Teaching And Sharing

The February oil workshops were a huge success.

 For those who have just joined the Creative Courage Blog, I taught three one day workshops in February in three different cities at the local Hobby Lobby stores.  We averaged 12 at each one which is about the limit for the space our equipment.  The variety of participants was a much fun as an Easter egg basket.  Beginners, Sunday painters and even a professional or 2 made for a fabulous group.  

Here are three of the many wonderful responses we have received: 

Dear Donna,

I had to take an opportunity to let you know how much I enjoyed your class yesterday at Hobby Lobby! I have tried to take art classes from other instructors before, but became very frustrated because I felt I was not receiving the type of instruction I needed, nor the individual time I needed. I did not feel that frustration in your class. I came away from the class feeling fulfilled. I received not only the type of instruction I needed, but the individual time I needed also. After your class I believe I am ready to tackle more projects with a lot more confidence.

Thank you so much! I look forward to more of your classes.

O.M.

I loved the note from Mary who has already written us to ask how to handle a canvas selection for her next painting:

                               I had a great time and looking forward to your next oil class.

Donna,

Just a quick note to thank you for the class Saturday.  I set up my

stuff in a bright area of my basement and am ready to go.  I did some

work on the painting.

I was quite overcome when a lady in the Mississippi class told me, with tears in her eyes.

“I have waited 50 years for this day.”

      When I hear things like this from friends who have joined with me to learn to paint on an adult level, I am in awe and so blessed to have them as a student.

 

I promise to give you inspiration, serious technique and support you as you grow and enrich your life in meaningful artistic experience.

Suggestions for success:

Palette:

I see more frustration and anxiety when artists try to avoid buying the best palette.  Paper plates are terrible even at picnics… and worse when used as a palette!!

Buy the Masterson blue lid box that seals.  Buy the 12 x 16" size disposable palette.  Remove only the cover of the palette and put the WHOLE disposable palette into the palette box.

To see how to clean this palette at the end of your paint day, view my video
“How The Clean a Paint Palette.”

Take the yellow top cover off the pad and place the entire pad into the box.

It is so very important to always lay out your paints in the same order!

The blue bar in the top right hand corner is reserved for your palette knife.  This one small bit of change in your paint experience can make a huge difference.  The cost of this palette and box will be paid for by the savings in paint... in your first week of painting!

Brushes:

Learning what brushes are best for you is very much like your collection of shoes:

You never have all you want.

Certain ones will always be your favorite.

When you have a special occasion, the wrong pair of shoes can ruin picture.

Take the advice of a good teacher and invest in some good brushes.  Buy them one at a time on sale or using coupons.  Take care of them.

 Never allow them to sit in the turp jar.

Clean them well after each use.

Turpentine jar:

If you use a fruit jar with a little turpentine in the bottom, you will never have a clean brush because the brush will go back into the dirty turp.  Special and affordable jars are available in all the hobby stores that have a metal coil or wire dome to allow the dirty paint to fall to the bottom of the jar.  The brush is gently rubbed across  the metal coil or wire dome.  The old paint falls thru to the bottom of the turp jar allowing the brush to be cleaned.  The turpentine should come about 1/2" over the coil. DO NOT USE BRUSH CLEANER. Use turpentine that is sold with the art supplies.  It is odorless and distilled just for this use.

Note, never allow your brushes to sit in the turp as shown. 

A very special thank you goes to 

Hobby Lobby 

and their generous use of the class rooms in Gulfport, MS, 

Cullman and Huntsville, AL

I hope that each of the visitors to my blog will gain some very good information from this edition.  Imagine getting directions from your house to a friend's home.  Remove just one sentence and I doubt you will get where 

you want to be.

donna peters