Off Line Editing – Why it takes so long
April 14, 2009
We’ve been asked why it takes us so long to turn out a new DVD workshop. It is because we are sticklers for quality. Here is a brief peek into the first editing step.
Before the artist ever arrives in Oregon, we have gone through a series of discussion about the workshop outline, wardrobe, props, resource materials, worksheets, digital images of related pieces, food preferences, how to practice for teaching in front of a camera and cat allergies, just to name a few. It has taken weeks. The artist arrives and we film. They go home and editing begins.
The filming process usually takes 3 to 5 days. In that time we generate the equivalent of miles of footage. Fortunately, it’s digital so it fits conveniently on to a single external hard drive. Kelly Powers, the off-line editor, reviews the media to gain a general sense of the overriding thrust of the workshop. Kelly imports the footage from each of the 4 to 5 camera angles (fig. 1 – one camera) and synchronizes them into one Final Cut Pro editing program. Figure 2 represents Kelly’s first step. It is 8 hours of 5 cameras, or 40 hours of footage. All the pieces have been synchronized. Audio (in green) is below the line.
The third image is the project after Kelly has had it for several weeks. She has groomed the video (above the line) to include only the best shots to explain the topic under discussion. She has added stills of reference materials and appropriate text blocks. Hundreds of cuts have been made.
Few artists can talk and paint at the same time. CCP artists are no different. Below the line in figure 3 demonstrates the number of cuts Kelly made to clean up and arrange the audio. She moved the audio to coincide with the appropriate visual for the best learning experience. Sometimes what you hear is from a completely different part of the workshop. Kelly has rearranged it to make more sense. She has been known to rearrange an entire workshop. Her astute judgment has always been right on target.
Additionally, all of us have speech quirks. If we were to leave in all the “ahhhhs” and “ummms” said while the artist is thinking and painting, viewers would soon be distracted. So those are removed. To make the information still more clear and easier to navigate, Kelly adds text blocks and chapter headings.
After Kelly has finished with off-line editing, the workshop progresses to on-line editor Zach Mull. That’s a story for another day.
Kwan Jung Greetings
Dec. 2008
Dear Friends &
SEASON GREETINGS
2008 has been an artistic year for the Jungs. We have been busy doing paintings and engaged in many art activities like: attending friends’ exhibitions, being a helping hand in painting workshops and the art class.
We have also got our names in prints. In art book publishing of 2008, Kwan’s landscape painting “ Engagement in the Park “ is included in the book “Splash 10, the passionate brushstrokes“, edited by Rachel Wolf of the North Light Books this year. In her book, Editor Ms. Rachel Wolf asked all artist who is contributing his or her artworks to tell how to passionate those brushstrokes. Everyone had his or her thought written. In page 19th of “ Splash 10, the passionate brushstrokes “ Kwan wrote “ It is a lifetime goal to create something special” as his answer.
Early January 2008, Yee Wah and Kwan both participated in the invitational small group exhibition of “ Celebrating Tradition” in San Francisco State University. The exhibition was sponsored by the San Francisco State University, supported by the Yale -China Association and collaborated with the New Asia College Alumni Association in Northern California. “ Celebrating Traditions “ included 60 pieces of diverse artworks created by the renowned masters who had taught at New Asia College, a founding member of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Alumni artists who are living in California. The Exhibition was held at the SFSU Downtown Campus from February 8 to July 31, 2008. We were able to show our artworks together with our teacher Professors Ting Yen Yung (1902-1978), Tseng Ke Duan (1900-1975) and Principal Mr. Chien Mu (1895-1990). So, we drove up north twice. Each time, we took the opportunities to visit our daughter Kathy who is living in Livermore and friends who are living near San Francisco area. First, we went to deliver paintings for the exhibition and secondly for the Opening Ceremony which was scheduled on the the 8th of February and the demonstration of Chinese brush painting . Kwan took up the task for the New Asia College Alumni Association and did the demonstration on the 9th. It was a part of the lecture series related to Chinese art and culture to be offered to the general public at SFSU during the six month exhibition period. Kwan made twenty small Chinese paintings in two hours during the demonstration. In both trips, we visited friends and had small gatherings or informal College Reunion . Together, we had several delicious dinners in China Town. It was like the good old days when we were college kids. A 36 pages Exhibition Catalog was printed by the SFSU to accompany the Exhibition. All artists (11)who were in the exhibition are in one page print with photo, resume’ and painting occupying the Catalog. Kwan and Yee Wah have their pictures printed in pages 22 & 23 of the catalog.
