Welcome To My World!
Articles by Donita
(as appear in the CKAG Newsletter)
April 2007
Welcome To My World
By Donita
Have you ever had a creative block? Why? Was it stress or a time limit, or maybe just a cluttered mind? It is a natural part of our human rhythm. Sometimes we just need a break.
Do not panic, and do not give into fear! I know you hear the words, “You’ve lost it now, you’ll never paint again” or, the dreaded, ”The last painting was the best that you’ll ever do, that was your masterpiece and you can’t do better.” These are lies, all lies that come out of fear! As long as you keep on painting [drawing, taking photos, writing etc.], you can keep on growing and getting better in your art! It always comes back! Think of this time as a stepping-stone to better things!
Ask yourself some questions; write down the answers, you might be surprised.
When was the last time I felt creative, what were my surroundings?
What time of day do I feel more creative?
Where am I my most creative?
Why am I blocked?
We must acknowledge that every creative person goes through this; sometimes just talking about it with an artist friend can help. For me just being around other artist, watching a teaching video, an art show, or visiting a museum inspires me to paint. Find a painting group and join, get outside and just be alone with nature, pray, paint your feelings, doodle, put on your favorite music and paint what you hear, just enjoying life can bring a refreshing and energize your creativity. Each person is different, find what works for you. The hardest step is the first one. So paint on a tinted canvas/paper/support. Organize your paints, pencils, supplies, move your painting table in front of a window, set down with pencil in hand. Don’t over think it; just draw/paint what you see.
Learn to overcome your fears, dive in and paint yourself silly!!!
God Bless,
Donita
Welcome to My World
March 2007
I shall never forget the first time that I stood in front of Pierre Auguste Renoir’s “Le Dejuner Des Canotiers” - The Luncheon of the Boating Party” painted in 1881, oil on canvas 129.5 x 172.7cm. It has always been one of my favorites, but I had only seen photos and postcards of it, and had not paid attention to the size. In my mind, I saw maybe a 24”x48” sized painting. Wow! When I saw the real thing!!! It loomed larger that it’s actual 4’3”x5’8”, and the colors, the colors were so vibrant and alive! I just could not take my eyes off it! I stood in front of it for the longest time by myself, [I sure the museum people were getting worried that I was planning a heist!] Even when I had gone on to look at other paintings, I found myself drawn back to it repeatedly. What was it about this painting? I think that it was the fact, that it was so full of life. I was seeing a snapshot of life in 1881, at a place and time that I didn’t know, but was transported backward in time. I could hear the laughter and the tinkle of silverware and glasses, feel the sunshine, smell the food. Hear the conversations of family and friends wafting in and out of the moment like gentle breezes. It still rings true today about family and friends, and the precious times of being together, they are but a flash and we must stop and take pause in the moment!
There was so much to look at, at first it might seem chaotic, but the more you look the more you feel the human interaction. To me it’s about a time and place where life is “lived”. A time without modern conveniences that enslave the masses! Don’t get me wrong, I like my indoor plumbing and my microwave! Sometimes I feel that we are captive to attaining modern things and don’t take time to fully enjoy the people and blessings around us! We don’t breathe fully! Lately, I have been just trying to take time to breathe fully! Breathe meaning just to be aware of beauty of God’s creations. The laughter of a child, sunlight playing on the leaves, enjoying the crisp morning air, being content with who I am and were I’m at for the moment. Breathing in life! My advice for this month is to take time to breathe, just for a few minutes. You’ll be glad you did!
“Life’s to short not to Breathe!”
God Bless & Paint Yourself Silly!
