Games

I don't know if you are like me, but watching the Olympics this past week has been an emotional roller coaster. You want so much for team USA to win every event and yet you know that isn't going to happen. You watch as one tiny mistake, one fraction of a second, one too many breaths or whatever causes the athlete or team to be defeated. You know that the athletes have have put in years of training, spent thousands of dollars, and missed family and childhood events to be where they are and their possibly one chance of glory.

You know this relates to art, right? I think about students in a workshop who say, "I want to paint like you." And while flattering, that isn't going to happen in three days or whatever. I have always drawn and painted. I read art books and now art articles and blogs constantly. I have spent thousands of dollars to attend workshops and classes, not including my college stints. I have tried different media and styles and substrates. I was fortunate enough to have a mentor at first in watercolor. I have been fortunate since to study with some other highly regarded painters. But it all boils down to...

Practice! Just like the athletes, you aren't going to improve or find your voice or style if you don't put time into it. If you can only paint one day per week but you DO paint every week, that's much better than little spurts here and there, a different artist's workshop every month, a different dvd, etc. Yes, you can learn something from every artist, sometimes more from the other people in the class, sometimes what NOT to do, but ultimately, you are the art producer. So once you get your feet wet so to speak and have the fundamentals, choose an artist to study whose style you really admire. Choose classes or workshops on your level, not those that allow everyone from the real beginner to the most advanced. Choose sessions with small numbers in the class, even if it costs a little more. You are kidding yourself if you think you will get attention in a class of 30 or more and some artists demand that many in their workshops.

So, set some goals for the rest of this year to paint more or to improve whatever you do. And if you get discouraged, just be thankful there isn't an Olympics for art. You have plenty of chances to create your masterpieces and you can only get better!

Go for the Gold!

Durinda

Painting Classes

Mike working on his watercolor Imke and Maren with their still lifes

I couldn't resist sharing a few shots from my weekly classes at Townsend Atelier since we finish up this week. The students this session were so dedicated and easy to teach. Mike had private sessions in watercolor painting on Mondays. He is an excellent draftsman with graphite (pencil) and wanted to learn to use color with watercolors. He really has developed his skills quickly. Tuesdays the morning "beginners", because most have a background in some form of drawing or graphic design, have sped through some still life paintings. Some with natural light and some had spotlights. The afternoon painters chose a landscape theme for this term and have painted their way through the seasons, finishing with a snow scene. We love our open space at the Atelier where we can arrange easels and setups in different ways. I can't believe the second session is coming to an end. Time flies when you are having fun painting!

New sessions begin January 10 & 11. Many of you know I have spent winters in Florida for the last eight years. This year I am going to try to "stick it out" here. It's not easy for me. I am sure I have S.A.D. So to prevent any downward feelings on these cold dark days, I have decided to have lots of color in the classes! We will use flowers of all sorts and sizes as subjects during the next term. I love to paint close-ups and also floral bouquets. So if you are craving some brightness in January and February, Peggy is taking registrations now! Don't feel you have to be experienced in painting flowers. We will start off with the basics. I will get back to landscapes in the spring, maybe a garden or two? And hopefully take a few of you outdoors with me painting. Until then, I hope you are enjoying the holiday season!

Colorfully yours,

Durinda

Studio News

Red Kimono

Watercolor

This is more of a newsletter today. I have several things that I want to share with you!

Join Reflections Gallery and the artists of the Tennessee Watercolor Society for the opening reception of "Color Zone", on Thursday, November 4 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. My painting "Red Kimono" is part of the exhibit. I chose one that had a color in its title. Also, this one is pretty colorful on its own. It will be interesting to see all the different interpretations of the theme. The reception will even have color themed goodies. Reflections Gallery is located at 6922 Lee Highway, Chattanooga. Phone: 423-892-3072.

I just received notice that I have been accepted as a member of the Women Painters of the Southeast. This is a group of, of course, women painters, many of whom are friends of mine. I am excited about joining this group and being a part of their prestigious exhibits.

The weekly painting classes at Townsend Atelier are going strong for the second six weeks session. I have some very nice students who show a lot of promise with painting! We enjoy each other's company while exploring the techniques of painting. The winter session will begin in mid-January. Contact Peggy at Townsend Atelier for more information. Remember: Art Classes make excellent Gifts for that special someone!

Next week right after the Tuesday morning oil class, I will be traveling with friends to Ft Myers Beach, Florida for the Paint the Beach-Sandcastles to Shrimp Boats plein air festival. This event will coincide with the 24h Annual American SandSculpting Championship. I know you have seen these events on television or maybe you have seen one in real life? The sculptors work on the beach and create unbelievable sculptures from the beach sand. So, I am sure there will be lots of interesting things to paint. Along with the paintout, there will be a sale of the paintings for the public Friday through Sunday.

