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

Every Artist's Dream!

Be prepared for what I am about to tell you! Painting in Monet's Gardens is every painter's dream if you love flowers, gardens, French architecture and landscape. What better way to experience the life of this famous artist than to live in his village and actually paint in his gardens! I have been fortunate to have been twice to experience this. I am about to make you an offer you can't refuse!

Art Study (http://www.artstudy.com/) in Giverny is able to offer us a week of living in Giverny (see the photos above for the house, the sunny kitchen, and the artist studio) at a reduced rate in the early fall. You can read all about them via their website and see that the other workshop sessions are listed. This one would be early September. I have been during that time and the gardens are aglow with dahlias, sunflowers, nasturiums, and the waterlilies! This is THEIR season! I can't guarantee the weather, but it won't be summer and it isn't too cool yet. I remember being quite comfortable painting out. We will have daily access- yes! Daily access to the Gardens to paint!

I have met Cello Bennett and been to her house and toured the studio. I can tell you that she is a very gracious and accommodating hostess. She is carrying on the en plein air experience for artists after the passing of her husband, Gayle, in March of this year. IF you ever thought you would want to see Monet's Gardens and Home, paint the French countryside and small villages, live and eat the French way, and actually paint in Monet's Gardens, this is the time for you!

Because Cello is giving us a reduced rate which includes all meals prepared by our own French chef except 3 lunches and 2 dinners (which will be events in themselves)and includes ground transportation for our side trips to paint around in the area, she is asking that we respond with a YES or a strong MAYBE asap. The deadline I am setting is February 5 for you to respond to me (no deposit yet). I need to tell her we have 7 painters interested! And, you can bring your nonpainting spouse or friend or other! Just remind them that it is a quiet village where they can relax, read, walk, ride bicycles, take photographs, etc. Of course they are welcome with us anywhere we go too! She will give a 10% discount on that second person with you!

This week will be YOUR focus. Bring what you want to work in, Cello will provide easels and turp for work in oils, watercolors or acrylics. I will offer as much or as little direction as you want. Take tons of photos. This is a chance of a lifetime for you as an artist or if you know an artist who might be interested, please tell them to contact me! I know the economy is all we hear about, but it isn't going to get any cheaper and this opportunity may not be offered again and for some of us, we ain't gettin' any younger! ;>)

Email me at: Durindacheek@gmail.com if you are thinking about it, have questions, etc before the deadline of February 5. Feel free to pass this information on to your art groups and friends. I am sure no painter will want to miss out on living every artist's dream!

Dreaming in French!

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

Amelia Island part 2 and fall paintings

This is SanJon Gallery in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Fl.

Here is the shot of Sandy Hinton and me in front of some of her wonderful works in her gallery I talked about last week. Sandy paints in acrylic and watercolor. She had a painting in the Tennessee Watercolor Society exhibit this year. I put links to her work and the gallery in last time. I hope to show a few tropical paintings in her gallery during October. Amelia will be a great place for the workshop. Lots of interesting things to paint!

I don't know why I couldn't load my photos last week, but I think the computer is trying to tell me something. I think I have every photo on it that I have ever shot with a digital. HMMM- time for a cleaning?

This week in the studio I have been working on fall landscapes. Never too early to get ready for fall shows! My concern has always been how to keep fall landscapes from looking like "Kmart", excuse me, but the contrast of reds, oranges, and yellows, with greens and browns can be too much. I credit Diane Johnson with getting me in the North Carolina mountains one fall to paint foliage. Her advice was to mix a complement with the colors. Since the sap is going away, so is the color, so you need to dull it. Only where the sun hits directly on upturned leaves would there be a brighter hue. I try to keep that in mind when painting fall scenes.

Get out and enjoy the summer while you can!

Durinda

Scenes from Callaway Workshop

Here are some of the participants in the Sketching Callaway workshop last weekend in beautiful Callaway Gardens. We started on Saturday drawing close-ups of leaves and flowers and then ventured into the Rhododendron Trail on Sunday to capture the plants in the landscape. The group was just wonderful to work with and so open to trying new things. We enjoyed having Katie Steinhoff, Interpretive Horticulturist, explain the gardens and plants in bloom for us. I hope that that everyone will continue to use a sketchbook to record their surroundings and feelings.

I am pleased to announce that I have been invited back to teach Perspective Drawing, a two day workshop on drawing buildings, fences, etc in the landscape. Dates are September 20 & 21, 2008. We will work on the mechanics of drawing and use sections in the Garden that contain structures. Registration will be with Callaway: education@callawaygardens.org.

I am also looking forward to teaching another Sketching Callaway workshop next April. I will post the info as soon as everything is worked out.

Just a reminder: The Spring Show at Happy Painter's Studio, Lookout Mountain, continues until May 30. Hours are Tuesday - Friday, 11:00 - 3:00 or by appointment. This is your chance to buy directly from the artists!

Also, coming up is the workshop in France! I am getting excited about the trip and all the sites and images we will see and paint while there. If you are thinking of painting outdoors this summer, see my past posts on oil and watercolor gear to pack.

Have a Marvelous Mother's Day Sunday!

Durinda

Classes and Workshops

My fall art classes will be in a new space on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee beginning Wednesday, September 12. Oil/acrylic painting will be from 9:30 - 12:00 and Watercolor painting will be 1:00 - 3:30. The studio is next door to the Mountain Mirror office on Watauga Lane. I am looking forward to working with returning students and meeting new ones. I plan to have the classes outdoors some this fall painting on the mountain! Email me for registration information.
I have two new workshops to share with you. I hope that you can join me in my Artist's Travels this year!

Spring workshop: Sketching Callaway, April 4 & 5, in beautiful Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Ga. We will create a journal of sketches, watercolor paintings and notes about the garden with the help of the staff horticulturalists. The azaleas should be in full bloom! Registration will be with Callaway Gardens at a later date.

Summer workshop: Durinda and Friends in France. Two weeks at a lovely country house, all expenses included (except airfare) to paint, sketch, relax, shop and sight see. Instruction for plein air painting in the French countryside will be in watercolor and/or oil painting. Registration will be with La Bonne Etoile. More information will be posted later.

Welcome to my artist blog!

Welcome to my new artist blog! I will be posting my works in progress as well as new paintings that are available for purchase. Since I love to travel (who doesn't?) I will keep you informed of my locations and painting schedules. This year, I am primarily developing a series of my works for galleries, exhibits, and collectors. After having my own teaching studio for three years, I felt the need to get back to my original plan (after leaving the art department of McCallie School in 2002) of working on my own. I will keep you informed of the progress!

My new working studio is located in the historic town of Ft Oglethorpe, Georgia in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is a beautiful area of valleys, lakes, ridges, and the Tennessee River. I will be offering painting workshops this fall locally. I love to paint en plein air (on location). Many times I use these studies to paint larger works in the studio. I have so many now that will make wonderful paintings, scenes from Paris, Venice, Tuscany, as well as New York City, Florida, and other areas of the southeast.

I hope that you will stay in touch. I will have news of upcoming shows and classes, paintouts, and other events.
Back to Painting!
Durinda