Mrs. Blue of the General Atomics of San Diego purchased six more landscape paintings from Kwan for keep this year. In addition to the thirteen previous purchases, the total number of Kwan paintings in the General Atomics’ permanent collection now has reached 19. All paintings are on display daily in the facility there. The new paintings are “ “ Blue Grass Country” 26” x 36”, “Moon” 28” x 38”, “Purple Cloud” 30” x 33”,“Waterfall”19” x 58”, “Metallic Tree” 27” x 54”,and “Golden Hill” 33” x 60”. ” After the new collections were framed and hung, we made appointments and visited the General Atomics Gallery in two occasions. First, we went with our friends Janet and Minching Lam, Kwan’s high school friend. Secondly, we went with artist Kitty and Danny Tow, Danny was employed and worked there many years ago. We were so impressed with the enormous scale of the gallery and the various art collections displayed. The Gallery is in the middle of the offices. Their employees are actually working in an artistic and cultural environment so designed by the Blues.
We wish all of you a Joyous holiday season, Merry X’mas and a Prosperous Healthy Happy New Year 2009 !
Kwan & Yee Wah Jung
Lynn Powers Gallery
Lynn Powers Gallery
Creative Catalyst’s very own Lynn Powers has finally posted a few of her watercolors and posters in our website gallery. Does this mean she’s coming out from behind the camera?
-Jim-
Creative Catalyst Newsletter October 23, 2008
Announcing a Winter DVD Giveaway
Enter to win our weekly and 2nd chance Winter DVD Giveaways! The more you order, the more chances you have to win.
Each week, starting this past Monday (October 20th), your name automatically goes into a hat for each DVD you order that week. At the end of the week, we will draw one name and announce the winner in our E-Newsletter (winner will also be notified by e-mail). Winners receive one free Creative Catalyst produced DVD of their choice.
But wait, you have a 2nd chance if your name is not drawn that week. The names not drawn that week will move to the 2nd Chance Hat for another drawing held at the end of the period. Then it starts all over again!
Periods Run:
• Begins October 20 & ends November 23, 2008.
• Begins December 1 & ends December 21, 2008.
• Begins January 1 & ends January 31, 2009.
• Begins February 1 & ends February 28, 2009.
(Note: Maximum one free DVD per person, per month)
KELLY’S ANIMATED " 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS"
This falls into the “What CCP Employees Do In Their Spare Time” category. Kelly, one of our editors has just put a new animated video on YouTube. You have to see it to believe it!
If you like her video you may also enjoy our new Craft Arts webpage.
(Kelly is currently on vacation, but I’m sure she would like to hear your comments regarding her YouTube video.) Please send her an e-mail at: Kelly@ccpvideos.com
Summer Garden Party at Creative Catalyst
Saturday evening Creative Catalyst hosted a summer garden party featuring the music of guitarist, Doug Smith and flautist and singer Judy Smith. We invited CCP Staff, artists and friends.
http://www.dougsmithguitar.com/
Lynn and I have seen Doug in concert on a number of occasions and the last time we asked him if he ever played garden gigs. We were pleased that he did and invited him to the Creative Catalyst Gardens. The rest is history.
Doug’s music CDs make great background listening for painters and crafters. We highly recommend them. You won’t be disappointed. Let us know if you think we should carry his CDs in the CCP online store.- Jim -
Creative Kid Trent
Creative Catalyst encourages families to do art together and to get kids started, loving art, as early as possible. Here is one story of how Tanya and Trent used us as a catalyst for a creative experience. (Send us your experiences and we will consider publishing them.)
Creative Kid Trent – The Creative Catalyst Guinea Pig
My name is Tanya Shobe. I’m a 28 year old hard working Administrative Assistant, a wife of an unforgettable eight years, and a proud mother of the most interesting person I’ve ever met.
Never been much of an artist myself, but have always wanted to learn such a satisfying talent”¦if only I could find the time. Any spare time I do have, is spent with my little man, Trent. As an only child, Trent craves attention from me constantly, and loves to be the center of attention. These traits of his work well to my advantage, especially because I dread the day he no longer needs me (which I’m told is just around the corner). These moments right here and now, are so precious, and finding a lasting connection between us is more important now than ever.
Trent loves to sing most of all”¦you should hear him when he makes up his own songs. His second favorite thing to do is arts and crafts (drawing, pasting, cutting, stencils, you name it). Since I’m no Celine Dion, art is the next best thing to explore to create a long lasting bond with my growing little man. There’s no reason not to, we would both only gain from the experience.
A family member turned me onto the Creative Catalyst website. At first glance I felt intimidated. So many different techniques, most of which I had never heard of. With my intimidation, how was I ever going to get my son interested in something that I knew hardly anything about? Then I called him over”¦ (more coming soon).