Donita
WELCOME TO MY WORLD
By Donita Woodcock
I have been ask to do something a little different this time. Everyone is always asking me where I get this art supply, or paint or etc. It was pointed out to me that some people are new at the computer thing or don't know where to find great art supplies at great prices. Therefore, this month I’ll give some websites and places for you and a good idea is to keep this newsletter beside your computer. If you don’t have a computer all is not lost most of these places have toll free numbers for you to call. Most places have great customer service! Of course most of my orders have to do with watercolor, acrylics, collage, etc. So, here’s a couple to get you started;
www.dickblick.com phone: 1-800-828-4548
They are very nice to deal with and really ship fast (without paying the rush shipping, I get my orders in about 3 to 4 days). They have a good variety of paints and supplies. Some of their prices are higher, but mostly top quality. They have very professional and friendly service. They deal in art supplies and school supplies. Take a look, or call for a catalog!
www.danielsmith.com phone: 1-800-426-6740
I’ve just started dealing with this company and am delighted! I don’t know if all their products are as good as the ones I’ve tried (watercolor). But I feel they have good prices on most of the watercolors. They do prima-tech colors with are, as I understand it are made with real pigments with the exception of Mummy Bauxite, which used to be made with real Mummy bones ground up. [I don’t know why anyone would paint with that anyway, except that long ago they did. I wonder who thought of that one, hey let’s grind up a mummy and paint with it??? What were they thinking, anyway????] Back to the present day, now! I like the granulating colors! Sometimes they ship fast and sometime not, it comes in the regular mailbox, you know the old-fashioned way; look for your order anywhere from a week to two weeks. A good thing with Daniel Smith is that they have paint samplers. Watercolor Samplers for, $14.95 and NO shipping or handling. That’s the way I’ve gotten most of my paint from them. They also have some oil and acrylic samplers for a little more. As in all cases not every one likes the same paints, so ask me some questions at the meetings if you like. It’s a matter of taste, I happen to like MaimeriBlu watercolors and many people don’t like those, so let that be a guide. It has to do with your style of painting also. I paint with lots of glazes, and some wet into wet. I love bright vivid, bold colors! It has taken me quite a while to find paint and paper to suit my style. So happy hunting!
You thought that I’d forgotten the quote, no way. Here it is, stop and think about this one for a while.
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is to low and we reach it!” – Michelangelo
Keep on painting,
Donita
Next time Jerry’s Artarama and ASW.
Welcome to My World
by Donita
“Yes, I live in my own little world, but it’s ok they know me there!” This has become my motto lately as many people have ask, ”What planet are you from?” ( Why they ask this, I don’t know??) Hence, the title for this column. I thought someone might wonder about that. Now on to more art “stuff”! Here’s a few more websites for you this month.
You can call or go online to order a catalog from all of these companies. Most catalogs are free!
www.cheapjoes.com phone: 1-800-227-2788
Cheap Joe’s has fairly good prices. I usually order my brushes from here. I really like Cheap Joe’s Golden Fleece it’s made fron golden nylon. A good all ’round brush. I think they can be used for acrylics also. It takes me about 1 – 2 weeks to receive my orders from them. They are super nice people to do business with. They get the orders right most of the time! If there is a problem they are more than glad to fix it! Shipping over $300.00 is free! Sound like a lot? Not if two or three people go together. Also, Joe has gift certificates available. I have received them for Christmas from my daughter.
www.jerrysartarama.com (Otherwise know as, Jerry’s Artarama) phone: 1-800-U-ARTIST
They usually have some of the best prices anywhere. It takes me 2 -3 weeks to receive my order. I have had problems with orders from them lately. They have tried to straighten it out. They are nice but not very effiecent. But they do have great prices. Over all they are ok to do business with.
www.aswexpress.com (Art Supply Warehouse) phone: 1-800-995-6778
They have really good prices too. Usually about the same as Jerry’s. Lot ’s of CKAG folks really like them. I’ve not had good experiences with them, but others have had no problems. Go figure? I may order from them again in the future? A lot of CKAG members get an order together and split the shipping or if the order is over $250.00 you get free shipping! You can ask around at the meetings.
I’ve also just been told about another one, www.prism.com I have a catalog on the way to me. I’ll let you know in the future. If you have a favorite quote e-mail or send it to me. I may use it, (or maybe not?). Please include who said it.
Are you ready for the quote?
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act but a habit.”
