the class I taught.

What I wanted to get across:

A good composition and a good pattern of light and dark is the foundation of a good painting! Details are just the highlights at the end! Don't rush into laying down color on the canvas - you need to first spend a couple of minutes thinking about the composition and value pattern - it's worth it!

You don't need to be an expert in perspective to get the key points right. Determine your horizon level and some of the vanishing points, remember where all the lines are heading, and it will make your viewing point more convincing and correct.

_______________________________________________________

Feedback:

Audrey S.

This workshop was excellent!  I learned some things I could immediately put into use.  It was obvious that Ruth cared that her students learned what she was teaching.   Her style of instructing was such that I felt comfortable, relaxed and confident that I’d be taking home some good information.  I’m thankful for the experience.  Ruth is a pleasure! 

Your classes have been excellent.  I really enjoyed them and feel like I got a lot out of them.  I was wondering if you had time next week for a private lesson.  Your description of other classes is exactly what I’ve experienced  (I really hope that I taught more than just "paint like me, and then you have ONE nice painting", but then when you start your next painting, you will be lost.).  Yours was more helpful than all the others I’ve had put together.I really appreciate it and I look forward to seeing you sometime soon.

Georgia J.

Can not believe that I thought for years that flat brushes weren't for me and that a notan wasn't that important. thank you  Also I really enjoyed your enthusiasm and patience. Doing a demo was very helpful!! Best to you in your art career!

Bethany B.
Your class was fun!  Something I learned was how to apply oil paint in an impressionistic way for interesting skies and water!  Thank you Ruth! 


Joanna M.

I really enjoyed your class at the Artists' Workshop.  Obviously I learned quite a lot about 

getting the perspective correct and about really making sure the composition works.  I now see that there are many great photos that simply will not make a good painting - so, I liked your question "Why do you want to paint this?".

 For me, however, the biggest learning point was really understanding  that you need to do the quick sketch and then the notan so that the dark/light values are in place.  I always tend to just jump into the painting without taking the time to think it out.  I am already seeing a difference in the composition as I am completing my painting I started of the little cottage.  Yes, I really like my greens now that I am mixing and not using just sap green and thalo green from the tube! I don't know that you could change much about the class.  If it is longer than 4 sessions you might have to not specifically do composition and perspective but rather just do students individually painting with your assistance.  You might also possibly do a plein air class that is 2 or 3 days.  I personally liked the 4 session class with the specific topic. Thanks so much for your time and comments during the class.  I will see you at the Paint Out in October!

Audrey R.
I was hoping at some time I could get together with you on a 1:1 for a few hours.  I would like to talk to you more about composition.  Is this possible? You explain things in such a way that resonates with me.  Thanks.

_________________________________

Thanks to all my students, it was fun!

Ruth

Composition and Perspective Class August 2016

Hello!
I just finished teaching my first short-term class at the Artist Workshop in New Smyrna Beach. It was focused on Composition and Perspective, something that I believe everybody has or still struggles with.
Hallo! Ich habe gerade meinen ersten 4-woechigen Kurs im Artist Workshop in New Smyrna Beach vollendet. Ich unterrichtete die Prinzipien von Komposition/Layout und Perspektive, womit ziemlich viele Kuenstler Probleme haben.

In the first class I talked quite a bit about the principles of perspective and did some quick small sketches illustrating those on several reference photos of mine and the students. I also introduced the notan sketches as a small and quick way of deciding on a composition and seeing right off the bat if anything needs to be moved. Patterns in simple black and white are quick to do and tell so much. In addition, it gives you a map of what parts to keep dark because they are in the shadows, and what parts need to be light overall because they are in the sunlight. 
There were 11 students attending!
In der ersten Woche sprach ich viel ueber Perspektive und skizzierte einige schnelle Uebungen von Photos. Ich fuehrte dann auch die Notan Skizzen ein, was eine schnelle, kleine Uebung ist, um eine gute Komposition zu erringen. Mit diesem einfachen schwarz und weissen "Muster" sieht man gleich, was falsch ist oder was man herumschieben muss. Dazu gibt diese einfache Skizze einen Hinweis auf was man im Schatten und was man im Licht halten muss.
Ich hatte 11 Schueler(innen)!

The second week I started a demo from one of my photos. I explained how to transfer the notan sketch with thinned paint onto a colored ground. There were NO details, but it gave a lot of impact already - by the virtue of having stark lights and darks.
In der 2. Woche fing ich an, ein Demogemaelde zu malen. Ich erklaerte, wie ich die Notan Skizze mit verduennter Oelfarbe auf den getonten Grund malte. Es gab KEINE Details, aber so eine einfache Zeichnung macht einen grossen Eindruck, vor allem von weit weg. Und das ist, weil es auf die einfachsten Elemente und einfaches Schwarz/Weiss Muster gekuerzt ist!

