The Champion Family Home Place, finished painting
Finished Painting
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Lew Champion’s old home place near Pine Mountain.
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Lew Champion’s daughters have commissioned me to paint the family’s old home place on Salem Road. Mr. Champion doesn’t live there anymore, but he misses the home in which he grew up. Even though it isn’t possible for me to paint the memories of others, I do try to paint in such a way that will evoke an emotional response from the viewer. I like to think my house portraits are more than impersonal architectural renderings.
Choose classes that support your goal.
You should choose classes that support your goal. Most one day workshops are fun and you learn a lot about mixing and technique. However, if your goal is to create your own original art some day, these classes won’t take you all the way. No matter how good you are at copying another artist’s work, it isn’t “yours”. In the beginning, when you are studying your craft, it is a great idea to copy the work of other artists. Of course, you can not pass these off as your own; that would be copyright infringement. It is good practice, but not marketable. After you learn the craft of watercolor painting, you then need to take classes in composition to make the leap from hobbyist to artist. If being a watercolor artist is your goal, learn how to use photographic references the right way (not merely copying), learn how to take an idea for a painting through the rigors of compositional decisions (based on sound design principles) and finally end up with an ORIGINAL painting by you. One of a kind; original. How ultimately exciting! And tremendously satisfying!
In the CSU winter catalog I am offering two Intermediate classes; Level One and Level Two. This is a big change in the curriculum. “Intermediate Watercolor, Level One-Technique” will include a still life.
It will pull together everything you’ve learned in “Beginning Watercolor” and “Drawing Fundamentals”.
“Intermediate Watercolor, Level Two-Landscapes” will focus on landscape paintings; a snow scene, evergreens against a yellow morning sky, rushing water and reflections in still water, a meadow, a mountain, and more. You will learn the history of landscape art and the names of famous American artists of the Hudson River School.
The advanced class that follows is called “Composition for the Painter”.
When you complete the four core classes, you should be in a position to create your own original art. The core classes are (1) “Beginning Watercolor”, (2) “Intermediate Level One”, (3) “Intermediate Level Two” and (4) “Composition for the Painter”. Prerequisites for the composition class include several more drawing classes. Drawing skills are essential to the creation of original work. The curriculum is well thought out and is intended to give the student the skills needed to create original watercolor paintings.
Watercolor and Pastel
New Class at Art Works in Pine Mountain!
All You Can Take! A new kind of watercolor class.
Bright Winter/Spring Class Schedule
Going, Going, Gone
Walking in Leaves
I’m thankful I’ve had the opportunity to spend so much time outdoors this fall. I’ve painted leaf, after leaf, after leaf, fascinated by the bright colors and textured patterns. Last Sunday, I shared my joy of leaf painting with my watercolor students at Auburn. What fun! I’m beginning to think this is something I can do all year, because there are colorful leaves in every season.
I’m gearing up for a busy winter of teaching….my classes are planned and scheduled for January , February and March, at Columbus State and at Auburn.
Color, Color, Everywhere!
Watercolor Crash Course! Sunday, 11/20/11
This is my favorite time of the year. I love the warm golds and reds of autumn. Beautiful! This Silver Maple leaf is the subject we will be painting for the Watercolor Crash Course! on Sunday, November 20th, at Auburn University. Beginners and advanced beginners, all supplies furnished. $55./$65 Tuition. Take advantage of the early bird special and register now. www.auburn.edu/cconline.
Building Strong Foundations-Visual Art Certificate Program at Columbus State University-Continuing Education
While weekend workshops have value to students who are seeking to experiment with a medium, learn a few techniques and have fun for an afternoon, they sometimes become frustated with their inability to move beyond this stage. If it is the student’s goal to become an artist who first conceives and then develops and executes their own orignal work, they soon realize they’ve skipped some important lessons along the way. The solution is simply to begin at the beginning; build a strong foundation in drawing, then layer color skills, and as confidence grows, move through intermediate levels and finally challenge oneself with more advanced work.
The Visual Art Certificate Program begins with the foundation of all good paintings, and sculputre and other mediums…Drawing. Drawing is the bedrock of all that follows and it is for this reason CSU has developed a program that emphasizes it’s importance. As a student gains confidence in these skills, they may add color with classes such as Beginning Watercolor, Intermediate Watercolor (Level One:Technique and Level Two: Landscapes), Composition for the Painter and Media Spotlight: Colored Pencils.
Visit columbusstate.edu/CE to learn more.
Stravinsky, line drawing by Picasso
All Things are Created Twice
Enhanced House
All things are created twice; first in our mind and then in our medium. It began with a walk on the 4th of July. I saw a red, white and blue house, but the paint was faded and peeling. The whole place was run down. There was a tattered WELCOME flag flying over cracked cement steps and there were no flowers on the trash littered porch. Artists can see something like this and get very excited, much to the puzzlement of other folks. It is because they see more than what is actually there. They might be inspired by the possibilities. A tweak here, and there, and wha-la….a painting!
Burning the Candle at Both Ends
This summer, I’ve taught a class somewhere almost every Saturday; Watercolor Crash Courses! at Auburn, Columbus State and Art Works Gallery, and two new classes; Mother Nature in Watercolor and Drawing Crash Course!
I’ve been developing the Fine Art Certificate Program that will be launched at CSU in September. Everyone should come to the free presentation of that program, Open House, on September 8 at 7:00pm. I’m looking forward to teaching Drawing Fundamentals and Beginning Watercolor in Sept., Oct., and November.
brendaswatercolors.com 