- Aristotle
In other words, “practice, practice, practice!!!” - Mary Lou Hall
“Go ahead paint yourself silly,
I dare ya!" God Bless, -Donita
WELCOME TO MY WORLD
By Donita Woodcock
As many of you have already heard, my trip to Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, Boone in June 6th Annual Trade Show was a great experience! I was like a child in a candy store, almost overwhelmed! For some reason I have a passion for supplies, I really like office supplies and books, but really, really like art supplies!
You can imagine, I was thrilled to be at the Trade Show. I have a few thoughts and observations, also an overview of a watercolor canvas workshop with Judy Crane. A mini interview or two and some new products (at least new to me).
Some of the best things I purchased where; Joe’s Golden Fleece brushes. My hand seems to pick them from among myriads of brushes in my brush case, (also purchased from Joe’s) when I’m painting. Could it be a conspiracy? In addition, I am giving handmade “Dynasty” brushes a try. They feel good in the hand, if the Golden Fleece brushes don’t get in there first, that is! In addition, I picked up a couple of Cheap Joe’s angled shader brushes and I really like them! The website for Golden Fleece is; www.cheapjoes.com and you can find more info. about Dynasty at; www.dynasty-brush.com both products have great prices and you can order them from Cheap Joe’s. We also made two trips to Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff Outlet while we were there! WONDERFUL!!! [I would move in there, the store, and live if I could leave Kentucky!] Joe provided shuttle buses coming and going from the Best Western where we stayed, to Joe’s Outlet Store and to the Trade Show at no charge!
I found a wonderful product called Art-Kure Watercolour System. “They are Colour Sketch brushes to apply color and Water Sketch Brushes to dilute, mix or move the colour around as you wish.” I think these would be great for sketching on a trip; all you would need are these pens and some thick paper or watercolor paper in a small size. They could be tucked away in your shirt pocket or in a purse. They come in many colors and even sets. The only drawback that I see is that they are a tad expensive, but I was assured that they last a long time. It was quite lovely meeting Mike Goss, from England, demonstrating the pens. He was a particularly nice man and made sketching with these pens look so easy! This too can be found at Joe’s or if you want more details the website is; www.Art-Kure.com You can see some of Mike Goss’ art work at this website also.
Yes, I just had to buy a set!
Mary Lou said the best purchase she made was a “Stephen Quiller” porcelain palette. Harriet said her best purchase was a “Sennelier” oil set that came in an aluminum case with everything you need to paint on the go or at home. These were priced special, for those who attended the trade show.
The most memorable moments of the show for Mary Lou was going to the Don Andrews’ mini-workshop, “Painting Figures In The Landscape”. She enjoyed this so much that (hopefully) you will find her own column elsewhere in this edition. While Harriet liked the whole experience and especially Joe, who we found to be a super “nice guy”. He was very helpful and treated us as if he really was glad we were there, and made us feel at home. He and his staff did a really great job!
Some of the speakers and demonstrators were; Cheng-Khee Chee, Don Andrews, Ron Ransom, Bonnie Jones, Declan Halpin, Dick Ensing ( a nice Tennessee artist and his son that we spoke with who gladly shared information. Check out his beautiful impressionistic paintings at; www.geocities.com/dickensing ), Wes Waugh, Judy Crane, Brian Buell.
I asked “the girls [Mary Lou and Harriet]” what products or thing impressed them at the trade show. Mary Lou was impressed by her purchase of the “Prestige Heavy-Duty Art Portfolio” The difference between it and other portfolios is the “Prestige” has a wide zippered gusset all the way around it. She is planning to use it to carry framed paintings in, for hanging shows. It will hold two, three or maybe four paintings at one time. It has a shoulder-carrying strap that comes with it, as well as short handles. Harriet was thrilled with Mike Goss’ painting demo of a Koi among other things, she also recognized people that she had seen on T.V. and got to speak with them in person.
