Creative Catalyst Newsletter – December 16, 2008

Creative Catalyst Newsletter
December 16, 2008

Beginning Oil Workshop

Stop staring at blank canvas and start painting. With Craig Nelson’s simple method for still life, you’ll overcome your hesitation and kick start your career in oil. You’ll develop foundation skills, create a path for improvement, and even save money at the art store.
You’ll build an affordable kit as Craig walks you through essential materials and navigates the pitfalls of store displays. You’ll learn to paint vibrant scenes with only four colors and four brushes.
This simplified palette lets you focus as you learn to think like an experienced painter. You’ll spot the important shapes, shadows, and highlights and learn to fit them all in your composition.
Each step builds on the previous one, so you constantly refine your skills. You’ll set a comfortable pace for your continuing journey in oil. As Craig says, “Start simple, get good, and then worry about jumping to that next level.”
Length 1 hr. 40 min. with bonus clips and gallery.

See the trailer

See what’s on sale here

From Behind the Camera: What is Art? One artist’s answer

What is art? One artist’s answer.
When we first started filming, I’d ask folks, what is art? Many of the artists threw up their hands and said it was far too big a question to answer short of writing a book on the subject. But Mary Todd Beam gave me an answer immediately. Mary said that to her, art is glorifying the humble, it is visual poetry.
The more I think about her answer, it resonates with me.
First, Mary’s answer represents the fact that she has given it enough thought to have arrived at an answer. Can I say that for myself? No. But it seems it would be well worth my while to do so.
Secondly, by saying it’s visual poetry, Mary identifies the mind set she brings to her process. She is not painting a literal translation of a subject. Drawing in perspective, or getting correct value relationships becomes irrelevant. Mary employs analogy and symbolism. What she feels becomes as important as what she sees.
So what is Art? There is no right answer. There is only insight into our own path by our answers. And I think there is a lot to be gained in the struggle to answering the question.
Cheers,
Lynn Powers

Lynn’s gallery

Upcoming Live Workshops by Creative Catalyst Instructors

Lisa Engelbrecht
February 13-16, 2009 – Kellogg Conference Center, Pomona CA
Contact:www.societyforcalligraphy.org
Ann Bagby
February 9-13, 2009 – Taos, New Mexico
Contact:  lyn.bleiler@yahoo.com
Caroline Jasper
February 15, 2009 – Sarasota, FL (Painting Demonstration)
Contact:  www.artsarasota.org
February 16-20, 2009 – Sarasota, FL
Contact:  www.artsarasota.org
Dayle Doroshow
February 21 & 22, 2009 – San Francisco Center for the Book
Contact:  www.sfcb.org
Janie Gildow
February 24, 2009 – Colored Pencil 2 at Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute
Contact:  www.desertmuseum.org/arts
Judy Morris
February 17-19, 2009 – Emerald Art Center, Springfield, OR Contact:  541-726-8595 – www.emeraldartcenter.org
February 20, 2009 – Buffalo Grass Workshop, Portland, OR
Contact:  billbaily@comcast.net
John Salminen
February 2-5, 2009 – The Presidio in San Francisco, CA
Contact:  Karen Powers 510-502-6211
February 17-20, 2009 – Little Rock, AR
Contact: diwizi@comcast.net
Ratindra Das
February (TBA) – Ajijic, Mexico
Contact:  ratindradas@sbcglobal.net
Pat Weaver
February 6-8, 2009 – Dade City, FL
Contact:  ivel2@aol.com
February 20-22, 2009 – Bradenton, FL
Contact:   Diane Shelly 941-746-2862
February 21, 2009 – At Paint Out at the Long Boat Key Art Center
View our Blog for January 2009 schedules, here.

In This Issue

SAVE $5: Beginning Oil Pre-Order

Inventory Reduction Sale continues

From Behind the Camera – What is Art? One artist’s answer

Workshop Schedules

This Week’s Winner

Quote

Top Sellers

Just out!

Holiday Shipping Guidelines

Winter DVD Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to Amy Draughn of Virginia, USA, for being our winner of the weekly drawing (12/8-12/14).

“How do I define a work of art? It is not an asset in the stock exchange sense, but a man’s timid attempt to repeat the miracle that the simplest peasant girt is capable of at any item, that of magically producing life out of nothing.”
~ Oskar Kokoschka
1886-1980
from ARTIST TO ARTIST
compiled by Clint Brown

Nicholas Simmons

Check out the Watercolor Magazine, Winter 2009 for two wonderful articles on Nicholas Simmons and John Salminen.

The Postal Service recommends the following mail-by dates to ensure your gift arrives on time:
Dec. 20 First-Class Mail
Dec. 20 Priority Mail
Dec. 23 Express Mail
More USPS information here.
UPS Shipping
UPS – Based on shipping from Oregon:
UPS Ground – 5 Business Days to the East Coast (less the further west you go)
UPS 3 day – Three business days (not including ship day)
UPS 2 Day – Two business days (not including ship day)
UPS Overnight – Not to all locations … some locations may take two business days.