Jacqui Beck Workshop

Just got home from hosting  two one-day workshops at two of my teaching venues, the Anacortes Senior Center and the Burlington Senior Center, taught by Jacqui Beck [click here].  Not only is she a wonderful painter of intuitive, sometimes whimsical, often symbolic, acrylic and mixed media paintings, she is also a creativity coach, who is generous of spirit aside from being remarkably talented.  The two classes were full, and almost to a person, they want more.  We are hoping to schedule a TWO-day workshop in the area in the early fall, if we can secure a venue.

Last fall, I went to one of Jacqui's one-day workshops in Edmonds, and was taken by the way she approaches her teaching.  She is not a "how-to" instructor, she really does coach the students, and certainly helped me unlock a few of my creative places.  I just knew my painting friends and students would get a great deal from a day spent with Jacqui as I had.  And they did ...

And I got to be a student and particpate both days.  Woo hoo!  I am so pleased with all that I learned, and hope to really punch through again.  Yesterday's work was good, but I'm not loving it yet.  Today's was much better, because I allowed myself to play with absolutely no intentions.

Here it is ...

Sassy Tulips 18" x 18" Acrylics Texturized Underpainting

This Week's Daily Paintwork Challenge

This week is stacked up with so much to do and so much on my plate, but I really liked this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge, so I did a very quick acrylic sketch.  Not great, but I was able to "play with the others," andpost my little sketch.  I so enjoy wahat Carol and David Marine are doing with the Weekly Challenges.  It gives us all an opportunity to connect through art, and share with others.  Good on ya, Carol and David!  Good marketing, too!

"Happy Hour"  Daily Paintworks Challenge 8" x 10" Acrylics

New Batik Workshop April 4th in Anacortes

Just a quick note about my upcoming Watercolor Batik Workshop, scheduled for April 4th at the Anacortes Senior Center.  Workshop is also listed under the Workshops tag to the left of this post.  Would love to have you join us!

Good News Today!

Apparently, one of my paintings sold at the Whatcom Art Guild Art Market over the weekend.  I am so pleased, because I really hadn't expected it to sell at all.  It was a piece that has gone through a few false starts and a few experimental "what ifs" ... all of which ultimately "came together," to make a fun little painting.

I started this in a workshop in which we were experimenting with various gels.  I concocted and applied some Nova Lava Gel, then applied some gold leaf, which made no sense, then applied some black gesso, which made even less sense, then attached a high resolution laser print of a sketch I had done in a life drawing session, then I painted lava gel with some gold paint which really looked pretty good ... and then  oops, one gold drip right smack in the middle of the painting, so I dripped gold over the whole "mountain" and the figure.  All in the spirit of experimenting. 

Frankly, I really liked it, but never really thought it would sell.  Am so hoping the buyer will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed doing it!

Mountain Goddess ~ Acrylic Mixed Media 12" X 12"

Another Batik for Workshop

It's my day off, so I have been working on a few small batiks to show at the workshop on Saturday.  This is another batik of model, Jill.  Maybe it's a little dark, but I sort like the "mood."  What do you think?

Batik Workshop on Saturday in Bellingham

Have been working on some "new material" for my all-day Watercolor Batik Workshop scheduled on Saturday at Dakota Art in Bellingham [there are still a few spaces available!].  I am finding that when I set up to do a series of batiks, I invariably have to do a "sacrificial piece" to warm up. My sacrificial piece that I did this morning will never see the light of day, let alone a space on this blog!  Terrible! But, that warm-up piece allowed me to do the one below, which pleases me.  Am hoping to have enough pieces by early spring to do a whole show in batiks.  We'll see. 

Radishes Watercolor Batik 8" x 8"
to show in Watercolor Batik Workshop

This litte piggy

Here's another quick sketch I did at Ruby's on Saturday.  I guess I was really trying to work on saving whites!  I am finding that for me the best way to get the whites is to have great darks!  I may have to try this one in watercolor batiks.