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

Website Nancy Standlee
Website Canvas by Canvas
Website Artists of Texas.org
Blog Nancy Standlee Art
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ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ ARTIST NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~
CONTEMPORARY ~ WATERCOLOR ~ ACRYLIC ~ COLLAGE ~ GOUACHE
ABSTRACT ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ ART FOR SALE ~ FIGURATIVE

Donna Zagotta Workshop ~ Artists' Showplace Gallery ~ Watercolor and Gouache ~ La Cima Chef

"La Cima Chef"
6 1/2 x 8 Watercolor and Gouache on Crescent #115 watercolor board, hot press
This is the first painting I did on Wednesday and Thursday. The other one will be posted with the slide show of student work so please check back. Read HERE for our CBC paintings at the La Cima Club.

Donna lecturing to us about "Design Ideas for Maximizing Creativity" at the Artists' Showplace Gallery for the July 13-17 workshop.
Donna has a blog now so she can continue to dialog with her students and reach out to them. She invites you for a visit.

One of Donna's Paintings.
Donna and Nancy. I was showing off my new Wal Mart tee shirt that shows Texas and the rest of the US as everything "NOT Texas" and that includes Michigan where Donna is from. I took from her two years ago and you can read about that workshop HERE.
There were 20 eager artists/students to learn from artist/instructor Donna. We didn't get our brushes wet until Wednesday and Monday and Tuesday was an in depth study of our "personal relationship" with Shape, Value, Color, Line and Texture. There is no right or wrong way to use the elements and there is only one way and it's YOUR way. She has been on a 25 year quest to become more creative in her painting style. Donna said "I can't teach you how to paint. The best way to learn to paint is paint, paint, and paint." The medium must match your personality. She doesn't like oil because they take too long to dry and acrylics dry too fast and gouache dries up too easily so what works for her is regular watercolor paints with the W N white designer gouache.
She has numerous articles in magazines and her studio was featured in a recent August 2009 Watercolor Artist and if you have the April 2008 Watercolor magazine you can follow along with our workshop with her article Make a Statement. See other articles listed HERE.
Each student arrived with some of their current work and photos of artists' work they admired. I arrived with Gustav Klimt and Toulouse-Lautrec books and some recent acrylic work. These discussions were to help us develop and work toward connecting an image to our name and our style. She cautioned about never going beyond the style of our early teachers but to continue on a personal journey of who you really are. "Who you are is found in who-what you love, " Donna said. "The painting is done when you love it" another quote we heard during the 5 days.
We learned to use shape and value for the structure of the painting and color, line and texture for pattern embellishment and decorating and when we reach this stage we were told to forget the reference material. . There was discussion out of context as it's hard to juggle all the elements at one time during the painting process. The painting is hard to visualize in the beginning but confidence builds as you continue painting.
Donna uses transparent and opaque watercolor (likes Holbein) with Winsor Newton Permanent White Designers Gouache on Crescent Board #115 Hot Press watercolor board. She likes "stiffish" brushes and prefers Winsor Newton Regency Gold series 500. She prefers working smaller than 11 x 15 except for her show pieces and likes to mat the smaller paintings in wide mats.
Donna "Creativity trumps accuracy."
David Friend "The Creative Way to Paint" "According to the experts, we all have more creative ability than we can ever use. Most of us realize only a tiny fraction of our hidden talent."
Watch for the next blog post to see a student work slide show from the workshop.

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

Website Nancy Standlee
Website Canvas by Canvas
Website Artists of Texas.org
Blog Nancy Standlee Art
Blog Daily Painters of Texas
Blog Daily Painters Abstract
Blog Daily Painters Marketplace
Blog Artist Food Network
Blog Canvas by Canvas

Email for more info: NancyStandlee@sbcglobal.net

SUBSCRIBE free to my NEW PAINTINGS posts by FeedBlitz. Just add
your email address top right, below profile.

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

"Searching for Paradise" Art Entry and Saladino Class

"Searching for Paradise"
18" x 24" Acrylic on gallery wrap canvas
This figurative work is for sale at the exhibit in the September 11-26, 09, 7th annual art show and sale, Preservation is the Art of the City, Fort Worth, located in the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. Each of the 50 selected artists will have a 36" x 72" space and can place as many works as will fit within this space. (4 pieces max.) The artists can have another 4 pieces, max. 14", in the miniature section and 1 work associated with Fort Worth preservation and not to exceed 30". A portion of the sales to to help fund preservation programming. The turquoise pattern to the left of the figure is a little too dominant so it may get a little tweaking.

Tony Saladino Critique Class July 9
I took the painting above and another I'll post later and below is a slide show of others' work from the class. Mouse over for captions.
One of the perks of attending the critique class is to sit surrounded by Tony's beautiful abstracts and see his newest works. You can view some of his fabulous work at this current show at the B. Deemer Gallery.
Tony talked to us in this class about simplify and combine parts of a painting that is not working and about it being O.K. to be all over the place before we develop a "thrust" and settle in. Similar to me taking so many workshops and I get asked about getting mixed up in techniques. I don't and guess I've been all over the board and probably still am, but if nothing else I learn I don't want to paint like that and that is a good lesson. I would love to learn some of Tony's painting methods.
He says "The painting has to have interest to grab your attention. If it's pleasing to your eye, it will be pleasing to others." One of his comments on Thursday kept focusing on how many paintings we might find in our one painting. He would take a mat and show us and then ask us to think about simplifying some of the areas and combining colors.
We had to laugh when Paula said "I hate to show my work after the simplify discussion. I'm the "Queen of Dull" and I decided to loosen up since Tony's one day workshop." We loved her busy and colorful wheels and clocks painting and especially her abstract. Check out the slide show and see the other interesting paintings from the critique. Yes, we had a good Mexican lunch together at the "Tequila Rain" restaurant. I think that would make a great painting title.

