"Dana" ~ Paper Collage Portrait ~ Derek Gores Workshop by Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

"Dana"
Paper Collage Portrait on Canvas
24 x 24 in.

Nancy and Derek

Some of the students who took the workshop

I'm back home now from the Derek Gores workshop at Dena Wenmohs Ranch June 1 and 2, 2011 and I'm getting ready to put on the final coat of varnish on my collage portrait of my daughter. On the slide show below you can see the two photos I worked from. On one I did some photo manipulation in order to see the values.
The post was written on Friday morning in the early morning quiet at Dena's house, drinking coffee and thinking about the past few days.
"I'm enjoying the quiet and memories of a busy past two days Derek Gores workshop. This was my third one as I traveled to FL. in December and February to take two day portrait workshops. It is very quiet this morning at the Wenmohs ranch, all except one of the dog's nose keeps bumping the screen wanting to come in and visit. I'm the only one up in the big house and I'm not letting him in just yet. Even the cats have retreated on top of the porch to enjoy their solitude.
Seventeen eager future collage artists gathered in and around Tuesday May 31 for the 2 day workshop where we had a meet and greet at the house. By Wednesday evening, several mentioned I looked exhausted. I was. It is draining to search for the correct paper piece in design and color and then actually attach it wondering if you've put it in the correct place. Derek works fast on the other hand. He picks up a piece of paper and finds a place for it. I tend to search for a particular piece. I came prepared with big jumbo bags of separate colors ready to go and with my canvas already drawn off. It is an easy workshop to pack and travel for, just some Liquitex medium and varnish, a canvas, brush, and a reference. Derek didn't even use a brush but applied the medium with his hands. A hint for finding papers is use one of those old rubber finger tips that you'd find in the top drawer of a secretary's desk.
At the ranch we can get to work early, taking a short walk to the magic barn from the main house or the bunk house, work and then have a fabulous lunch provided by Dena and Jo (and this time some help from a junior assistant.) It is a total art immersion while enjoying meal times and evenings with the students and seeing Dena's personal art gallery on her walls from previous instructors. She has 3 Charles Sovek paintings. My wish is for you to get to experience this ranch workshop and get to know Dena, a very special friend."

On the above painting, I chose to do one for my daughter who has a very special birthday in July. I took words and text that had personal meaning, typed in different fonts on my computer, and printed on a laser printer at Office Depot. She will be finding messages for a long time.
I enjoyed visiting with some old friends and made some new ones. Many traveled long distances to share in this experience, from L.A., El Paso, Houston, south Texas, east Texas and it was certainly worth the trip.
You can mouse over the slide show for captions:

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PAINTED PAPER COLLAGE PAINTINGS ~ TORN PAPER PAINTINGS ~ WATERMEDIA ~
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~ TEXAS DAILY PAINTER ~ NANCY STANDLEE CONTEMPORARY ART ~ ACRYLIC FLORAL ~ COLLAGE PORTRAIT

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Pets to Pintos ~Art Journal Page by Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

Art Journal Page Kilimanjaro 140lb. Watercolor Journal

This is a page I will share in the art journaling workshop at Dena's Ranch in July. See previous posts for more details.
On the first day I will have the students to paint something they are familiar with - favorite food, kitchen utensil, ingredient, or pet. I don't have a pet but I took a photo of this fine looking dog in Ingram while Cindy and I were attending a Pat Weaver workshop. The animal was waiting patiently in the back of his truck for his daddy to come back from an errand. On another occasion we were delighted to find a young man who crawled in the bed of his truck to share his breakfast with his dog. I didn't want to be so obvious on that one and my photos weren't as clear. The owner wasn't around in Ingram and we felt free to take lots of photos but the dog never looked just real happy, maybe he didn't like to wait in the truck or have his photo taken. On this sketch I used the Pentel Pocket Brush pen that I learned about from Roz Stendahl's Blog.
Texans share food with their dogs and neighbors and you might find a big pot of pinto beans cooking on the largest burner for the human food. There is nothing better than a meal of pinto beans and cornbread and I never sit down to sort a cup or two of beans without thinking about my Mother. She has always given me good advice and I miss being able to give her a call and discuss an issue or ask for that advice but I remember this. "You buy the Casserole brand of pintos. They cook up tender and you bring me that brand."
I had a package on the counter and looked at the brand and see they are packaged by Russell E. Womack in Lubbock and they are a product of the USA, always a good thing.
Once upon a time (I am a former elementary librarian and still love stories that start with once upon a time) I was a Home Economics major and I was Mrs. Betty Crocker, cooking, entertaining, being a school mom, and serving dinner promptly at 5:00 PM with a homemade dessert for the grand finale. In my advancing years my thoughts have turned to art related activities but a pot of beans still have a central part of my menu plans. Now because they can be warmed up quickly and can give me more art time I love to have some cooked or in the freezer for an emergency and it was after one of these sorting, soaking and cooking times much to my chagrin and surprise sometime later I looked in my sink and found a pretty good sized plant growing out of the disposal. Oh, my gosh what is going on. Surprises that entail any part of plumbing are very scary. I gingerly tugged at it and saw a healthy growth of roots and realized one or more of the pintos had fallen into the sink depths and loved the dark and damp and sprouted and I knew in an instant I'd lost my Betty Crocker crown. I think I may have displaced it sometime before this incident, however. At the time I didn't take a photo but with the help of a plastic flower tucked in my yellow sink, I created an reenactment and a photo and a pinto bean sprout sketch. Now I'm into faster meals that give me longer art journaling time.
Join us at the workshop and paint your pet or your sprouted pintos.

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ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
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dena@wenmohsranch.com or
call 830 825-3465.

Altered Book ~ Art Journaling Workshop ~ Love Your LIfe ~ Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

Book Used: Women's Health approx 8 x 11 altered page with gesso, acrylic fluid and tube paints, scraffito, graphite, china marker, permanent marker, collage with a stamp I made and stamped on newspaper.
I was supposed to be doing anything but this today but I've become so excited about the workshop at Dena's Ranch in July I could not stay away from this altered book today. You are invited to join us at workshop at Dena's near Marble Falls and there will be two three day sessions, first one July 19, 20, 21 and the second will be 23, 24, and 25. Beginners welcome. We will discuss altered books one day and we will work in an inexpensive used book, tear out pages, gesso pages, paint in it and experiment in it similar to working in a new blank journal. It's just another way to journal. The first two days we will use traditional watercolor techniques.

Dena has just recently added the 2nd session which will come first and if it doesn't fill I thought that we could go into Marble Falls and eat pie at the Blue Bonnet Cafe. Carol Nelson mentioned on Facebook "It's always nice to have a backup plan involving pie."
We will discuss and experiment with making some of our own stamps quickly and working small. I made this one this morning and stamped it on newsprint. I have always like the addition of newsprint in a collage. Nothing involved or fancy. I have those stamp making supplies with Master Carve but it would take too long and we need to experiment with several techniques that doesn't involve cutting with Exacto knives. If you would like more information, contact Dena at dena@wenmohsranch.com or
call 830 825-3465.


Please visit my web site and comment on my blog:

BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

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WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
ABSTRACT ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ ART FOR SALE ~ FIGURATIVE ~ MIXED MEDIA ~ ALTERED BOOKS

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Art Journal ~ Love Your Life Art Journaling Class by Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

Raffine Art Sketch
Super Deluxe All Media Sketch Book 9 x 12
The first 3 images are taken from the current journal I'm working in. I thought I would show some of the recent additions since the Art Journaling Workshop "Love Your Life" at Dena's Ranch has been announced. There is still time to sign up as it won't be until July 23, 24 and 25. Email Dena at dena@wenmohsranch.com or cal l830-825-3465 for more information.
Click HERE to read about it on my blog and Click on images for a larger view.


Plans for the 3 day workshop are progressing and I'm preparing images, gathering up journals and favorite book references to share and the stack on the couch is growing. It could mean renting a U-Haul or I will need to do some "weeding", a good librarian term.
I like to add events from my daily life so in later years (which is now) I can recall and remember. Who would want to forget this granddaughter's 7th birthday when she wanted a "Fox Birthday" and who ever heard of a fox birthday? My daughter scrambled finding all things "fox" and found this great long fox tail and converted it into a wearing device and Grace wore it proudly and securely over her neck and shoulder all during the celebration, much like a traveling tourist would wear their passport and money. She had an extremely tall pointy party hat to round out her attire. It was green but I chose to make it in pink collage. I collaged other pieces from the invitation and ephemera. I found an used fox stamp and glued it to her dress. I have the fox saying "Oh, dear, I seem to have lost my tail."
Above this I have a Zentangle (more on that later) a quote and a reminder to me at just how gullible I am to the power of suggestion and an evidence of that below in an oil pastel practice area. More on that later also. Why do I want to try everything "art" I see?




I take a lot of art workshops and my friends sometimes refer to me as the "workshop Queen". What can I say? I do like to know the kind, make and model of the brush used and please don't ever just say "red" when I ask "what color is that" as I want to know manufacture and name and pigment number. The instructor may receive a mention in my blog, a 1/4 page or a whole page such as Skip below where I wrote a note summary around the painting, or I might have a whole sketchbook devoted to just one instructor after taking several workshops(oh, tabbed dividers). See below and you know who you are Bob.
A Canson Montval All Media Sketch Book 9 x 12


These are just a few of the journals I will share and discuss. The one below is an altered book I've just started. You purchase an old book on the cheap at the thrift store or a garage sale, glue pages together and use gesso, collage and acrylic paint to fill the pages. For this one I chose a book on women's health because it is filled will neat photos of bodies, babies, wombs and you can save the print or a photo and/or paint out what you don't want to include. Or just practice a technique in one. I tried out some of the oil pastels on this page also. Does any of this appeal to you? If so, call Dena for more information.


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ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
ABSTRACT ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ ART FOR SALE ~ FIGURATIVE ~ MIXED MEDIA ~ ALTERED BOOKS

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Art Journaling Class ~ Love Your Life ~ Peppers ~ Dena Wenmohs Ranch by Nancy Standlee Texas Daily Painter

"Peppers"
5" x 6" in Kilimanjaro 140 lb. Journal

I finished this journal entry today while preparing for a "Love Your Life" art journal weekend retreat, July 23, 24, and 25 at Dena Wenmohs Ranch near Marble Falls. We are planning on having some fun while jump starting our creativity and beginners are very welcome. No drawing skills needed while we celebrate our special life. The focus will be on learning some quick ways to record some events and everyday incidents in your life. We will use a 9 x 12 journal with watercolor and pens. I will introduce other media such as acrylic, stamping, gouache, collage, and oil pastels. More information to follow but if you're at all interested email Dena or call her.
dena@wenmohsranch.com or call 830 825-3465. Once you're enrolled you will be mailed the supply list.
I've taken 3 workshops at the ranch near Marble Falls and it is a great place to get away and learn some new art tips, tricks and techniques.

Oscar Wilde quote "I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train." "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

There is no right or wrong way to journal but I'll share with you how I do it. Make a visual journal that is sensational and all about you and your daily life. It is pretty amazing after all. And if think your life is not too sensational at the moment, we'll make something up.

If you are interested in the process of keeping an art journal you might check out the new forum over at Wet Canvas. I've just posted this image there today.

To view other art journal pages I've posted, there is a search button at the top of the blog and just type in art journal pages and scroll down.
Please visit my web site and comment on my blog:

BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
ABSTRACT ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ ART FOR SALE ~ FIGURATIVE ~ MIXED MEDIA ~ ALTERED BOOKS

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"That's What I Like About You" ~ Contemporary Figurative Painting by Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

"That's What I Like About You"
12" x 12" Acrylic on canvas with some newsprint collage

This is another of the works I painted at Dena's Ranch at the Robert Burridge workshop and see previous posts for more details. Now Bob did advise us on titles and said call it something that would help identify the painting, example "The Red Landscape". I will never be able to locate this one with a title like this but it seemed appropriate at the time. Titles are never easy but this seemed to fit in with my couples series of friends and lovers. I was experimenting with some print backgrounds and I like the subtle print collage element.

Patience
I don't like to dwell on physical limitations, aches, pains, certainly not anything to do with aging, but last week, Monday, February 15, I had cataract surgery on my right eye and I have not been a patient with patience. No pain just annoyed as heck that I can't see well and after crying at the post op visit the following day, my doctor explained the cornea has been cut, it's swollen, be patient so I will until the next surgery in March for the left. Then after both eyes have healed I'll be fitted for new glasses and I'll have no need for patience. One of the problems as I see it is you have a new lens in the eye with the old prescription glasses and nothing is working. I went to the dollar store yesterday and got a pair of high magnification reading glasses and I can see my computer screen and read a little better. Didn't Betty Davis say, "Getting old is not for sissies." (I chose to go with the single lens and use glasses for astigmatism as I didn't want to deal with a possible double adjustment - for those who may have a question after having this done.)

YouTube and Myrna
For some time now I've been wanting to put a short video on YouTube with a painting demo of my own and one for Canvas by Canvas, the collaborative art group I belong to. My friend, Myra, has a fantastic demo with her new mini camcorder and now I've purchased a similar one (because of her). It's still in the box and I will read the directions when I can READ again. I'll be sure and post the results. I've seen so many eye charts this past week, I think I know what the next background for a collage figurative painting might be and that might make a good YouTube debut.

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BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

Other blogs where I post:

Daily Painters of Texas

Daily Abstract Painters Gallery

Daily Painters Marketplace


TEXAS CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST FINE ART DAILY PAINTER
NANCY STANDLEE ARLINGTON, TEXAS ART FOR SALE

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Robert Burridge Workshop ~ Wenmohs Ranch ~ Burridge Tree by Texas Daily Painter Nancy Standlee

"The Burridge Tree"
12" x 12" acrylic gallery wrap canvas

I'll have to fess up. This tree is only about one half mine. If you know me or read the blog, I just don't "do trees" but that was one of my intentions for this Robert Burridge workshop - Paint a Burridge tree as I've tried many times. I made the "mess" on the canvas (can use gessoed paper) and then went into panic mode when it came to the negative painting. Bob graciously took over and I now have a Burridge tree that I'm sooo proud of. Because it is hard for me to see some of the limbs I've found it beneficial to use blackboard chalk to find them before just jumping in with the negative painting.

Bob and my tree before the shadows on the ground.

Bob showing other examples of his negative painted trees. More of his trees can be found on his web site under landscapes and he paints them huge. In Kate and Bob's ArtsyFartsy News specific example of the tree can be found in the September 2009 Newsletter. See the Villa Fattoria Bacio, I was there several years ago with a Ted Nuttall workshop but I didn't paint trees.


Bob and Nancy. I have on my "artist signature" apron and keeping score with the number of workshops taken by making black diagonal slash marks. Yes, this one was number 7.


Connie, my Canvas by Canvas, collaborative painter and friend with our ranch hostess, Dena.



So OK the first day was really cold, then it started raining! I had on so many layers I felt like a mountain man. Thanks, Elizabeth for sharing this photo. On the left is Terry and I met her at my very first Burridge workshop at Dena's and sweet girl remembered I was collecting rusty stuff and brought me a little plastic bag of rusty tin. When I use it in a painting I will surely post the results. Now go try a "Burridge Tree". I know I plan to make a few more starts and will try to finish the next one all by myself but thanks, Bob, for all your help on this one.

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BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

Other blogs where I post:

Daily Painters of Texas

Daily Abstract Painters Gallery

Daily Painters Marketplace


TEXAS CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST FINE ART DAILY PAINTER
NANCY STANDLEE ARLINGTON, TEXAS ART FOR SALE

Contact: NancyStandlee@sbcglobal.net

Robert Burridge Workshop ~ Wenmohs Ranch ~ Acrylic Painting

"Connie and Nancy Visit Bobland"
11" x 14" Acrylic on canvas

I'm in the red boots. Does this look like us? Are you kidding? But we felt like this while in Bobland.

You don't think we look like our painted images? Well, check this out. Here we are in real life arriving at "Bobland" or Dena Wenohs Ranch Sunday afternoon for the Robert Burridge "Create Today with Wild Abandon : We Don't Need No Stinkin' Brushes" Workshop February 1-5, 2010. Whoo-Hoo and we had way too much fun. No I don't have red hair but I did have on a red hat and we couldn't have put a Popsicle stick in that car after we got our gear in there.

Bob Burridge and you might describe him as "highly energized"

Bob and "His People" - 24 total

The Bunkhouse where some stayed. Connie and I stayed here. Others stayed at Dena's house or in local motels in Marble Falls.

This was my 7th time to be in a Robert Burridge workshop and this one was special because one of my Canvas by Canvas peeps, Connie, went with me. We painted in the workshop barn which had a tin roof, (great sound effects when it rained for two days), we had a short propane outage, a few plumbing incidents, and a big water pump mishap but did we care? Heck no. We were having way too much fun to be bothered with a little mud, a little water and a little cool weather. Would I spend nearly a week preparing, loading, driving 4-5 hours to take another one tomorrow? You betcha. I tell Bob "There is no place I'd rather be on a Monday morning than at a Robert Burridge workshop." You see lots of old friends, meet some cool new ones, learn a whole bunch from Bob's sharing ways. He gives many demos, lectures, floor shows, a little slapstick, and shares all of his secrets. He begins new work, brings and paints some in progress, and even helps us finish some of ours. Bob says about painting, "Quit complaining. We all want to be better." So that is why we come together, to socialize, to paint and try to get better. Start thinking about your intentions in your art work. How do you know when you've arrived if you don't know where you're going? - a Bobism.

Why do I take so many of his workshops? Sometimes I just don't get it the first time and it's never the same old tired exercises or canned lecture you find in some workshops. Each time he's in a different new place with ideas and paintings and in his words he's there "to kick us in the butt" to get us motivated and that he does.

Bob is big on "Intentions" - Why am I here? What do I hope to get out of the workshop? What is this painting about? My intention for the above painting was I wanted to paint from an experience, use some graphic elements, and paint something I haven't done before. I used an old telephone book for the base and collaged some pages, placed a gold wash over them and painted the figures and stenciled some letters over all.

Subscribe to (click on this link) Bob's ArtsyFartsy Newsletter.
Top left is a place to click to sign up and register. You will receive an email and you need to respond to it and then add Bob and Kate's email address to your address book or the newsletter could end up in the spam folder. You can read archived copies that contain wonderful information about materials and techniques.

I'll post other paintings from the workshop in the coming weeks so please check back for a visit. I love to have you stop by.

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BLOG.............Nancy Standlee Art Blog

WEB SITE ........Nancy Standlee

WEB SITE ........Canvas By Canvas

Other blogs where I post:

Daily Painters of Texas

Daily Abstract Painters Gallery

Daily Painters Marketplace


TEXAS CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONIST FINE ART DAILY PAINTER
NANCY STANDLEE ARLINGTON, TEXAS ART FOR SALE

Contact: NancyStandlee@sbcglobal.net

Purple Onion Painting by Nancy Standlee

NFS
9" x 12" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

This onion painting hangs in my kitchen and in direct sight while I enjoy my morning coffee. It is a wonderful reminder of a trip to Dena Wenmohs ranch and the two workshops I've taken there with Robert Burridge. When I stayed in the Bunkhouse, Dena had colorful onion paintings in the kitchen and I wanted to paint something similar when I returned home. Wonderful memories. February 2010 will find me back at the ranch taking my 7th workshop with Bob and maybe this time I'll get it right.
I decided to post this today as I was thinking onions after making an oil and vinegar salad dressing. To see this delicious recipe and read the story go to the Artist Food Network.

I have been invited to post on these blogs so please check the sites. I'm excited about both of them and their future.

Daily Painters of Texas
This is a unique blend of Texas Artists who will post daily. Canvas by Canvas members who have joined are Barbara Hackney, Cindy Yandell, Karen Foster, Maryann Stephens, and Margie Whittington.

Daily Painters Abstract Gallery
This site has been created to share the works of abstract artists across the world who are committed to their craft and paint daily.

ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~ CONTEMPORARY ~ ACRYLIC ~ STILL LIFE ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ VEGETABLE PAINTING

Fire Dancer ~ Dena's Dogs ~ Texas Bound

"Fire Dancer"
7 1/2" x 11" Acrylic on paper, no mat or frame
$45.00

I recently attended Texas Bound in Fort Worth, March 31 to hear compelling short stories read by noted actors, all with a Texas connection.
The Dallas Museum of Art is presenting its 17th season of Arts and Letters Live and it's a great way to feed your brain and fill your soul and a place to meet Texas writers and readers. Some of the stories are offered in tapes and books.
It was a delightful evening enjoying great stories read at the Fort Worth Central Library after dining at the Reata Restaurant.
There are a few photos in the slide show.
I've read and reread Anne Lamott for years and now I've finally seen her
and heard her speak in person at the special event in Dallas, March 13. What a treat! She's honest, funny and enchanting. Read the nonfiction: Bird by Bird, Grace Eventually, Operating Instructions, Plan B, and Traveling Mercies. Anne also has some fiction works. Some of her writings appear here.

The painting, "Fire Dancer" was done at Dena's at the Robert Burridge Workshop. Also in attendance were Dena's 2 dogs, Sadie the Saint and Jody _____, fill in the blank. Sadie is a 14 year old 3 legged Blue Heeler and all she wants to do is hang around and observe without being hassled. Jody is another story. She's a 4 month old Blue Lacy pup, still chews her tail and makes mad dashes into the painting barn on snatch and grab missions and the little bandit takes our collage materials and shreds them in the nearest ditch. I'm still looking for my blue denim painting shirt that was lost there. I wonder if pieces of blue denim are hung up on a piece of barbed wire somewhere on the ranch? One evening she was half asleep on the couch, we heard a thump and she had fallen off the couch - a bad dream perhaps or just bored with all of the painting talk? When Jody really gets out of control, Dena puts on her "Jody-be-good" collar.
I fixed some Hebrew National Hot dogs for dinner one night and I was really ignoring Jody's plea for a bite and hoping she'd disappear when I felt a huge heavy tug on my shoulder and Jody was all but standing up with her mouth open for a munch. Yes, she was given some bites. I did learn from the Wikipedia site that since 2005 the Blue Lacy is the official State Dog Breed of Texas and Dena, the article states that after age two they have calmed down significantly. They certainly added to the ambiance of the workshop along with "The Girls", the donkeys.

Mouse over slide for caption:

Acrylic Landscape Warm-up ~ Annual Spring Gallery Night

Acrylic Landscape #1


Acrylic Landscape #2


Acrylic Landscape #3


Acrylic Landscape #4


51/2" x 7 1/2" Acrylic on paper, no mat, no frame, no shipping charges

The two previous posts have discussed the Robert Burridge workshop at Dena's Ranch and how we "warmed up" with some painting exercises. Bob had completed a larger painting similar for Dena and he said we could use some of his Gold Holbein paint to experiment with. I loved his colors and tried some similar with some alcohol and paint splatters. I've never been a big fan of landscape painting or plein aire painting because painting trees and just perspective in general has been a bugaboo to me so I've signed up for the July 7-11 Burridge Plein Aire Experience in Cloudcroft.
The workshop will be done in watercolor out in the field and then with acrylics back in the studio so I will have much to learn. Bob is an encourager to artists and his teaching style is entertaining and informative. One morning at Dena's when we'd had to many coffees, Dr. Pepper's and Cokes and we laughing out of control and generally horsing around, instead of getting a little discouraged with us, Bob calmly said "I love your enthusiasm" and I'll never forget this kind of attitude as he makes taking risks easier.
Saturday night found 6 Canvas by Canvas artists Betty Taylor, Barbara Hackney, Maryann Stephens, Karen Foster, Cindy Yandell, and Nancy Standlee out on the Annual Spring Gallery Night. Next year we want our members, Connie Michael, Margie Whittington and Cindy Campbell to join us. We met in Arlington at the Upstairs Gallery where our friends, Maureen Brouillette and Joel Sampson, were having an opening of their mixed-media work, Double Entendre. In the slide show, you will see some of their work. I brought along my T.A. (travel assistant - Garmin Navigational device) and Cindy Y drove us to the Rebecca Low Sculptural Metal Gallery and Studio. I quickly decided maybe my art supplies didn't take up so much room after all after checking out her supplies out in back. Carotta, the door greeter, issued an alarm if you touched her "headlights" or rear bumper. Other artists are represented at this gallery.
Next was Galerie Kornye West where we viewed contemporary work and works from the 19th through the mid 20th century.
Artspace 111 highlighted more than 50 works of some of the most progressive artists in Fort Worth. There are several photos in the slide show taken here and they provided valet parking.
I always wish we'd started earlier so we could go to more galleries but we had the reception at The Fort Worth Community Arts Center and just had to take our photos by our work. FWCAC is in it's fifth year of serving the Fort Worth community as an exceptional venue of all of the arts. The CafeART will open soon to offer a delightful light fare menu, coffee and WiFi in a friendly environment.
Food always figures in anytime we get together and after a variety of great snacks at the galleries, we decided on the Blue Mesa on University Drive for some light fare of our own, their Painted Desert soup.
Thanks to the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County for providing and operating the FWCAC. Canvas by Canvas will be having a special exhibit there in the summer and you will be sure to be notified.

Mouse over for captions of the slide show.

Robert Burridge Workshop ~ Dena's Ranch ~ Acrylic Warm-Ups

$30.00 Each
Floral 1 (1 of 8) 5 1/2" x 7 1/2"
Acrylic on Watercolor paper, unframed, includes shipping, tax


1- 4


5 - 8


Nancy at the Robert Burridge Workshop, photo was copied from the ArtsyFartsy Newsletter.
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Bob's Abstract Acrylic Painting and Collage workshop was held February 18-22, 2008 at the Dena Wenmohs Ranch about 20 something miles from Marble Falls, TX.
One of my Canvas by Canvas friends says I look awesome and sooo young in this photo. Well, thank you, Maryann, at 72 I treasure all of those comments. It's easy to be happy and smiling with all your stuff stacked up all around you and under the table and everyone's in a painting frenzy and Bob playing his crazy music (he says it doesn't matter if it's too loud or we don't like it 'cause "It's my sandbox".) At day's end your tired with swollen ankles but it's the best game in town. I absolutely adore being at Dena's as her whole house is art ...everywhere...she's got paintings in progress and her easel is set up in one corner, saddles from the rafters and she's an art collector also...it's just one big painting party from daylight to way past dark thirty.
The small painting that is for sale is an exercise we do to warm-up each day. We used very little reference material and tried to paint like we'd never painted before. Bob admonished us to "Be a mad scientist this week and the secret is "paint lots of paintings", and there's nothing to get, you already have it."
The weather was delightful and only once or twice did we have to step outside in the sun to get our extremities working again. We were surrounded by donkeys and dogs (more about that in the next post, and new painting friends ready to take some risks and paint like they never had before.
Bob said "Paint to feed your soul" and "always take the high road." Watch for the slide show at the end of the post for some photos taken at the workshop. Mouse over for captions.

Other blogs where I post:

http://artistfoodnetwork.blogspot.com

http://canvasbycanvas.blogspot.com

http://myspace.com/nancystandlee

TO PURCHASE PAINTINGS: Go to Paypal on http://nancystandlee.blogspot.com

Eat Well ~ Paint Your Food ~ Laugh Often

San Miguel ~ Mel Stabin Workshop

Mel Stabin watercolor 1/2 sheet, 15" x 22" "Hotel Posada"
Day 1 of Watercolor workshop
I've had a wonderful watercolor workshop in San Miguel de Allende February 23 and I returned March 1- my luggage returned March 3 and today I'm resorting and repacking for the Pat Dews workshop. This was my first trip to SMA and it was an unforgettable experience through Flying Colors.
San Miguel is the best known artist's colony in Mexico and it's colorful with lots of galleries and photo opportunities. Altitude is about 6,000 feet and you can walk on cobblestone streets or catch a ever present green taxi. Temperatures were perfect - 80's in the days and 40-50's at night. There isn't air conditioning or heat. I had the same goals as when I went to Italy - I didn't fall down, I didn't lose my purse, or I didn't get sick - all accomplished. I might add there were no traffic lights, no bugs, and no trash - just incredibily beautiful sights and friendly folks. I relied on other workshop participants to speak Spanish for me and help me with my coins, but many of the people there spoke English.
We stayed in a lovely hotel, Hotel Posada de la Aldea, close to the art institute and a few blocks from the cathedral and the Jardin, town square. There was a direct flight from DFW to Leon and a shuttle or a 1 1/2 hour taxi ride to the hotel. About 26 students were in the workshop with a few locals with a mix that included some beginner painters to art teachers with an interest in watercolor and plein air painting and daily demonstrations. Working in "plein air" is not my favorite way of working as they work on location to quickly capture the light effects and complete a painting on site before the light changes or some prefer to finish up in the studio. The above painting by Mel was the first demo on Monday morning and as an inexperienced plein air painter I decided I'd just look at the scene and copy from my photo and Mel's painting. This was painted in our hotel's courtyard. Later I need to erase some on the wrought iron railing and do some touch-up on mine.

Nancy's 11" x 15" copy of Mel's Hotel Posada Painting

Over the next few posts I will write about this workshop and the one I took with Robert Burridge February 17-22 at the Dena Wenmohs Ranch.

Mel cleaning his palette after the flight down.

Mel beginning his sketch at the Hotel Posada.

Orange and Violet Floral ~ Fall Birthday Celebration

SOLD
11 x 15 acrylic floral on watercolor paper
This was painted during a Robert Burridge workshop on the Dena Wenmohs Ranch. I haven't posted it as I was reluctant to put a price on it as I like it.

Canvas by Canvas has a birthday tradition to give each member an 8 x 10 gallery wrapped canvas painted by a member in a rotation schedule and eventually, each member will receive a painting from each member in the group. We have divided up the party into a fall and a spring celebration. The 2007 fall celebration was held Friday 26^th at Antiques and Moore in Arlington. We had a delightful lunch in the Rose Garden Tearoom before the gift presentation. Five of us celebrated birthdays in the fall.
It was difficult making a luncheon choice but we all had to try the special tea “a special blend of rose pedals, vanilla and strawberry.” The sampler plate in the slide show was chicken salad, fresh fruit with poppy seed dressing, cheese and green chili quiche, spinach soup, and a pumpkin bread sandwich.

We were loud and boisterous with talk of our previous nights opening at the Petroleum Club and the sales and possible sales and 10 of our 11 members were present for the birthday event.

We decided I needed a microphone embedded in my turquoise necklace so a blogger wouldn’t have to take “blogging notes”.

One of the photos is of Jesse, our server and bringer of the birthday cupcakes we shared. I didn’t get photos of all the gift paintings as I had to leave the party early to start the journey toward Stephenville and Tarleton State University's homecoming weekend.

See the slide show below for photos from our fall birthday celebration. Miss Nancy will be 72 on Monday. Wow!

Ranch Blossoms ~Bestest Blog ~ Bestest Workshop ~ Bestest Art Blog ~ Art Blog

Ranch Blossoms $190.00
16” x 12”, Acrylic on watercolor paper adhered to gallery wrapped canvas ¾” profile
Last summer I had a delightful workshop on a ranch near Marble Falls. I first saw Robert Burridge’s work on the Cheap Joe’s Art Catalog. It was a a series of coffee cups similar to the ones offered on the Amazon link and I was smitten. That is the power of a painting. I had to know more about this artist and his technique. I purchased his book, his cd’s and tapes, and decided I’d go anywhere to take a workshop. Ranch Blossoms is one of the pieces begun in that workshop. We painted in a metal building with the doors open as there wasn’t air conditioning and this was Texas in September. We wore wet towels around our necks to stay cool. It was glorious.

Now I’ve scheduled a figurative workshop with him in October in Mendocino, California. Bob states in his book Loosen Up

“Remember, all this thinking and creating is just
a game. There is no ultimate significance to it all. However, it’s the best
game there is. I only know that I’m happy to play the game and I paint. But
what it is that I am about to paint, what happens, I never know in advance.”

When I was painting that week at Dena Wenmohs Ranch, I didn’t plan this painting. It just happened. I call the painting “Ranch Blossoms” a mystical name for a mystical painting. It was hot and dusty and one of the most creative weeks I’ve ever had. No TV, out in the country with the donkeys who followed you on the short walk to the main house for lunch at Dena’s home, just eating, talking, dreaming painting.

Bobby Griffin over at the Bestest Blog http://www.bestestblog.com/ is setting up a new directory this morning. I will post more about it later.
http://www.blankestblank.com/

Thanks to Peter Chen's Blogger Tips and Tricks article I was able to get the workshop photo in the middle of the page!! Yoo-Hoo!

I just knew "bestest" wouldn't be in the dictionary but surprise at Dictionary.com I found this entry. It's slang and had one entry. It will probably NOT be my new favorite word.