Cheerful and Colorful Paintings

Cheerful and Colorful Paintings in Oil, Acrylic, Mixed Media and Collage
nancystandlee@sbcglobal.net

Friday, February 11, 2011

"Carlita" ~ Carla O'Connor Workshop ~ Dallas TX ~ Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee


"Carlita"
11 x 15 in Gouache on HP 140 lb watercolor paper
from workshop

I've been in a 4 day Dallas workshop with Carla O'Connor at Artists Showplace (well, it should have been a 4 day but it turned into a 3 day with our Texas weather). The above painting is a portrait using some of these gouache techniques. These winter storms are having a severe impact on my art career. We painted with watercolor and gouache on hot press watercolor paper, with some figure drawing from models in the mornings.

Last week I was in my first "sports" show and have produced 4 new sport themed collage pieces for the Super Bowl show put on by the F6 Gallery. It was shut down for most of the event due to bad weather. On Super Bowl Sunday Aaron Rogers was named the Green Bay Packers most valuable player and click to see my torn paper collage of him on my blog post HERE.


The SWS meeting was held Thursday evening at Artists Showplace and this was Carla's demo but it was taken from the overhead mirror and reversed and not completed. There was a crowd of people around and impossible to photograph Carla's painting correctly. She is an enthusiastic and lovely artist who entertained us along with sharing her techniques and process of applying and removing the paint.
Carla and Nancy ( OK..already so I was on my knees)
I took my first Carla workshop in Lubbock in Oct 2007 and I'm asked why do you take workshops with the same instructor twice? Because I don't get it all the first time and my painting methods have improved and I'm hearing and seeing more. If you can't get to one of her workshops, she has a great DVD of a painting taken from start to finish available from Creative Catalyst. Carla reminded me and showed me the red western bandana (you can see it at the right) that I gave her in Lubbock to tie on and mark her art suitcase so it would be easier to find at the airport. Would I take another workshop from her? Absolutely. And she does offer an advanced week so check out her website to see if she will be in your area. At the end of her slide show there was a slide of Carla at 9 years of age painting "en plein air" in Italy. Do you know what I was doing at 9 years old in Texas? - clipping playing cards to the spokes of my bike, playing Annie Over and Red Rover and couldn't even pronounce Italy correctly (I've only learned that in the last several years, incidentally).. so yes I am a repeat workshop taker and I'm becoming embarrassed to tell you how many Robert Burridge's I've taken and yes I will see him at the upcoming Artists Showplace workshop.

If you'd like to read more about Carla's DVD I placed a link on my blog (top right) so you can click and GO.


BLOG:...............http://NancyStandlee.blogspot.com

WEBSITE:.........http://NancyStandlee.com

WEBSITE:.........http://CanvasbyCanvas.com


PAINTED PAPER COLLAGE PAINTINGS ~ TORN PAPER PAINTINGS ~ WATERMEDIA ~
COLLAGE ART ~ MIXED MEDIA TEXTURED ABSTRACT PAINTING ~ GOUACHE
~ TEXAS DAILY PAINTER
~ NANCY STANDLEE CONTEMPORARY ART ~


Contact NancyStandlee@sbcglobal.net

12 comments:

Connie Michael said...

Nancy, this painting is great. You create the loveliest faces.

Nancy Standlee said...

Thanks Mz Connie..have you posted on your new blog since I've been away? Will go check.

Marianne said...

Dear Nancy, I always enjoy being in a workshop with you and there have been many! You add a welcome spark of fun to the group. We are so fortunate to be able to experience a teacher the likes of Carla O' Connor!
Marianne Phelps

Nancy Standlee said...

Hi, Marianne, for sure I got a lot more done yesterday than I have done today.. wow, art supplies are everywhere. I agree, we are so fortunate to be able to study with Carla..besides she's just fun. I enjoy seeing you and your work in a workshop.. you're painting some great stuff.

Margie Whittington said...

Lovely, I like all the colors, Nancy!

Nancy Standlee said...

Thanks Margie, the gold gesso makes everything a little muted.

Liana Yarckin said...

Nancy, your painting came out fantastic! When I saw the thumbnail on someone else's blog it reminded me of O'Conner, but, with a little of Klimpt transparency. I went to the SWS meeting and learned how to be "free" with my painting. I will have to keep reminding myself.

Nancy Standlee said...

Liana, I thought she did an excellent summary of her process during the demo. I also did a 2nd piece, 1/2 sheet, but Carla said "the neck shape" needed some work and I'm still unpacking supplies! So sorry we missed Wed. because of the bad weather. Carla is so good with design that I might have to take a 3rd time!!

WW said...

Hi Nancy
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your lovely comment.
I did try to "publish" your comment, but for some reason there seemed to be a glitch on Blogger and it never showed up. Sorry.
As for classes, yes, I'm going to be doing a two day workshop on the Torn Paper Paintings. Not really sure what I'm going to choose for subject matter yet. Maybe the cupcakes...maybe a surprise...lol Good luck with your classes as well.

Nancy Standlee said...

Let me know how your classes go. I think cupcakes would make a great learning experience for students for a group project and then let them choose a personal one. I think that is the way I will teach mine.

Martha Kisling said...

I have always admired Carla O'Connor's art - I am jealous you got to take on of her workshops. I love the paintings you did in the class!

Nancy Standlee said...

Thanks for the comment, Martha. I hope you get to take with her sometime. I have one more painting to post but it needs some "hot licks" before I do.