Creative Catalyst Artists are Winners
Last week we reported that Nicholas Simmons took top honors at the National Watercolor Society. Mark Mehaffey and Donna Zagotta (all CCP artists with DVD workshops in various stages of production) were notified they had also won awards at the National Watercolor Society. Mark received the Janet Hilford Memorial award for Blue Monolith (1). Donna took a memorial award at NWS for Heart to Heart (2). Additionally, Donna won first place at the Rocky Mountain Watercolor Society for Morning Stroll, Key West (3) and fourth at the San Diego Watercolor Society with Big Yellow Taxi (4)
In addition, remember Claudine Hellmuth will be on Martha Stewart, September 12th.
Summer Art Show Winners
Best of Show
A Dream
Veronica Garcia-Huidobro
Best Story-Behind-the-Painting
Uncles & Brothers & Fathers & Sons
Claudia Balthrop
Best Design
Eagle Over The Pines
Cheryl McClure
Most thought-provoking
Island Dreaming
Marilynn Brandenburger
Best use of color and Best Composition
Candy Girls
Kathy Jurek
Honorable Mention
Handiwork
Georgia Mason
Honorable Mention
Sittin & Spittin
Durinda Cheek
Caroline’s Color Mixing Tip: AVOID MIXING!
“Remember that color is most brilliant straight from the tube. Any two colors mixed produce a color less vibrant than either original unmixed color. Adding more color(s) further reduces vibrancy. Mixtures become muddied quickly when too many colors participate, especially if combining unlike hues (not close to each other on the color wheel).
I prefer my colors mingled, not mixed. Brush marks of diverse color may be integrated without actually mixing them. At a short distance from the canvas, eyes deliver separated colors to the brain where they “seem” to mix ala-Seurat. Taking advantage of each color’s inherent chromatic potency, the visual effect is much richer than looking at literally mixed, potentially muddy, versions. (Note: I am not suggesting that you buy every color available to side step the need for mixing, nor am I implying that I never mix colors. I do, however, limit mixing where possible.) This approach, while applicable to all color media, is particularly advantageous for oil painters because of slow drying times. Avoiding unwanted wet into wet mixing keeps mud out of the picture.”
- Caroline Jasper –
ANOTHER WINNER! – Ann Pember
Ann Pember’s painting “Summer Solace” (14″ X 21″, watercolor on gel-coated paper) won the Trails and Streams Award & Medallion for a forest theme in the Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge, NY. Congratulations Ann!
Ann has two watercolor DVD workshops:
DVD workshop Vibrant Orchid
DVD workshop Painting In The Flow of Watercolor
Learn more about the technique Ann has developed for this style of painting in her DVD workshop.
A word of encouragement: It all adds up!
Last weekend we filmed Craig Nelson. This is Craig’s third time at CCP, and each time I am reminded of his incredible dedication to his art form. Craig works seven days a week creating ART. His success has little to do with random luck; he has earned it.
As a casual artist, I forget this very basic lesson…like doing scales on at the piano, simple studies do indeed take us nearer our goal. The mechanical side of painting needs to become second nature, like breathing and walking. Drawing, quick studies, small still lives… it all adds up. Craig calls it “brush miles”. It is all part of the same path. Now all we need to do is get busy and do it, each time pushing ourselves just a little more toward excellence. – Lynn –
INVITING ALL HOME SCHOOLERS
We have always believed that young people do not need art “dumbed down” for them. With this in mind we are inviting all of you who home school students to try using our DVD workshops with your kids (of every age).
I would like to start a conversation about how you use our DVD workshops with your kids. If you are interested in participating please email me at: jim@ccpvideos.com
Let me know what age your homeschoolers are and whether you own any Creative Catalyst DVDs that you have viewed with your kids.
If you have already tried using our workshops with your kids email me your stories. We will reprint them in future newsletters and blogs so that other parents can learn from you.
Thank you for your interest in art education.
- Jim –
The art work to the right is:
“Follow The Yellow Brick Road”
Appearing in the Creative Kids Art Show at Creative Catalyst
by Sean Gerty
Filming Craig Nelson
We wrapped up last week and started this one by filming Craig Nelson. Craig is an instructor and department chair at the San Francisco Academy of Art, a world renowned institution. We stayed up way too late talking about notables in the art world that are Craig’s friends, students or fellow artists. Many of the illustrators whose work I’ve loved for years are on a first name basis with Craig… not the least of which is Burt Silverman.
Friday morning we did our first plein air shoot. A ‘first’ in anything is a learning 
experience. I am the person under the black cloth… The sunlight made it impossible for me to see my display screen. Next time I’ll have something more professional looking, I hope. All went really well. And of course, Craig’s painting was great.
While here, Craig did two more paintings. One is an exercise, with a limited palette, he recommends for beginners. The third painting is a more complete two day landscape painting done in studio.
News – September 4, 2007
This week opens with a holiday and beautiful weather here in Oregon. For all the many months of winter, with constant rain, this state redeems itself with the weather of summer and fall. It is just barely 80 degrees, clear skies and flowers everywhere. It’s 106 in my old haunts of LA….
I managed to get through last week with only one major blunder of misquoting the juror of the National Watercolor Society and editor of Artist Magazine, Maureen Bloomfield. I guess if one is going to make a fool of one’s self, there is no point in doing it in private….
Our week will end with filming Craig Nelson In Plein Air. Craig will paint a vista overlooking a local stream toward the neighbor’s barn. It will be our first workshop filmed ‘in nature’. We have thought of every contingency we can imagine. Time will tell. The report of an oncoming weather downturn is par for the course. We are charging our batteries, rounding up umbrellas and portable mics. What a blend of art and science!
Among other news this week, Nicholas Simmons, Mark Mehaffey and Donna Zagotta (all CCP artists with workshops in various stages of production) were notified they had won awards at the National Watercolor Society. Additionally Donna Zagotta won first place at the Rocky Mountain WC Society. Also, our very own Claudine Hellmuth will be LIVE on the Martha Stewart Show September 12.
- Lynn –
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