When asking “the girls” if this was an overall positive experience they replied that it was great fun, informative, very entertaining while filling up the studio cupboards and severely depleting funds! I think we all hope to go back next year. If we start saving money now, we might have enough to get everything that we want next time. Speaking of money, I liked the way that they had it set up. You picked out your purchase at the booths, they filled out a ticket, attached it to your purchase, and keep it there for you. You didn’t have to carry them all around with you for the whole day! When you were ready to go you just went to the cashier and paid, went back and picked up your treasures! It worked very well.
I found the Judy Crane “Exploring Watercolor Canvas” mini-workshop informative. The prices were great and the instructors really packed a lot into the small amount of time that they had to work with. We now know to sign up for the workshops first thing in the morning and how to plan our time better. Now, back to Judy Crane and the small portion, I could contain, of the knowledge she gave out to us. She said that when going over your color on Fredrix Watercolor Canvas Board to darken, use a quite a bit of paint, a sable brush and a light hand to keep from lifting the color underneath. Using a pure sable brush and just gliding it over the layer of paint that is already there, will keep the bottom layer from lifting. I saw a few things that I had been doing that I will do different. Some are; use thicker paint than I usually use, it’s easier to lift it off if it’s to dark than to add it back. I’m going to try to make it more of a subtractive method of painting than usual. In addition, I will try to leave more hard edges and not soften the edges too much. It seems, in my opinion, to look better this way. Judy also likes “Viva” paper towels (and Mary Lou agrees). She sometimes likes to spray a very light coat of clear matte spray finish once she has everything the way she wants it and before adding the finishing details, but be aware that you lose the lifting ability of what is under the light spray coat. It sets the layer just as with a non-workable spray fixative. So make all your corrections before you spray! When the painting is finished, Judy then sprays the painting with four or five coats of very light spray. She had some lovely landscapes on Fredrix watercolor boards. You could see the sun shinning down on the trees, it was a stunning effect. One thing in particular she said that stuck with us was,
“When you start a painting remember what attracted or drew you to it in the first
place and paint that part first.”
“The girls” said for me not to forget to mention all the wonderful food that we had. The Trade Show had your choice of “Back Yard” burgers, grilled chicken, veggie burgers along with chips and all the trimmings, drinks and even milkshakes or malts (how does one tell the difference anyway?) from “Marble Slab Creamery” right there on the Trade Show floor and at a good price!
While at “Mike’s Inland Seafood” for supper, we dinned on: the best hushpuppies, wonderful fried oysters, scallops, shrimp, catfish, vegetables, along with coleslaw and drinks. I gave it five stars out of five! The next day we found “The Peddler” a delightful dinning experience with smoked oysters and caviar on their food bar along with one of the best steaks that I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a lot of steaks in my time!) and a Crème Brulee (dessert) you could just dive into and stay awhile. All in all, I’d give them seven stars [out of five]!!! Now, it’s back to working out hard to lose the three pounds I gained by just writing this, [Mmm, Mmmm, makes my mouth water just thinking about it!]. Boone seems to be a nice town and a wonderful place to spend some time. I’d like to go back there when I had time to explore. Oh, by the way, I almost forgot the huge wonderful fancy salads, that we had at the Applebee’s in Elizabethton, TN. (They forgot the “w”). We also had a great time and great food and great company, in TN at Joe & Brenda Bradford’s Bed n’ Breakfast! Nothing like good ol’ cousins!!!
Last but not least, I asked Joe for his favorite quote, and he said that’s easy,
“Follow Your Bliss”!
He surely has, and in my humble opinion he’s changed the art world by making it easier for me and others like me that live in small country towns (like Munfordville, Ky.) to set down and order art supplies with confidence.
I guess you might say that my trip was inspiring and rejuvenating, though I did miss y’all at home.
God Bless & Paint Yourself Silly!
Donita
Koi painting by Mike Goss using
Art-Kure pens. Done in about
five minutes. It measures about 4”x8”
and using only 4 or 5 colors, plus the water pen.
It has really beautiful, bright colors!
Art used with permission of Artist Mike Goss.
Donita with Mike Goss demonstrating Art-Kure
*Photo’s taken by Mary Lou Hall used with permission.
