Donna Zagotta Workshop ~ "My Peeps: Port Bolivar" ~ Gouache Figurative Painting

"My Peeps: Port Bolivar Bathing Beauties"
8x10 Watercolor and Gouache on #115 Crescent watercolor board hot press

Donna Zagotta Workshop "Size has nothing to do with quality".

OK, I know it's wild but I couldn't resist. I had this photograph of some of the Canvas by Canvas members when we took a road trip south and ended up at a Port Bolivar beach front cottage before the hurricane. One from the above group has commented "I'm so glad you can't tell who we are". I will tell you privately IF you have to know. I guess hearing all about the Fauves and the wild beasts and wild colors got to me. Read HERE about the Les Fauves and I might add the photo of Madame Matisse on the right with the green line down the center of her nose is one of my favorite paintings. I was fairly traditional in the previous post in the Donna Zagotta workshop with "The La Cima Chef" but once we got to arbitary color, line and texture I lost all control with the pattern embellishment and decorating and put the reference material under the table.
Here's Donna trying to remind us to use our "L shaped croppers" to help with our composition. I won't forget that one because the words sound a little naughty. She advised to gather more information than you'll ever want or use so you'll have it ready when you plug the subject into the design. By that put everything in the drawing on the reference material and during the painting process you can mass shapes and create but if you want to use an element from the reference it's there to use or move around or delete. I love it, love it that Donna says it's OK to trace the photo. Hear that Myrna way out in California. (I had a tracing ready and Myrna made me draw it at her workshop but we're still friends.) I also pronounce her name Wacknov just the way it sounds to a Texan and got corrected by Donna. I just never figured I had that much time left to spend all that time trying to draw it when Photoshop Elements 7 does such a good line drawing of the photo. Maybe I'll post how later if others are interested and if I can ever draw like Charles Reid I'll put up the software, but Donna is to the opinion you're also teaching yourself to draw by tracing. Love that concept. That is another reason I keep an art journal is to practice drawing in it.
"My Peeps" is expressing how I feel about my friends and I could have made a copy of the shapes and colors but I chose to be expressive, creative, a little Fauve. Most of the comments from my friends were "We like the chef better." I'm OK with that. We're still friends.
On a later post I will post more on the painting process and how we actually began our painting.

Donna's DVD
Donna recently finished filming a DVD for Creative Catalyst Productions, which will be released later this summer. There will be a "pre-sale" discount a few weeks prior to the release. Click HERE to see a short video clip from the DVD and I can't wait for this one.

Canvas by Canvas
Our collaborative group of 8 paint and travel together. Back when we were 11, Veria TV Channel filmed us painting at the Upstairs Gallery. I received an email from one of the girls today that tonight on DISH Network, on Channel 9575 7:00 pm our "The Art of Living" will be presented again. It first aired December 25, 2007. I don't have DISH network so won't be able to verify that but you can try if you're interested or watch for a rerun. We do have a Veria store in the Arlington TX Highlands Mall area. Our section is very short so don't leave for a drink of water if you get to watch it. The segment talks about the healing effects of art. I think they need to film us painting at their new store.

Here are the photos from some of the activities and student work at the workshop. Enjoy and mouse over for captions.

Nancy Standlee
a Texas Daily Painter &
member of Canvas by Canvas
Texas Collaborative Artists

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

Self Portrait ~ Donna Zagotta Workshop ~ Port Bolivar Vacation ~ Art Blog

Not for Sale
6" x 9" Watercolor and Gouache on Hot Press Watercolor Paper
The photo was taken at the CBC's beach rental on Port Bolivar and the head wrap was to cover Gulf Hair and I was painting Pigasus, a CBC mini painting, while waiting for the group to go restaurant looking. We returned late September 11 and I packed for the Donna ZagottaArtists Showplace Gallery and hosted by the SWS organization. I had found Donna's work online several years ago and knew if she were ever in the area, I wanted to be in her workshop. I was more interested in her figures and her use of gouache. This is the painting I did in the workshop using watercolor and white gouache.
This particular workshop was "Developing Ideas for Creative Paintings" and was held September 12-14.

In this workshop, the emphasis is on finding methods and ideas for turning ordinary subjects into creative and imaginative paintings. Expanding possibilities for spontaneity through design and personal expression will be our focus. Workshop topics include: composition strategies, improvisational painting, developing a personal visual language, and exploring watercolor’s full potential as a transparent and opaque medium. This workshop will invigorate you with equal parts inspiration, information, and direction. All levels are welcome.