And...a plug for a friend of mine! AndreeTerry has a writeup this month in the Georgia magazine. She is the owner of Andree's Essential Soaps in Athens, Georgia.

Andrea developed her soaps and lotions for her mother when she was receiving chemotherapy and found her skin would get very dry from the treatments. Andree kept making her soaps and lotions using the finest essential oils from around the world after her mother died. Then she too discovered she had breast cancer. Fortunately, it was caught in plenty of time and she is fully recovered. The business means even more to her now as she works to share her products

with other cancer patients. You certainly don't have to be a cancer patient to enjoy her lotions, soaps, and moisturizers. Check out her website to learn more about her wonderful products.

Thanks for allowing me to cover a lot of ground in one blog. I do appreciate your readership and feel free to share the link with others. I still want to write a bit about traveling and painting in Tuscany and now add to that: Ft Myers Beach!

Enjoy your weekday-

Durinda

Your World of Art Interview on Charter TV

Cameraman Josh Brown, Charter TV

Donna Hilley, owner of Artistic Gifts and Framing, with Ron Arnold

D with Ron Arnold, host of Your World of Art

Just so you'll know, I was taped for a segment on Your World of Art, a Charter TV show. Donna Hilley of Artistic Gifts and Framing, my gallery in Dalton, Georgia, arranged to have the interview at her shop on June 23. Ron Arnold, the host, and I stood in front of one of my paintings in the gallery and talked about my beginnings as an art student and later as an instructor and professional artist. I tried to be at ease, after all, you are being asked about yourself, nothing you shouldn't already know, right? Ron also interviewed Heidi Ingle, an art teacher from the Dalton area. I went first- gulp! We went straight through, no stops or retakes. You know, it is pretty easy to talk about your work, but making your life sound interesting- well, that is something else entirely. So, I hope I didn't bore anyone to sleep, or maybe if I did, I hope you see images of French cottages and poppy fields in your dreams. That's what I try to dream about.

The show is airing on Charter Cable TV channel 17 (at my house) and maybe channel 22 in other places. I have caught it around 8 pm nightly. It should run during the month of July. I think the whole concept of spotlighting local and regional artists is really kind of nice. We try to promote other things, why not the artists and craftsmen as well? BTW, Ron is a photographer and shows his work at Reflections Gallery in Chattanooga, another gallery of mine. Check out Heidi's cute animals in acrylic. She has been selling at the Chattanooga Market on Sundays. It is always a pleasure to meet other artists and talk "shop". I hope the interview will encourage children and young people to think about following their dream of becoming an artist someday. And, give inspiration to those adults who have always wanted to paint or draw, but just haven't started.

"Life is a great big canvas; and you should throw all the paint on it you can." Danny Kaye

What are you waiting for?

Durinda

Cha-Cha-Changes

The new gallery space, 2712 LaFayette Road, Ft Oglethorpe, Georgia

For those youngsters, that was part of a song from some years ago. It was going through my head today when I was thinking about this past week. A lot has changed! My daughter gave birth to a boy Monday night. She has two girls, ages 4 and 6. This new addition is a real cutie- blonde hair and eyebrows, sure to have blue eyes. So now, our family has increased. I didn't think it was possible to love another child as much as I love the others, but it is! Somehow your heart is big enough!

This week also marked a change in locale for my weekly classes. Instead of meeting on Lookout Mountain, we met at my Ft Oglethorpe studio for a Color Workshop. I called it, "Need to Know about Color". They were very enthusiastic about making charts of colors and mixing grays. Hopefully, they all gained something they find usable in their painting.

Then, this weekend, we have been moving the studio to another building just down the road from where we were. I say "we" because I share the space with my husband, Bill. He has an office for his company and I take the majority of the space to paint! Good deal, right? It has been some experience packing and moving supplies, canvases, easels, tables, etc. When I moved from my retail space a year ago, I put everything in storage and went to Italy for two weeks! Needless to say, there are boxes I haven't opened since and here they were, ready to move again. My son and husband have been very patient with me- I have enough canvases if we have a major depression for the next five years. I know this because he told me! So I said, "Right! I can keep on painting while other artists are wishing for canvases." :) So, if you are in need of a painting and NO ONE else in the USA can do it because they are out of canvas, I am your artist!

Of course the major change in our world is our new president elect. I am hopeful that he will be energetic yet methodical in his duties. It's not a job for a sissy! How great is it to live through a stage in history like this?

