Creative Catalyst Newsletter- June 14, 2007
Landscape Acrylic Painting!
Learn some painting tips for that summer trip you’re planning.
Get the scoop on how to capture a wonderful rural scene with acrylic. You learn how to make wood look weathered, stone look textured and foregrounds look convincing. In addition, you can print out your own copy of the final painting and reference material to more fully understand Charles’ process. Get all the advantages of acrylic while achieving the juicy, transparent look of watercolor.
Charles Harrington in WATERCOLOR WAYS WITH LANDSCAPE PAINTING IN ACRYLIC.
MAKE DRAWING PART OF EVERY DAY
Most artists agree that drawing is the foundation on which the visual arts are built. It is said that we should draw every day! So make drawing something that is fun and easy to do daily. Put a small sketchbook and pencil in places you frequent, such as your car, next to your TV, at the telephone etc., and leave them there! They will remind you to draw and make it possible to draw rather than spend time looking for your drawing materials!
Nearly all of the artists who have filmed here at CCP have brought a sketchbook and each book has been very different. It reflects the varying goals of the artist. Mark Mehaffey and Ratindra Das used theirs to think through design options for paintings. They make bold value sketches and notes of what is going on around them. George James paints relationships. His sketchbooks are filled with people in active poses. With his sketchbook as a reference, he is able to place figures in his paintings with realistic accuracy. In George James’s third art instruction video, Designing for Content we included over 25 pictures of his sketchbook. It’s a wonderful insight into how he thinks.
Cheng-Khee Chee tells us to collect visual reference material. As he puts it, “For an artist, it’s like money in the bank!”
Enjoy a Selection of Wonderful CCP Workshops for Drawing
Encourage Your Creative Kids & Teens
Summer is a great time for kids and families to do art together!
The Creative Catalyst Blog#trent (posted June 12) has the first installment about “Creative Kid Trent” and his mom, Tanya. It is their adventures with the Creative Catalyst website and art instruction DVDs.
We would love to hear your adventures “¦ send us your stories about Creative Catalyst, your kid(s) or other family members. We might just post your story! Unfortunately, we cannot post all stories.
Check out the Creative Catalyst Blog where Kelly has posted eleven great ideas for summer craft projects inspired by CCP DVDs.
Reader’s Tip
“To keep bees away (and other insects as well), tuck Bounce, the fabric softener sheet, into your hatband or around your easel. It is one of the most effective insect repellants known.” Sent in by Dorcas O’Reilly “¦ thank you, Dorcas!
Join the Summer Art Show
Creative Kids and Teens Art Shows
Recognize the talents of the young by entering someone special in the non-competitive CREATIVE KIDS ART SHOW! and the CCP TEEN ART SHOW.
Just think how cool it would be for them to see their work on our website. In addition, they can write about themselves and their work (or you can writ for them in their own words).