Painting lesson in the art studio- Seattle, WA

I gave a private painting lesson to 8 and 10 year old girls in my studio. Before the lesson I had them do homework involving some research and deep thought. Here are some of their answers: Favorite artists? (I sent a list of some artist's names they might like to check out, but they also had their own favorites).

1. David Hockney, David Wyse. (8 year old)

2. Matisse, Jennifer Mumford. (10 year old)

Favorite quote?

1. "I know it's hard but never give up." from a teacher at school (8 year old)

2. "A good friend is never forgotten but is always in the heart." from her mother (10 year old)

Most awesome goal as an artist? 1. To teach drawing to preschoolers. (8 year old)

2. To become a world famous artist. (10 year old)

Keep that vision!

the other finished piece from the overlapping exercise

Daniel Smith Demo on Dog Art- Seattle, WA

Demo July 22 on Pet Portrait Painting at Daniel Smith Artist's Supplies in Seattle, WA. I was the presenter, and I must say, I learned a lot! It really is hard to walk and chew gum at the same time, that is, paint while talking about painting. Next one, I will paint quietly and talk about it during the pauses. Thank you to those who came and stayed afterwards to talk. One of the main comments was- "Wow, the painting viewed directly looks really different from the mirror image!"

Free Demo at Daniel Smith Artist's Supplies, Sunday July 22- Seattle, WA

The demo at Daniel Smith is called "Pet Portrait Painting", but I will as much time talking about how to start from zero and build a composition, and how color interactions create the pulse of the painting, and make it alive. I will use color squares to demonstrate how colors move forward and backwards in a painting and create an illusion of movement and depth, simply by their interaction with each other. Here are the sample color squares I created and will use. Can you see how in each image, the color squares on the left create the illusion of each color moving backwards in the painting, like looking down a funnel, and each color square on the right side moves forward, like a pyramid building upwards?

This color theory is not my invention, it belongs to Joseph Albers. I was lucky enough to be studio mates at my first studio in Seattle in Fremont with Charles Emerson, who was a student of Albers. Charles kindly shared this knowledge with all of us occupying the Red Door Tavern upstairs studios before the building was moved to make room for Pete's Coffee.