Westroyd Studio Exhibition, Farsley

Orange Study, by Kim Bennett, size 8x10 inches ( 20.3 x 25.4 cm )
Acrylic on Canvas Panel,
2008 Kim Bennett

Three paintings by Kim Bennett will be in a group exhibition in West Yorkshire at Westroyd Studios, Westroyed Park, New Street, Farsley. These paintings were produced within the last few months. Two of the three works will be available for purchase.

The Official Opening of the exhibition is
Saturday, 25th October 2008 at 11:00 am

Opening Times
October 25th-26th 11am-4pm
October 29th 7pm-9pm
Nov. 1st - 2nd 11am-4pm

November 10th- Stocksbridge

Nov. 10th at the S & W Yorks. Club in Stocksbridge.

From 9:30 - 4:00.

We will be painting a penguin design, Flakes and Flurry by Neadeen Masters.

Kim Bennett will be teaching this lesson. Tuition is £15 and bring your own surface. The size of the pattern is 8 X10 inches.

It is a bring your own surface. Size of the pattern is 8 X10 inches. There will be much involved with this lesson. I will be available at the club in Stocksbridge the following Monday for those who would like help finishing up. The painting will be done in both in JansenArt Traditions acrylics and global application.

There is a £4.00 non-refundable deposit for the class. Last day of the deposit is Nov. 7th.
Please get in touch with me earlier if you would like a copy of the drawing so it can be resized to fit your piece. As this is part of your instructional pattern a deposit will be required.

For prep instructions and any questions please contact
kim@decoraitiveartsuk.com

Studio Opens

One of the many fun things I have been doing this summer is doing up the studio. For me, it was keeping in mind the best way to make use of the space, storage and lighting.

I am very proud of it and happy to share it with you!

The cupboards are made of glass with a white backing, I eventually plan to add paintings and teaching aids behind these. The work table also expands to sit more people and I also have added a 32" flat screen television and DVD player. (I do love my gadgets.)

I also stock JansenArt Traditions Paints and Mediums and necessities need for classes.

Traditions Education Program

This summer, I have taken the wonderful journey on the Traditions Module A, B, C, and D. with Heritage Artist, Gabriele Hunter in America. Gaby is an artist full of information and shares everything she knows willingly. There were people from all over America taking part in the module course with me. At the end of the four day course, our heads were spinning with ideas and we were ready to share the Traditions teaching methods with our students.

After taking part in the Traditions Education System A, B and C, I stayed to take Module D.

The Traditions Modules is a wonderful tool for learning. It is a developmental program which takes the artist on an educational and historical journey as they work through the levels and styles of decorative painting.

The Traditions Educational System offered as a teaching or study curriculum for artist. It is divided into three modules, Module A-beginner; Module B - Intermediate and Module C - the advance level.

Module A - Beginners
Builds the artist's foundation through the correct use of tools, language of colour, and mixing, stressing the mechanics of brush control required for all styles, including landscape painting. Each of the ten lessons builds momentum as students are introduced to the challenges of learning dimension and colour control, all of which leads to greater artistic confidence.
(Pictured on the right, final lesson of Module A)



Module B- Intermediates
is designed to advance the knowledge gained in the first module through more involved designs, in-depth colour and value studies, and the introduction of several layering and blending techniques. Through the introduction of realism, sophisticated stroke design, landscapes, floral, and still life, the program establishes the technical building blocks for more to come in the next module.

Module C- Advance.
Challenges the student once again, yet reinforces all previous lessons while continuing to build the toolkit for advance skills and techniques. At this point the student has attained a higher level of confidence necessary to execute more advance designs with greater detail and proficiency with an understanding of theory required to do so.

The second instalment of Module D is an advance program for artist. It includes several advance subject and topics.

Please contact Kim for further information on classes.



For more information on the complete Traditions Education Program, Click on the Traditions Logo to visit the website.

Simple Changes

It is amazing what simple changes will do.
In saying that, I thought that I would share this acrylic painting with you.

I had been working on a painting which is named "Cherry-O." This painting on your left is my first attempt that was placed aside to rest. On the morning of a critique evening, I decided it was time to revisit it. Having some idea of the areas that needed work, I sat down with my painting that morning to make a few corrections.

Can you spot the obvious?

Yes, you got it! The shadow area of the painting distracts from the cherries. In particular, the reflective shadow area on the front cherry looks patchy. To keep in the style of the painting, I needed very subtle shadows or merging with transition of colour. The shadow should be smooth and not patchy.

Instead of trying to correct the shadow, I rubbed out the shadow area with some of the background colour. Next, I worked on a better transition of colour in the shadow area.

This process was done slowly in stages with much care and nurture, making sure that just enough shadow colour was present just below or underneath the cherries to prevent them from floating. Even though this was a careful process, pulled together in stages, the irony is that it still took less time to paint the shadow the second time around.

What does it do? Well, my eye is no longer drawn to the patchy shadow below the front cherry and my centre of interest is restored to the cherries.


Palette: DecoArt Traditions Acrylic
Phthalo Green- Blue
Quin. Gold
Quin. Violet
Titanium White
Raw Sienna
Ultramarine Blue
Napthol Red
Dioxazine Purple
Hansa Yellow
Yellow Oxide

Just One of the Kids

Three weeks in June I had spent a wonderful time with family and friends in America. The weather was lovely and warm too.

It was the first time for me to meet my niece Riley who is two. I spent a couple of days with her and her mum. I also spent time with my first niece Gracie, she had just turned four and we had two ice cream cakes for her party. Yum, my favourite!