Trent & Tanya’s Creative Journal – Continued
Trent is definitely a visual learner (especially since he can’t fully read yet and still has a pretty short attention span). Watching the mini movies posted on the site, was the best way to get his attention.
The first Creative Catalyst Preview we watched was by Claudine Hellmuth – Collage Textures & Techniques. To my surprise, Trent immediately announced “I could do that!” In his mind, he truly believed his little hands could create anything he set his mind to. It reminded me of the time he told me he could do back flips after watching the Olympic gymnastics.
Here’s our dialog afterwards: 
Mom: What was your favorite part of the mini movie?
Trent: The pie making oven.
Mom: What did you like most about the project?
Trent: The pie (again of course), because it makes me think of a great day, like at grandmas.
Mom: What did you like least about the project?
Trent: Building the box that the pie oven and girl was in”¦it looked too easy for me, not the fun part.
On Trent’s scale of 1 to 10, he gives it an 9.
The second CCP Preview we watched was by Hugh Greer – Creating Mood & Atmosphere (Landscapes). I was almost positive that he’d be less interested in this type of art, due to the amount of work involved and level of expertise needed. Boy was I wrong. “That’s easy Mom,” he said. What a lesson I’ve learned. Never again will I doubt his ability. Even though his finished projects may look like chicken scratch or his coloring may not be in the lines, it’s a masterpiece to him, which is how I need to see it as well.
Here’s our dialog afterwards:
Mom: What was your favorite part of the mini movie?
Trent: The nice house, but I want to draw our house.
Mom: What did you like most about the project?
Trent: I like that it’s a house painting because it would be a lot of work that I like, let’s get busy!
Mom: What did you like least about the project?
Trent: The pencil drawing beforehand because that’s a lot of work for a 6 year old mom. I can draw it without the pencil.
On Trent’s scale of 1 to 10, he gives it a 8.
The third mini movie we watched was also by Hugh Greer – Landscape Studies in Acrylic (Tools & Techniques). By this point, I’m beginning to think that I’ve doubted my own abilities”¦why can’t I do this stuff too? My 6 year old believes he can, why shouldn’t I?
Here’s our dialog afterwards:
Mom: What was your favorite part of the mini movie?
Trent: When he picked up the paint (that appeared dry), that was so cool.
Mom: What did you like most about the project?
Trent: I liked the trees a lot, they reminded me of Hawaii or Paris (your guess is as good as mine”¦he’s never seen Paris).
Mom: What did you like least about the project?
Trent: The wall wasn’t very exciting. It wasn’t very hard to make, way too easy.
On Trent’s scale of 1 to 10, he gives it a 7.
The fourth mini movie we watched was by Carrie Burns Brown – Watermedia Collage Workshop. Here’s our dialog afterwards:
Mom: What was your favorite part of the mini movie?
Trent: The rollers.
Mom: What did you like most about the project?
Trent: Everything that she did with rollers, and the stamping was my second favorite.
Mom: What did you like least about the project?
Trent: I’m worried that I might mess it up by using too much glue”¦I would want it to be perfect.
Mom: There is no reason to worry about that. This project looks better when you mess up!
On Trent’s scale of 1 to 10, he gives it a 7.
The fifth and final mini movie that we watched was by Cheng- Khee Chee. I should’ve stopped at Carrie Burns Brown, or even Hugh Greer. His attention span was shot at this point and he had lost interest in the project altogether. He started to gaze elsewhere. We still talked about it afterwards anyway, here was our dialog:
Mom: What was your favorite part of the mini movie?
Trent: There was a lot of colors.
Mom: What did you like most about the project?
Trent: I liked it when he did the drawing first and then colored it in like a coloring book.
Mom: What did you like least about the project?
Trent: I saw a lot of painting that didn’t really make anything. Looks like a lot of work for nothing (out of the mouth of babes).
On Trent’s scale of 1 to 10, he gives it a 6 (remember, it was late).
—————————————————————————-
We’ve now started to watch the videos that can be purchased through the Creative Catalyst website. Our first video that we watched was Collage: Textures & Techniques by Claudine Hellmuth. Trent seemed to be very fond of her work the first time around, so I thought it would be a great start.
First, let me start by saying, if you have a 6 year old (almost 7) or younger, that’s anything like my little man, you won’t get away with watching more that 2 technique segments in one sitting. We watched 3 techniques our first time around and he was playing with playing with his toes before the 3rd technique began.
First Technique: Peeled Paper Background
To Trent, this looked like fun”¦I worried we would have to go out and buy a bunch of supplies.
