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
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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