I also had a chance spend time with Mike; he became ten over the summer and also likes to paint. We spent a couple of days together painting and doing gourd art. We had an awesome time!

Mike is a special guy and he is interested in art. Explaining art to a 10 year old was a wonderful experience for me as I looked at it in terms of another perspective. Let's just say, I did not realise how much science is actually involved in art. Well O.K., that is not entirely true but during our discussions, I found myself thinking back to junior school's Ms. Larose science class to help me explain and answerer his questions. Good thing I paid some attention in school.

I wonder if Ms. Larose was a painter in her spare time. I am starting to think so. LOL

Colour pencils aren't just for kids! This summers reading program was called "catch the reading bug." The KVDA girls made bookmarks with the kids at the library. We used coloured pencils. The bookmarks were of wonderful designs by artist Dottie Kuhl. She did a great job and the designs were so cute. We had so much fun mixing colours and tried using different techniques with our coloured pencils.

Teaching art to children is great! When a situation arises and there isn't enough green markers or colour pencils to go around to everyone, improvise and teach children that blue and yellow make green. It's magical.

Under construction

More Information coming soon.

Kim Bennett teaches decorative painting in Acrylics, from the very beginner to advance levels.
Kim mainly teaches folk art and decorative painting classes to educate and encourage new and experienced painters.
Introductory classes helps students to familiarize themselves with the media and explore a variety of application techniques and eased into some composition and theory practices.
Rather your a beginner or more experienced painter, these classes can be informative as well as enlightening.
Guided independent study is also available.

To subscribe to the mailing list e-mail:
kim@decorativeartsuk.com
Subject: Subscribe

July 26th - Lazy Day's of Summer

Heidi England's "Valentine's Day (Cushion)" from the "All Year Ottoman", is a nice addition to our lazy days of summer. This is a casual project, as it is in a bohemian style and your stroke work need not to look perfect. There is minimal colour mixing involved as we will be using Jo Sonja's Background Colours to paint the final project. Textile Medium will also be used.
I would advise beginners to attend some stoke work sessions before class to gain basic understanding of the art form. Introduction to stroke work tuition £20 per day will be held July 12th -13th giving you time to practice.

Final Project July 26th 9:30 - 5:00 Tuition £20.
Pillow for the Project is £3.50
1/4 Oval Glaze or Filbert is the only brush you will need.
Tea and coffee provided, bring a packed lunch.
This class is at a special price.

Yummy... Cupcake Craft book

For May, get in the mood for a summer tea party with my yummy cupcake craft book!

This May, I will be teaching a project using rubber stamps and the Creative Possibilities drybrush technique and colour palette system. This is a nice project for all of those beginners as we will be some time with basic colour theory and colour mixing.




There will be two surfaces to choose from

1st 8 x 8 ' in soft back craft book can be used as a sketchbook, scrapbook, journal, you name it...
2nd Ring bound mdf that is large enough to fit 8 x 8' in scrapbook sleeves.

The Choice is yours.

Lesson Dates
May

A.M. 6th, 14th, 20th
P.M. 7th, 15th, 21st
Tutition: £49
Course Includes: Surface, CP-sample paint set, and #2 Sure Touch Drybrush to take home
Paints: Acrylics- Jo Sonja's Creative Possibilities Sampler, Artist Colour, and Background Colour

May- Soft Textile Painting

Springy, "Green," and Canvas All Over

Designed by Vicki Rhodes

In the month of May, we will be using a watercolour and soft textile technique to create this design on a canvas bag. To top it off, a blanket and whip stitch will create a frame for the piece and give our canvas bag a "hoppy" texture.

Lesson Dates

May
A.M. 7th, 15th, 21st, 28th
P.M. 6th, 14th, 20th, 27th
Tuition: £49
Paints: Acrylics- Jo Sonja's Creative Possibilities Sampler and Artist Colours

Garden Journal and Seed Packet Organizer

Patchwork Garden

Designed by Cynthia Bowman
"Seed Packet Holder"
"My Garden Journal"

Creative Possibilities drybrush technique from Module 1
Excellent project for beginners or any skill level.

Lesson Dates
April
A.M. 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th
P.M. 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th
Tuition: £49
Paints: Acrylics - Jo Sonja's Creative Possibilities Sampler and Artist Colours

Bunny Scapbook Cover

Easter Seasonal Panel from

All Year Ottoman

Designed by Heidi England

This design will be painted on choice of a picture or a scrapbook large enough to hold 12 x 12 inch sleeves.

Lesson Dates
April
A.M. 8th, 15th, and 22nd
P.M. 9th, 16th 23rd
Tuition: £39

Project piece: Please contact for prices
Paints: Acrylics - Jo Sonja's Background Colours

About Me

This is an outlet to share things that I am unable to cover in class and connect with other artists. Sometimes, I may share my own experiences and insights that I encounter while painting. You may not be in one of my classes, but I invite you to learn and share this journey with me! So if you want to get “stuck in” and join the discussion on your own terms then that is fantastic!

My inspiration comes in many ways. It may depend on my mood or how I feel at the time. It all affects the way the subject is approached. Some days it could be technique, lighting, texture, shape, or glimpses of colour. For me, inspiration can come from anywhere. It is a matter of keeping your eyes open and working with what you feel inside you.

What is my favorite colour?
If I could only pick one, it would have to be orange.


kim.artuk@googlemail.com

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