This is the statement on SWS's site about Donna:

Donna Zagotta is a nationally recognized artist and teacher. She is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West and Midwest Watercolor Society. Her work has appeared on the cover of Watercolor Expressions and The Artist’s Magazine, and she was selected for Watercolor Magic’s “Ones to Watch” in 2001. Donna Zagotta’s paintings have evolved from an early emphasis on traditional watercolor techniques and traditionally influenced realism to an unconventional use of the watercolor medium and the exploration of the area that lies between realism and abstraction. She finds inspiration in the works of Edouard Vuillard, Henri Matisse and Richard Diebencorn, masters who were more focused on expressing color and spatial ideas than in rendering the particulars of subject matter.
Thanks, Donna, for a great workshop. We hope you come back to Texas soon and bring us more Michigan truth.

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SOLD ~ Port Bolivar Redhead ~ BlogRush ~ Galveston Vacation ~ Nancy Standlee Art Blog

SOLD to an art collector in Fort Worth, TX.
6" x 6" Acrylic on Canvas Panel
This was painted during Canvas by Canvas painting holiday at Port Bolivar, near Galveston. Betty, a CBC member, has posted some slides on the Canvas by Canvas Blog.
Good news on sales (my Pigasus sold) yesterday by another member, Connie.
BlogRush
I've discovered BlogRush this morning. I love my blog because I didn't have the time to set up a website and our collaborative group already had one. I didn't have to learn HTML and Blogger is very easy to setup and post. The hard part is getting people to visit your blog and promoting your site. This new tool, BlogRush, should definitely add to your marketing arsenal. It has the ability to grow your traffic exponentially, and the potential to bring a flood of traffic to your blog. The very best part is it's free. I've place the BlogRush icon on my Art Blog, the Artist Food Network, and Canvas by Canvas Blog so if you're interested in finding out more about and possibly joining click on the symbol and you will find instructions and a video.

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SOLD ~ Pigasus ~ Port Bolivar Vacation ~ Nancy Standlee Art Blog

SOLD
$40.00
6" x 6"
This little piggy can be purchased through the Canvas by Canvas web site.
He was painted at the southern part of Texas on the gulf, Port Bolivar, one of the first ports established in Texas. Some of the Canvas by Canvas art group, packed up their bathing suits and painting supplies and headed to this rented vacation home on the gulf side overlooking the beach at Grand Pelican - Sandy Shores. Even before our week's stay was over we were planning a second trip. I had never visited this area and since we went after Labor Day, on September 6 - 11, 2007, we had the beach to ourselves much of the time. We did take lots of photos that we will paint later. Morning coffee on the deck overlooking the ocean with thoughts of a day of painting is indeed a vacation. Throw in a new restaurant search for the evening and maybe a trip to the dollar store for beach chairs makes it complete.

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The Bakers ~ Figurative Painting ~ Art Blog ~ Arne Westerman Tribute

$80.00
11" x 15" Watercolor on 140 lb. hot press paper
The Bakers was painted in an Arne Westerman workshop and it might have been from a photo he had provided for us to use. It is a loose, experimental piece on hot press paper and I didn't try for perfection and I simplified the scene. Arne likes Lanaquarelle hot press. His book, Paint Watercolors Filled with Life and Energy, was one I checked out at the library and I thought it so informative, I now own an autographed paperback. It was published in 1994 and Amazon has 31 used copies and you can click on my Amazon link to check for updates. A Westerman workshop is filled with surprises and humor and he will be in our area November 12-16, 2007 in Irving through the SWS. He is a member of the American Watercolor Society and the National Watercolor Society. I am signed up for my second workshop with him. Arne uses color with boldness, hot press paper, gives permission to paint from photos, and advises it's o.k. to get inspiration from other artists.

He says talent is overrated. Ambition, determination and just plain hard work can more than compensate for a lower rating in the talent department. Register your feelings and express your perspective. Don't be a Rockwell. He already did it.

I like to read the Suggested Reading List at the back of books and in Arne's I found a book mentioned by an old friend, Jack Clifton, Eye of the Artist, 1984. (Amazon has 5 of these used starting at $5.95). I took a few acrylic classes from Jack while I lived in Hampton, Va. and I was continually frustrated because I couldn't draw and he caught me one night with a push pen and string stuck in my painting board trying to draw a circle for a plate for a still life set up. (I've since learned better). Life got in the way, I switched to batik for a period, and didn't take any more art classes until I retired. Arne says of Jack's book "He has everything you want to know in a nutshell." And I'm in good company, Arne didn't start watercolor painting until he was in his 50's. Arne may have copies of his book available on his site.
This photo shows Arne and me with the end of the class presentation.


As a retired librarian/artist, I suggest you get a library card and find books on painting and then start your own library of favorite sources. You'll return to them again and again. I use my books like workbooks, even autographed ones. I highlight, draw and write notes in them. I didn't buy them for an investment.
I've packed my Arne book on the top of the stack that is being prepared for a Port Bolivar beach road trip by some of the Canvas by Canvas group leaving next week. Port Bolivar is one of the first ports established in Texas. We are planning to eat seafood, paint some watercolors, beach sit, and take lots and lots of photos of every thing - shrimp boats, our food, people.

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