Second Technique: Peeling Paint Background 
Trent loved the idea of peeling paint, but was not so excited when he realized exactly what this involved.
Third Technique: Textured Paint Background
Besides the fact that Trent was slightly distracted, he did pay attention. Was intrigued enough to talk about all 3 segments afterwards.
A few days later, we found some time to work on the techniques we had learned. I didn’t think it was a good idea to watch any other techniques before working on what we had watched already. My husband and I both worked on the project with him, so he was sure to see our excitement.
The best part of working on a project like this with a toddler is that our version didn’t appear any better or worse than his. He never turned to me and said “Yours looks better than mine mom.” This has happened before when we work on art projects or coloring books in the past.
Instead of using the paper (can’t recall the name) Claudine had used; we worked with construction paper and pages from a book that we bought at a garage sale a while back (and never read). Instead of using the Gel Medium, we used Elmer’s Glue to paste the two pieces of paper together. Instead of using Petroleum Jelly, we used Icy Hot (don’t ask”¦we were really improvising) to create the textured paint background.
With all of these improvisations, how could our projects even come close to Claudine’s version? We nailed it! Even the Icy Hot worked like a charm (as long as we washed our hands immediately afterwards). It was exciting to discover what materials we could instead. Cheap, easy and fun!
On Mom’s scale from 1 to 10, I give it a 10!
Trent agrees!
——————————————————————————–
Our next time around with Claudine’s video, we watched only 2 techniques, which worked much better than before.
Fourth Technique: Heat Transfer 
Looks like fun but we’ll probably need to purchase a heating tool for this. Might be too dangerous to try with Trent. He wouldn’t be able to work on it himself
Fifth Technique: Caulking Image Transfer
Claudine mentioned that white caulking should be used instead of any other substance, so we would need to purchase this as well.
Both of these techniques might have to be worked on at a later time, when we have upgraded our art supplies.
Craft Cat Newsletter – June, 2007
Summer with Creative Catalyst
Take the Creative Catalyst DVD workshops you love and share them with your family this summer! Use the fun techniques and projects to introduce your kids to concepts like color mixing and grid design while having hours of fun. DVD instructional workshops are a great way to keep kids creative and entertained during the long days of summer!
Then, enter their work in their own art show! Creative Catalyst Productions now has a Kids Art Show and creative Teens Art Show. This is a great way to encourage your children by putting their work on an international “refrigerator door”. In addition, start a conversation about what they think about other entries. A great creative learning experience. There is no juror, just fun for all who participate! Happy Summer!
1. Poppet® Party
Need a fun idea for a summer birthday party? Look to Claudine Hellmuth’s DVD Workshops for the solution! Have kids bring photocopies of themselves and a few basic supplies. Watch any of Claudine’s three DVDs and you’ll have enough inspiration to create for a whole afternoon. Let glue and paint dry between cake cutting and presents!
Claudine Hellmuth’s DVD Workshops:
Textures and Techniques
More Textures and Techniques
Beeswax Collage
2. Trip Journal
Before you go, make a fabric-altered book with Lesley Riley’s DVD workshop, Exploring Fabric Collage. Include a pocket for every place you’ll travel. Children can gather postcards and small ephemera and keep it in each pocket. Leave areas in each journal to glue postcards, pictures and to write. Something fun for kids to do before they go AND while they’re in the car. (Plus a great way to help keep them organized on a long trip!)
Lesley Riley’s DVD Workshop: Exploring Fabric Collage
3. Nature Art
Turn a lesson about plants (or a walk in the park) into a piece of jewelry with Sherri Haab’s instructional DVD, Precious Metal Clay. Plan a hike and gather lovely twigs along the way. After your trek, bring home the twigs, choose the prettiest shape and begin the magic. This is a great non-toxic introduction to jewelry making.
Sherri Haab’s DVD Workshop: Precious Metal Clay
4. Decorate a Room
Gather photos of your child’s friends and together with Claudine’s Beeswax Collage make cute Poppets® that can sit on bookshelves and desks. Design outfits unique to each friend’s personality with fabric colors that match your child’s room. Use this fun activity to talk about the impact of complementary and analogous colors in a room and in art!
Claudine Hellmuth’s DVD Workshop: Beeswax Collage
5. Paper Party
Need another theme for a party? How about a day with Traci Bautista and her paper making fun in Retro Rags! Traci shows fun ways to use simple office paper and kids’ craft supplies and turn them into vibrant patterns and colors. Retro Rags offers fast and easy techniques perfect for 3 to 30 children! Collect the paper to make journals for fun car trip activities.