Perspective sketch

Notan drawing with sharpie

Transferring notan onto painting panel toned in yellow

In the second and the third class everybody started their own painting from their chosen reference photo, and I guided them individually at their work stations, and also did quick impromptu demos/lessons on items that popped up and everybody learned a bit more from that.
I demonstrated how to do the initial drawing, laying in the mass of shadows, and then adding the colors. In addition I talked about and showed on each photo/artwork how to work the perspective, made a quick diagram to help the students, and discussed in detail if we could improve the composition by leaving items out or moving them. I did a notan (black and white quick value sketch), and a perspective diagram on everyone's photo to get them started individually and to talk through as many pieces as possible.
In der 2. und 3. Klasse fing dann jeder sein eigenes Bild an von ihren Photos, und ich half jeder einzelnen an ihrer Staffelei, und malte auch schnelle Demos im Stehgreif, was jeden interessierte und was so als Frage aufkam.
Ich demonstrierte, wie man die anfaengliche Zeichnung anfertigt, die Schattenmassen einlegt, und dann mit Farbe ueberarbeitet. Zusaetzlich skizzierte ich schnell fuer jede Schuelerin die Perspektive fuer ihr eigenes Bild, mit Diagrammen, und diskutierte mit jeder, wie man das Bild besser machen koennte, indem man einige Elemente verschiebt oder ganz auslaesst.

In the beginning of the last class the students watched me add more detail and smaller flecks of color/paint throughout to get the boat painting to a closer finish (which I did at home, see final painting below). All the students had at least one painting finished or did the last brushstrokes in this last hour. We then gave a quick overview and critique on each painting and discussed what we learned.
Am Anfang der letzten Woche schauten mir die meisten zu, wie ich Details und mehr Farbe auf mein Gemaelde setzte, um es fast fertig zu machen (was ich daheim dann total fertigbachte, siehe unten). Nachdem alle Schueler dann ihr eigenes Gemaelde beenden konnten, schauten wir alle an und gaben Kritiken und Diskussionen an diesen konkreten Exemplaren, was wir gelernt hatten.

Restful Solitude  oil on panel  20"x16"

Ruth

Portrait Painting Workshop

Hello all,
I hope everybody is having a great Christmas season.
Hallo, ich hoffe, ihr habt alle eine schoene Adventszeit!

I just participated in Deborah Elmquist's workshop at the Artists Workshop in New Smyrna Beach. Okay, it was NOT really a portrait painting workshop, but more to delve into the secrets of the Zorn palette, but of course as you will see, you can really only use it on portraits. This limited palette was used by Anders Zorn for some of his portraits, and even though they seem very colorful, it's based on the usage of only 3 colors (yellow ochre, cadmium red, blue-black) and white. So it's the 3 primaries (yellow, red and blue), and with those you can mix the most wonderful skin tones.
Ich bin gerade mit einem Workshop fertiggeworden, der von einer lokalen Kuenstlerin, Deborah Elmquist in New Smyrna Beach im Artists Workshop gehalten wurde. Okay, es war kein Portrait-Mal-Kurs im Sinne, sondern ein Kurs, um die einfache Palette (Farbenauswahl) von Anders Zorn kennenzulernen, die sich eigentlich nur fuer Portraits eignet. Er benutzte fuer einige seiner Portraits, die sehr farbenreich aussehen, nur die 3 Grundfarben Gelb, Rot und Blau, mit Weiss, und konnte damit tolle Fleischtoene erreichen. So benutzten wir also, wie er, nur Gelbocker, Cadmium Rot, und Blau-Schwarz, mit Titanium Weiss.

Deborah on her first demo, painting from a photo of her friend Elena.

Deborah waehrend ihrer ersten Demonstration, das Bild ihrer Freundin Elena zu malen.

Deborah is a wonderful artist and a very good instructor, so all 12 participants had lots of fun and learned a lot. I finally learned about portrait painting, and most valuable of all, how to mix correct flesh tones and how to make them glow. All with 4 colors, how great is that! (Since I really hate mixing colors). It's very intuitive after a while, and very pleasurable.
Deborah ist eine sehr gute Kuenstlerin, und auch eine wunderbare Lehrerin, somit hatten alle 12 Schueler viel Spass und wir lernten auch viel! Ich persoenlich machte mich nun besser mit dem Portrait-Malen bekannt, und was noch wichtiger ist, wie man die richtigen Fleischtoene mischt, und sie fast zum Gluehen auf der Leinwand bringt, und vor allem mit nur 4 Farben! Denn ich mische eigentlich nicht sehr gerne Farben, aber dies machte sogar Spass!

The first day Deborah started her demo painting, explaining measuring and how to first learn the standard features, and then to pinpoint how your model deviates from that, which is what makes every face unique. After the initial sketch in charcoal (1), we started on flat shadows (2), mixing the mid tones for the areas in light (3-4), and then going from there, elaborating with different color temperatures on the rest of face (5-7), til it came together (8-9).

