This week WE LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES

Next week


Jill will share highlights of what she learned in Patti Brady’s acrylic workshop. The workshop focused on all the different ways you can use acrylic paint and mediums. Patti is the director of Golden Acrylic’s working artist program. She is also an artist and author. You can check out her work at http://www.pattibrady.com/.
in case YOU want to attend one of her workshops....

TODAY

Justine and Melanie shared some of what they learned in Robert Burridge’s Abstract Florals class. If you would like to check out Bob’s work, and sign up for a full workshop yourself take a look at http://www.robertburridge.com..



If you would like to experiment with some of the techniques bring watercolor paper that has been gessoed or a canvas. You will also need a brush, water holder and paint.

Off to a GREAT START!

This Wednesday we jumped right in!

Everyone brought paints and sketchbooks and some of us did some painting AND writing!

Check out the BOOK WE ARE READING...SAYING YES by Cindy West. It is SURE to inspire just as much as CREATIVE CALL (which is still a favorite..but we went through it three times (and must say got something different out of it each and every time).

So IF YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT PAINTING...stop thinking and DO IT! What a great Valentine's present of LOVE for yourself or someone else. (FOR YOU TO PAINT AND SHARE THE LOVE INSIDE YOUR HEART FOR SOMEONE ELSE).....send us an email and we will post your creativity!

Blessings!
Allison

We're BACK!

We began a NEW semester this week with 20 people now in the group!

For the upcoming weeks we will dig deeply into the book Saying Yes, Accepting God’s Amazing Invitation to Artists


Our leader, Melanie Morris adds a few comments with:
I’m excited about our studio time next week and think our focus on shells is a great start to the semester. Our books talks about how God was the first artist and there is certainly great artistry in the beauty of shells. I’m already thinking about what I’ll do. I can see a really great close-up of a shell that becomes an abstract painting– which would definitely be new for me. I also can see how shells would provide inspiration for an intricate pen and ink drawing or a loose and colorful collage from tissue paper or magazine photos. If you are new to painting, don’t worry because anything goes – you could even use food coloring to dye sand and create your shell with colored sand.
MELANIE


This weekend some of the artists in the group are heading South..for some creative time with toes in the sand- our SPRING RETREAT.

Check back with us next week as we draw on inspiration from the sea!

Blessings!

Allison

Welcome Spring 2009!

We will begin a new semester on Wednesday February 4 in Crestline.

Together we will study a number of new "sources of inspiration" and paint/create every other week.

For the first time we are having a RETREAT to the beach...
to spend a few days perfecting our craft or just "rubbing elbows" with
other creative types.

We welcome you to join us.

Also, if you haven't checked out Church of the Highlands...
as a creative person who has been SO blessed because of my relationship with
God in my creative life as well as my personal life....

Give it a try....
you will love it!

We are up to more than 12,000 "Happy People" (that's what they call our church..
not a bad description :)) who are being filled up and pouring out our talents across this city and this state.

Blessings in 2009...may the "creative bug" get you!

Allison

Palette Knife Painting with Melanie Morris

This week we got together at my house to watch our leader lead us in
PAINTING WITH A PALETTE KNIFE.

She turned me on to this one year ago and I have never looked back!
I LOVE the palette knife. As a fast painter...and one with little patience
for oil, it has given me the freedom to layer and layer in fast strokes...
throwing control to the breeze...

It is the "happy accidents" that propel the work to something deeper than
what we were intending...

take a look at some of these from the class!
The notes will follow in another blog...
A picture says a thousand words....