Traci Bautista’s DVD Workshop: Retro Rags
6. Living History
Use polymer clay to introduce your child to Chinese art and history by making faux jade beads, pens and book covers with the help of Dayle Doroshow’s workshop, International Inspirations in Polymer, Vol. 2: China . Then pile in the car and go see the real thing! Use these fun projects as a starting point to talk about ancient Chinese art. The best way to learn history is hands on!
Dayle Doroshow’s DVD Workshop: International Inspirations in Polymer Clay, Vol. 2: China
7. Babysitting Basket
Leave a basket of supplies and a Creative Catalyst DVD Workshop with your babysitter. Know that your kids will be using their creativity instead of just watching TV. Entertaining AND educational. Spread the fun by packing the Creative Catalyst art basket with them when they go to someone else’s house for an afternoon.
DVD Workshops:
Watermedia Collage Workshop
Retro Rags
International Inspirations in Polymer Clay, Vol. 2 China
8. Collage
Make an assortment of papers with your child (or in advance) and then let them have at it. A stack of beautiful Carrie Burns Brown-inspired paper, a glue stick and a pair of safety scissors and your child will be busy for hours while getting an introduction to collage!
Carrie Burns Brown’s DVD Workshop:
Watermedia Collage Workshop
9. Polymer Party
Polymer clay is a great non-toxic addition to any party. Use Dayle Doroshow’s DVD Workshop: International Inspirations in Polymer Clay, Vol. 1: Provence to entertain while creating unique party favors. Have each child bring as many small pictures of herself as total party attendees. Use Dayle’s techniques to transfer the pictures onto polymer. Make into pendants. Then string the pendants together with polymer beads (or purchased beads) for fun original necklaces with pictures of everyone who attended!
Dayle Doroshow’s DVD Workshop:
International Inspirations in Polymer Clay, Vol. 1: Provence
10. Postcards
Add to your travel bag papers you made from Traci Bautista’s, Claudine Hellmuth’s, Carrie Burns Brown’s DVD workshops, a bunch of 4 x 6 cards, and some basic art supplies . Collect fun things along your trip, glue them with pretty paper and send them back to family and friends at home. (May require additional postage.) Better than email!!!
The DVD Workshops:
Watermedia Collage Workshop
Retro Rags
Textures and Techniques
11. Historical Printmaking
Turn your kitchen into a historical printing house with rolling pins and backs of spoons. Kids can learn the basics of monotype printmaking with Julia and Gail Ayres’ Instructional DVD. You’ll love the easy non-toxic water clean up and the lessons your children will learn about mixing primary colors. They’ll love pulling official prints and playing with stencils!
Julia and Gail Ayres’ DVD Workshop:
Painterly Printmaking with Monotype
Lynn’s Garden Tour
In the next couple of weeks I’ll be preparing to present my second main interest and love to the local community in the form of a ‘Garden Tour’. The local Master Gardeners have created a fund raising event around a one day summer tour of a few select gardens. Although it has made us complete projects that have lingered for years, the additional stress has taken some of the peace out of the yard for me. It’s like hanging an art show…. Suddenly the framing becomes an issue and the painting process itself takes a back seat for a while. I hope to take a week off just to focus on the yard, but that’s a little tough when your business is at home. The gang at CCP must be tired of me saying “After the garden tour!”
On another note,collage and mixed media artist Anne Bagby has agreed to film an art instruction DVD with Creative Catalyst next year (2008) . She’s a very interesting combination of drawing, collage and almost a Klimpt like patterning. Should be wonderful!
It’s part of my job to review art instruction workshop DVDs produced by other production companies to see if we want to carry the workshop. I’ve been truly frustrated with camera angles, lack of reference materials, poor audio or just simply “watch me do my thing” mentality without any true instructional value. How crazy is that?! Art instruction workshops should be just that. Not a venue for an artist’s ego but rather an opportunity to share information and expand the community of artists. No wonder so many people are leery of purchasing a DVD workshop!
And finally, In many ways, we are on the outside looking in on what’s going on in the art world. Every once in awhile we catch a drift of some disgruntled person that complains that too many people are using Yupo, or watercolor in an opaque fashion, or heaven forbid… white paint. Sometimes it is difficult not to be threatened by the new. But to forbid new media and experimentation is like forbidding someone from using a word processor and requiring them to write their novel with a quill pen. Hopefully we can all recognize that it is the content of a work and not the materials that makes it successful or not. Watercolorist Dean Mitchell paints award winning, highly valuable small watercolors (many are only a few inches in size) in a very traditional style. He holds his own very well in this modern era. Clearly he is not threatened by new techniques. He has found what works for him.
The world is big enough for us all.
-Lynn-
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