Am ersten Tag fing Deborah mit einer Demonstration an, wie man verschiedene Gesichtsteile misst, und was die Standard -asse sind, von dem dann das jeweilige Modell so abweicht, dass jedes Gesicht dann individuell aussieht. Nach der ersten Skizze in Kohle (1), malten wir die flachen Schattenregionen (2), dann mischten wir die Farben fuer die Mitteltoene der Regionen im Licht (3-4), und dann den Rest der Gesichtsfarben (5-7), bis man am Schluss die Details einarbeiten konnte (8-9), und es fast in einen Rahmen gehoerte!

These progress shots are my painting. So far I had only painted 2 models from life about 10 years ago, and also 3 portraits from photos about 13 years ago. So you can say this is my 6th portrait, and I really loved the process and what I learned.

Diese progressiven Bilder sind mein erstes Gemaelde. Bis heute hatte ich nur 2 Modelle live gemalt (vor ca. 10 Jahren), und 3 Portraits von Photos vor ca. 13 Jahren. Man kann also sagen, dies war mein 6. Portrait, und ich finde es ganz gut gelungen, und ich habe wirklich viel gelernt.

On the second day most of us still painted on this model, but I was already finished and I started a second version of the same photo. Below are the reference photo, and the first and second portrait of mine from it. I think I really learned quite a bit, which you can see in the second, better portrait.

Am 2. Tag malten die meisten noch an ihrem Portrait herum, aber da ich schon fertig war, fing ich eine 2. Version desselben Photos/Modells an. Unten sind das Referenzphoto, und das erste und zweite Portrait von mir davon. Man kann wirklich sehen, dass der Workshop echt gut war.

On the third day Deborah did more demos, and we all painted separate facial features from photos of different paintings. This really helped too, especially since they varied so much in their coloring (some more yellowish, some more violet), and we could really approximate all those hues with the 4 colors!

Am 3. Tag malte Deborah noch ein paar kleine Demos, und wir malten dann alle verschiedene Gesichtsteile von Photos von gemalten Portraits. Dies half auch, vor allem zeigte es, dass man wirklich viele verschiedenen Toene von den 4 Grundfarben mischen kann, denn einige Vorlaege gingen ins Orange hinein, waehrend andere mehr violett waren.

If you ever consider doing a workshop with Deborah, go for it! She's a great and patient instructor.

I already asked all my family members how long they might be able to sit still for me, but I guess I'll do more practice portraits from photos first! More to come!

Ein Workshop mit Deborah Elmquist ist's wirklich wert. Ich habe schon etliche Familienmitglieder gefragt, wie lange sie wohl fuer mich stillsizten koennten, aber ich glaube, ich werde ein paar Uebungsportraits von Photos erst malen. Bis spaeter dann!

Happy holidays!

Ruth

New Direction!

Wow, what a workshop! I am so excited - I'm busting. I just took a 2-day workshop last weekend with local artist Christine Peloquin, who does mixed media portraits. I am so glad I took these lessons, I think I want to take my art into a whole new direction. I will still do plein airs in oils, but I will try to do more studio paintings in this new style - collaging different fibers and materials as an underbase, sketching the main parts in charcoal, and then painting in glazes in acrylics over it.
Wow, was fuer ein Wochenende! Ich bin so froh, dass ich diesen Workshop mit Kuenstlerin Christine Peloquin mitgemacht habe. Sie kreiert gemischte Mediengemaelde fuer Portraits. I glaube, dass meine Kunst eine neue Richtung einschlagen wird, so toll finde ich diese Methode!
Ich werde immer noch Plein Air Szenen in Oel malen, doch mehr Gemaelde im Studio fertigbringen in dieser Technik - mit verschidenen Stoffen und Papieren eine Basis als Collage kleben, dann mit Kohle die grossen Formen skizzieren, und dann mit weichen Acrylic-Farben in einigen duennen Schichten druebermalen.

Christine teaching

Students with Christine in the middle, and most of our artwork after 2 days

I did these 2 small fruit paintings first, and then after an unsuccessful flower painting (I really dislike painting organic details!) I went back to my beloved architecture and left it kind of wild in color and texture. I really love the technique, the interesting shapes and materials, and the great texture the underlying collage provides to the following painting. I would love to hear your comments.

Ich malte erst diese 2 kleinen Obstgemaelde, und dann, nach einem nicht gerade erfolgreichen Blumengemaelde (ich mag wirklich nicht gern organische Details malen), ging ich zurueck zu meiner geliebten Architektur. Ich malte diese 2 lokalen Szenen von Daytona Beach und liess sie ein bisschen wild und crazy. Ich finde diese Technik wirklich toll mit ihren interessanten Formen und Materialien, und der tollen Textur, die ich unter dem eigentlichen Gemaelde dadurch kriege. Ich wuerde mich ueber Kommentare sehr freuen.

Apple and Pear - Set of 5"x7" on board

Daytona Bandshell  14"x11"

Daytona Main Street Pier  14"x11"

More to come, I'm sure! Bald noch mehr, ganz sicher!