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Gateway Pastel Artists Newsletter
May 8, 2017 Business Meeting: 1.We asked if anyone had any books or DVDs to turn in to the library. We have a new librarian because our last one moved to the state of Maine. Barbara Holder had volunteered at our last meeting. Thank you Barb! Discussion was made about getting new DVDs and/or books at IAPS. It was decided we would invest in a couple of new DVDs. 2. We asked if any members were going to IAPS. No one besides the President, Michele Wells and Vice President, Vic Mastis was going. We told them to plan on it for 2019 and explained the workshops, demos and vendors and what a great learning experience it was to attend. Some of the members had never heard of it. We said we hope to bring some new products back for the group. 3. We were looking for a back-up secretary in case the present one wasn’t there. Michelle Spencer volunteered to be my Huckleberry! So thankful for our volunteers!!! |
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Program:
Jen Evenhus, contemporary impressionist and abstract artist, had just given a 3 day workshop on “The Beauty of Imperfection”. She came to give our demo. www.JenEvenhus.com
She started by doing a demo of her famous cactus series. One of those images is on the cover of the Dakota Art Supply Catalog. Here are some notes from what she told us.
1. Composition is the most important for her style. If it isn’t working - quit and start over.
2. We all have our favorite pastels but don’t forget the neutrals.
3. She does thumbnails and makes notes before she starts.
4. The photograph she chose was ugly. She was going to change it to a rainbow of colors.
5. She underpaints her papers and lets them dry before she even knows what her subject is and what she is going to paint. She uses semi-hard pastels and mineral spirits making different designs- but not too wet. She has a u tube video on underpainting just search U Tube with her name.
6. First she draws in vine charcoal. She has been painting this painting in her head for weeks. Anyone can paint in their head-even when they don’t have time to paint.
7. Puts in darks first using a Terry Ludwig dark plum- no black. Works from dark to light.
8. When you put a color in one place, try to put it somewhere else too.
9. Learn what happy accidents are and don’t cover them up.
10. She put in a rainbow shadow! Very exciting!
11. Never make anything round. Use straight lines at least on 1 or 2 sides.
12. Next she talked about focal point and secondary focal points.
13. Jen likes to finish foreground first because she likes to cut in background using negative shapes. Shapes are very important!
14. Don’t use the same color for all the highlights in your painting. Vary the colors.
15. Her strokes are not perfect but some will disappear with background.
16. She softened some edges with a brush when almost finished.
Next, using these techniques, she did a 20 minute piece using a reference photo from her computer of apple slices.
June 19, 2017 - Program
Michele Wells and Vic Mastis will bring back new info and products from the IAPS convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Jen Evenhus, contemporary impressionist and abstract artist, had just given a 3 day workshop on “The Beauty of Imperfection”. She came to give our demo. www.JenEvenhus.com
She started by doing a demo of her famous cactus series. One of those images is on the cover of the Dakota Art Supply Catalog. Here are some notes from what she told us.
1. Composition is the most important for her style. If it isn’t working - quit and start over.
2. We all have our favorite pastels but don’t forget the neutrals.
3. She does thumbnails and makes notes before she starts.
4. The photograph she chose was ugly. She was going to change it to a rainbow of colors.
5. She underpaints her papers and lets them dry before she even knows what her subject is and what she is going to paint. She uses semi-hard pastels and mineral spirits making different designs- but not too wet. She has a u tube video on underpainting just search U Tube with her name.
6. First she draws in vine charcoal. She has been painting this painting in her head for weeks. Anyone can paint in their head-even when they don’t have time to paint.
7. Puts in darks first using a Terry Ludwig dark plum- no black. Works from dark to light.
8. When you put a color in one place, try to put it somewhere else too.
9. Learn what happy accidents are and don’t cover them up.
10. She put in a rainbow shadow! Very exciting!
11. Never make anything round. Use straight lines at least on 1 or 2 sides.
12. Next she talked about focal point and secondary focal points.
13. Jen likes to finish foreground first because she likes to cut in background using negative shapes. Shapes are very important!
14. Don’t use the same color for all the highlights in your painting. Vary the colors.
15. Her strokes are not perfect but some will disappear with background.
16. She softened some edges with a brush when almost finished.
Next, using these techniques, she did a 20 minute piece using a reference photo from her computer of apple slices.
June 19, 2017 - Program
Michele Wells and Vic Mastis will bring back new info and products from the IAPS convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico.