Joe Fettingis Watercolor Workshop ~ Day 2

Nancy's work in progress at the Joseph Fettingis workshop. I see I need to adjust the horn shapes in the background near the spirit necklace and add more color to the face. The computer monitor can point out your mistakes all too well. This is a vignette but I think I ran my vest and sleeve off the page too far. I'm including Suzanne's painting as her approach was very original where the rest of the 19 students stayed with Joe's colors. I told Betty that I'd take her photo to go with her painting after we finished eating at Joe T's (my most favorite place in the whole world to eat) and we were so stuffed with refried beans, enchiladas and tortillas I completely forgot it.
"Now watch this. Here we go", Joe calls out on day 2 and I feel like we're just getting started and wish the workshop was a five day one instead of 3. His teaching methods are top notch in my book and you can see the links in my web site on how many workshops I've taken in the last few years so I can recognize a good teacher when I find one. Joe talked a little about cameras and photography of models, how to control the flow of pigments, and gave us short demos on the scarf, folds in the shirt, color and how to move it in your painting, how to use scrubbers, and backgrounds. He has a "funny little accent" and I'm sure he thinks the same about some of us...me! He said he was in Venezuela until the age of 14. I don't have an excuse for my "funny little accent".
About 2:30, we put away our "lady cowgirl" and we given our horse photo to begin placing on our watercolor paper and we got on our masking fluid so we're ready to begin painting a horse on Thursday. There is a lot of excitement in the workshop and he has made learning fun, fun, even if he is a little strict with his "No Talking" rules but we are definitely the beneficiary and I've handled this better than some of my "friends" had predicted.
Joe was the juror for the SWA show and our opening reception is Thursday evening at the Central Library in downtown Fort Worth. Tomorrow will be a rush day to paint and then get to the show by 6:00 p.m. We take down on Sunday so you have only a few days left to view the show.
I hear lots of rolling thunder and we're under all kinds of watches so I'm out of here until later in the week and maybe I'll have more artists to show with their work...maybe even a horse or two.

Betty's Painting
Betty is a member of Canvas by Canvas and our web mistress. She sent around an email tonight that will make you sorry you missed the workshop. I quote "He's really a wonderful instructor and spends a lot of time breaking things down into understandable chunks and letting us work on part of a painting so we can apply the information, before going on to the next step. I've learned a lot about the reasoning behind applying paint to paper in watercolor: how to control the moisture and assist the eye in moving throughout the painting -- even after all these years I've never had anyone explain things so clearly. And really, we are all very respectful of his request that we not talk amongst ourselves while he is teaching or while we are working, but he's always full of amusing anecdotes and the class is never boring. He is one of the most organized and disciplined artists I've ever met -- truly an amazing experience. Makes me want to get back to watercolor more often."


Suzanne's Red Hat Painting


Suzanne


Joe's Closeup of the background

Joe Fettingis Watercolor Workshop ~ VerveEarth

This is a work in progress (WIP) I started today in the Joe Fettingis Watercolor Workshop given by SWA. The eyes look a little squirrelly because I just removed the masking fluid showing the white of the paper and no one's eyes are ever that white. This painting will get more attention on Wednesday.
I have posted a slide show of some of the images of Joe's painting in progress and some of his framed pieces he brought from Indiana in his car. I wanted to share his lovely work and he will have to forgive me for the horrible glare on most of the pieces and then I tilted the camera to remove some of the glare. It is a real treasure to find so many original works of art on view by the workshop instructor.
"NOW WATCH THIS. HERE WE GO".
This is Joe's clarion call to us to assemble, get quiet, and begin to work. If you've ever taken one of his workshops I'm sure you know the drill. He is a real task master and told us if we needed to visit do it at lunch because he was there to teach and we were there to learn. And learn we did. Most of the workshops I've taken the instructor usually demonstrates in the morning and the students paint in the afternoon. Joe breaks down the painting process in several small demos during the day and we return to our "studio" to paint what he has just taught and I've found it to be a very effective way of learning. He gives us small things to learn and breaks the learning down into small bits and while we are applying the technique he is walking the room answering questions and giving more instruction. He provided our reference photo material, a dramatic lady with a large black hat and we all worked on it together. By 4:00 today as I walked the room and looked at each person's work, I was very impressed with the results. We should get this project finished Wednesday morning and begin a horse in the afternoon and I've never painted a horse so this will be fun.
Today we concentrated on techniques of paint application, values, moisture, color and composition. Joe's materials are discussed on his web site where he maintains The Smallest Brush/Colors Art Store in the Universe.
The Maimeri colors he uses are listed on the order form.
VerveEarth.com or Verve Earth
I've listed my blog on this very cool new site as bloggers are telling the world's stories as they happen and Verve Earth is meant to be a canvas for their voices. Travel the map/world and see a site that interests you. After you are registered you can add the destination to your favorites. On the left side is a zoom level and more content can be found by zooming in or you can do a search by typing in a city. I've had some trouble with their search button so just press enter on your keyboard. Type in Arlington, Texas and you should find Nancy Standlee Art Blog and the Artist Food Network that belongs to Canvas by Canvas (the collaborative group where I belong).
Enjoy the slide show below. Mouse over for captions.

"Shop Talking" ~ "Treasures" Art Show Award ~ Creative Catalyst

"SHOP TALKING"
20" x 20" Giclee will be available soon
2nd in "Talking Series"
What a pleasant surprise to find in my email this morning the Creative Catalyst Winter Art Show "Treasures" 2007-2008 Winners and see that Juror Janie Gildow has given "Shop Talking" a special merit award for Whimsy. She had these comments:
Shop Talking The composition is strong, but the enchantment is what sets it apart. What a delightful piece!
The work appeared in the blog post in February.
After "Trash Talking" received some friendly reviews I decided on a "Talking" series so now the question will be "what to paint next in the series"? I will have a giclee made from "Shop Talking" soon to have a companion series giclee for "Trash". I have been very pleased having Gamut Control produce my giclees.
Thanks to blogger, Kelly, for posting it on her website in February, Craft Amor.
Works will be delivered this weekend for the SWA show. I'd posted a Koi painting to enter and it was not chosen but Blue Rose, Blue Vase was accepted and this 5th show will earn me my signature status. Yeah!

Joseph Fettingis is the juror and some of the Canvas by Canvas group (including me) will be taking his April workshop. I've ordered some of his "special" brushes and colors and warned him I may have trouble with his "No Talking" rule. I'll try to behave. What could you expect from an artist that has a "Talking" series. Maybe he'll give me some slack? Or place me in the corner? No one loves the workshop environment better than I do... when everywhere you look artists are creating something they have never done before and at lunch you visit and talk art, and if you're away at a workshop, dinner conversation is art.