Back on the "art front", I will be taking commissions for original works through Michael's Fine Arts and Framing in Dalton, Georgia. Now is the time to request a painting in time for Christmas. The house portraits will be offered with framing at a great price. Stop in and see Michael at 1325 Dug Gap Road or phone: 706-278-8840 for more information.

Have a wonderful week and remember our Veterans.

Durinda

Art is Comfort Food for the Soul

Sometimes you have to express what is in your heart. This has been on my mind for a couple of weeks (understandably). When you make your money from selling art or from selling anything right now it can be nerve wrecking to think about. So I hope that no matter what business you are in, this message will lift your spirits and give you ideas that are helpful.

Lundi (Monday) Oil on Canvas, Durinda Cheek

A lot of preparation goes into a show or any event where you have invited the public and depend on them for the revenue. Once artwork is chosen, framing is considered, titles, prices, hanging, buying advertising, mailing invitations. . . the list goes on. The news we are hearing about the economy isn't great which makes anyone nervous. You need to have sales to cover your expenses and it would be nice to come out ahead.

People are willing to pay for products that they feel they "need". Artwork is an emotional purchase. It either "grabs" a person for its subject matter, style, color, shape, or some type of connection. In my opinion, art is not a luxury item. People have the need to surround themselves with things they admire, things they are proud of, or things that have meaning to them. Art is Comfort Food for the Soul.

As an artist, I am honored when someone purchases my paintings. I have a connection with them now because they have a "piece" of my heart. I don't paint things that I don't like. I don't like ugly art, political statements, explicit sexual content, or violent scenes. I probably wouldn't have been commissioned to paint during any political uprising! I want my paintings to bring joy to the owners. Is it a memory of a place they loved? Someplace they would like to be? Colors that embrace their personality? If it "goes" with their sofa, that's great. That means it has the color palette that they want around them. I like those colors too or I wouldn't have chosen them for the work.



I am so proud of the students' works in their upcoming Autumn Art Show next weekend. Some of them have been with me almost three years and others are fairly new to my weekly classes. They are all special to me and I am blessed to have them in my life. I hope that many of their friends and the invited public will come to support them. And, who knows? You may go away with a little Comfort for Your Soul.

Autumn Art Show

October 23 - 26

Thursday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Friday & Saturday, 11:00 - 5:00

Sunday, 1:00 - 5:00

Happy Painters' Studio

116 N Watauga Lane

Lookout Mountain, TN

Sketching Callaway- May 3 & 4

Callaway Gardens has posted the 2008 workshops on their website. Sketching Callaway is my new workshop that will take place in the gardens May 3 & 4. We will be working in a sketchbook with pens and watercolor pencils. One of the education staff will work with us to identify the different plants in the area. My goal is to have everyone create a "Garden Journal" with notes, thoughts, and sketches.

The webpage is: www.callawaygardens.org/foundation/info/education.workshops.aspx

Their phone# is 706-663-5153

Or email: education@callawaygardens.org

If you are interested in the workshop, please register with the education department. As many of you know, I have been fortunate to paint in the gardens several times and belong to the Callaway Painters. It is a beautiful setting. Accommodations are available in the gardens and in Pine Mountain. You are sure to enjoy this opportunity!

New Classes in February

Starting February 19, a six-week course in Beginner/Refresher Watercolor will meet mornings and a Beginner/Refresher Oil Class will meet in the afternoons at the Happy Painters Studio on Lookout Mountain. This is a step-by-step class covering all the basics of handling and mixing colors, values, and composition. We will work from still lifes and photographs. One of my loves is to introduce people to the pleasure of painting. I am looking forward to working with those who want to learn a new medium or just refresh their skills and get back into painting. If you are interested, or know someone who is, please email me for registration. The class size is limited to six.

Durinda@Durinda.com
423-802-9787

Lookout Mountain Art Classes Underway

The art classes on Lookout started Wednesday, September 12. This is the afternoon watercolor group. We are glad to have Barbara Murray join us this year. Here is the gang: Betty Moses, seated; LJ Huffaker, Ann Currey, Jan Michaels, Barbara Murray, and Wendy Williams. They are such wonderful ladies and artists. I will post a photo of the morning oil class when I can get it uploaded! Anne Platt, Sarah Fowler, and Evelle Dana started Wednesday. We have a couple of spaces in the morning class and a wait list for the afternoon class. If you or someone you know are interested in joining either one, let me know! Watch for an article on the classes in the October Mountain Mirror and an open house later in November in the studio/gallery space.