Creative Catalyst Newsletter September 30, 2008
SAVE $5 on Craig Nelson Drawing Gesture in Charcoal & Pastel Workshop
Craig Nelson identifies three key compositional elements. They are proportion, perspective and gesture. By tipping the scale in the direction of any one of these elements, the artist is more able to capture the qualities of the model and make the drawing more interesting in the process.
In this workshop, Craig’s emphasis is gesture. He captures the appearance of a brief pause in a dancer’s workout. He builds his sketch by plotting the relative position of body parts with a light line drawing, then systematically builds depth and values. He leaves the details and accents until the end. He describes the benefits of his simple materials. Craig explains his rational for smudging edges and joining shapes to strengthen the drawing’s gestural emphasis. Craig works from photo reference.
Valid on Online or Mail-In orders only … Retail price is $29.95 – Sale Price is $24.95 + S/H - Sale ends Tuesday, 10/7/08.
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From Behind the Camera - Art as a Profession
Occasionally, when someone receives recognition for their art, they toy with the idea of becoming a full-time artist and making a living from their pastime.
Before jumping into that boat, I would like to share a few observations. Artists are some of the hardest working folks I have ever met. Few have a 40 hour work week. Usually they eat, sleep and breath art. Everything they see is filtered through two questions: “Would this make a good painting?” and “How much could I ask for it?” This is especially true if they need the money they make from selling their work and do not live on a pension or supportive spouse. The need to produce can kill whatever joy they might have originally derived from their creative pursuit.
There is also a practical side that is sometimes overlooked. A hobby artist can afford to have someone else do their framing for the occasional painting they want to enter into a competition, or give as a gift. The cost of professional framing is too steep for the artist that produces many paintings and must absorb expenses until their paintings sell. Framing is an art form in itself. A bad frame job impacts whether a painting sells at all. So add “learn to frame” to the list of must-do’s.
Travel, teaching, lecturing, judging, and writing articles are just a small fraction of what it takes to survive. In addition, this doesn’t begin to touch on the pressure to produce and grow artistically while under the harsh lights of public exposure. If they are graphic designers/illustrators, add the stress of keeping clients happy.
I have found that if you want to be an artist, the happiest, most productive artists are usually retired, with a good pension or have a “bread-winning” spouse. Most don’t rely on their art income to support their life style, or if they do, they have a very modest life style indeed.
If you are happy pursuing your art, think twice before shaking up the balance that permits you the pleasure you are experiencing now.
Cheers,
~ Lynn Powers
DVD Cleaning Tips
I thought it would be good to remind everyone that DVDs are fragile pieces of technology … they are tougher and more durable then video tapes, but still fragile. DVDs are made of layers of thin plastic that will scratch easily. It is recommended that you do not touch the service with your fingers or anything else that may cause the DVD to become dirty or scratched.
- Jim -
Here are more tips on the care of your DVDs.
In This Issue
SAVE $5 on Nelson Drawing Gesture Workshop
Congratulations to Nicholas Simmons!
Nicholas received the top award at the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society for “Tokyo Express”. The juror was Jean Uhl Spicer.
Enjoy the high energy of Betty Carr’s film clip
Betty presents a warm up exercise before she begins the main body of her workshop.
“It takes some courage to deviate from the norm - our own and other people’s - but when we do, our individual expression can come into its own.”
Alex Powers
Painting People in Watercolor - A Design Approach
John Salminen’s Pre-Notification
John Salminen’s Urban Landscape in Watercolor DVD workshop will be available soon. To receive a pre-notification e-mail please. click here
