Upcoming Classes and Exhibits

Hello from the art studio! As I sit here typing on yet another snowy morning, I can’t help but be excited for Spring to get here! Yes, I’m aware of how mild our winter has been, and I’m not sorry for wanting warmer weather. There’s much going on in the Spring and I’m excited to share some new things happening……………..

First please save the date for my SOLO Art Exhibit! I’ll be the featured artist all of June at the Marcellus Library. Woo-Hoo! I’m secretly hoarding images of my new artwork in case you’ve noticed a lack of them on my social media pages. I’ll have a ton of new work available during the show, be sure to stop in for a looksee!

Second, I’ve got new classes lined up at The Art Store on Erie Blvd. All materials are provided for the classes at the Art Store. Sign up in person or online at theartstore.com Classes being offered there are as follows…

#1: Ultimate Watercolor Masterclass Sat. April 13, 11:00-4:00,

#2: Basics of Watercolor Friday April 26, Noon-2pm

#3: Water Marbling on Paper Friday March 22, 12:00-2:00pm

New Classes in my studio are online now. Check em out here! We’ve got a small Weeknight Painting Group getting started, Color Theory workshops, Watercolor Painting, Pastel Painting and as always small and private lessons are available!

Coming up in the warmer Spring and summer months will be a class to dye a bathrobe! Be sure to keep an eye out for that one as space is going to be very limited!!

Eva will also be participating for the first time in the Onondaga Art Guild Fine Art Show the weekend of May 4th. More details to follow, but please save the date.

Stay warm and enjoy that white stuff if that’s your bag. As for me, I’m going to fire up my encaustics and warm up with a little hot wax painting.

Art As Meditation

A meditative state is when your body and mind are in a deep state of relaxation. It’s not about the absence of thoughts, but more about not getting tangled up in them. If you think about it, you might think that the process of creating art is rather stressful and completely NOT relaxing. I wouldn’t hold it against you if that’s what you thought; but I will tell you that you’ve got it wrong.

I’ve been working on a special commission piece for a client, (heck all my pieces are special; there I said it). At first it was a challenge to think about all the things that needed to go into it. Talk about getting tangled up in my thoughts! The process of creating new artwork begins with a discussion with the client. We discuss things such as: subject or theme, reference photos, specific requirements, budget, timeline, deposit, framing, etc.

After listening attentively while the client shares their ideas, I ask questions and take copious notes, look at their reference photos and thank them for the opportunity. This meeting usually takes no more than an hour or so. Then the fun begins.

Once I’m able to begin working on the piece, I go through a process of drawing quick studies of the subject and thumbnails of the composition/concept. This is where all those tangled thoughts start to really dance and tangle even more. Sometimes they get a little knotted and frayed and need to be weeded out. Too much of a good thing can be bad, and too much of a bad thing can be, well; bad. Then the color testing begins, and I won’t bombard you with that kaleidoscope of fun this time. Suffice it to say that there tends to be a few days of moving things around and making decisions. It’s all good though because something truly amazing happens. As I work through these processes, I find my awareness is heightened, decisions seem easier to make, I can “see” the piece in my head and that tells me how to bring it to light. Doing the actual work of putting brush to canvas fills me with a sense of inner calm and allows the clients’ idea to emerge through the tip of my paint brush.

The process of creating art is truly a meditative state for me. I’m in my studio most days 10-5 and am always surprised when my husband opens the studio door at 5pm to inquire about my day (and what’s for supper?) It’s not that my time has flown by, but rather that I was in each of the moments that make up my day so deeply that time seemed irrelevant. Now if I could only figure out how to apply that to those little lines on my face.

When you’re ready to discover your inner calm, consider taking a class with me. Art can be used to create calming environments too, take a look at the image below. Look how inviting and comfy that sofa looks. Soft blues and violet are soothing colors, swirls give the eye a place to wander in the painting, leading to a sense of peace and relaxation. The room looks cozy, and the poppy painting adds to the feeling of comfort and calm.