Watercolor and Gouache Painting ~ "Memories"

"Memories Begin to Fade"
15" x 11"
Watercolor and Gouache on 140 Hot Press Paper

I'm thinking about gouache today and about preparing for my second workshop with Donna Zagotta. This was painted in another of my favorite painter's workshop, Carla O'Connor. Carla uses gouache. Donna prefers watercolor mixed with Winsor and Newton Designers Permanent White Gouache. I don't know what I prefer yet but like the ability to rework passages that need a little improvement and it's difficult to do with straight watercolor. These two ladies are close to the top of my favorite figurative painters list.

I get the Robert Genn's newsletters and he'll probably call my sentimental title "barfy". This week he was discussing "changing titles". His quote and my comment on his web site:

Genn's quote "Sentimental titles are the last bastion of scoundrels, and can add significant barf to an already barfy work."

My comment: "I forwarded this article to my painting friends and said ouch..he's talking to me but after emailing back and forth I've decided I like my barfy titles 'cause I get a lot of them listening to country music and I bet you think country music is pretty barfy too. I liked your other comments on titles as they always give one pause. The next time I title something like "I Can't Let Go" I'll think of your disapproval."

Do you think coming up with a title is hard? Is it easier to say Untitled #1, #2, etc? I know I do that with some of my Lylas paintings..just 1, 2, 3. I sorta like "barfy" titles then I'm a big country western music fan and the songs can get pretty sentimental.

Other blogs where I post:
Daily Painters of Texas
Daily Abstract Painters Gallery
Canvas by Canvas

Arlington Texas Nancy Standlee Daily Painter Contemporary Watercolor Gouache Expressionist

CBC Gallery Opening ~ SWS Entry

SWS Entry
"The Nightingale"
15" x 12"

I received notice that "The Nightingale" has been accepted into the Southwestern Watercolor Society 46th annual membership show in September. This was done with watercolor and collage on 300 pound paper and inspired by attending the Gerald Brommer workshop at the Artists Showplace Gallery.
See blog posts on June 09 and the week earlier.

Canvas by Canvas members, Maryann, Nancy, Connie, (Marlene from the Museum) and Cindy at the Old Post Office and Museum Center in Graham, Texas, as we break for the July 4 parade. There is very interesting reading about the history of the area and exhibits if you click on the link. Thanks to all the volunteers who made our opening day very special. Our paintings will hang there until the first part of September so if you're in the area check out our paintings. This is the first time all of them have been hung together. What a treat to see them all in one place and be reminded of the dedication and work that has gone into their production.
We met early for the 2 hour drive and were welcomed to the museum show by a wonderful staff and group of volunteers. We had some time to step outside the door and under the shade of a large tree enjoy the July 4 parade while some of us enjoyed a lesson in water witching. We loved meeting new friends, having them tell us their favorite works and were surprised by a beautiful lunch before our Graham supporters bid us goodbye. Thanks to Red and his wife, Jay and Martha, Danny, Marlene and Tom and to all our visitors - thanks so much for stopping by and introducing yourselves. You have a treasure in Graham with your museum. Thanks for the invitation to show and visit in your town.
It was hot, hot on the way home (news later said that Graham at 103 was a hot spot of the North Texas area that day.) We had a quick stop at the Weatherford Farmers Market and next weekend is their Peach Festival.
You think you really know someone? Well, think again. One of our members is a big fan of yodeling and that was news to us. She casually mentioned she had gotten a "how-to" CD and had been practicing while driving. You know the rest of the story. Put that sucker in the CD player and we'll all practice the exercises and we got a little hysterical and a few curious glances from other car passengers. We came to the agreement if we could get really good at this yodeling thing and billed ourselves as the Yodeling Collaborative Painters of Texas we'd have the world cornered by uniqueness. Maybe at our shows on opening night we could give a quick demo and wear our little black aprons arm in arm skipping around a gallery. This went on for miles. Blame it on the heat.
If this kid learned how from a tape on YouTube, do you think 8 ladies in ther "middle years" might have a chance?

Remember Star Trek
"When going out into the universe, remember; Boldly go where no man has gone before."

Enjoy the slide show below and mouse over for captions.

Arlington, Texas Nancy Standlee Daily Painter Collaborative Collage Contemporary Watercolor

Purple Onion Painting by Nancy Standlee

NFS
9" x 12" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

This onion painting hangs in my kitchen and in direct sight while I enjoy my morning coffee. It is a wonderful reminder of a trip to Dena Wenmohs ranch and the two workshops I've taken there with Robert Burridge. When I stayed in the Bunkhouse, Dena had colorful onion paintings in the kitchen and I wanted to paint something similar when I returned home. Wonderful memories. February 2010 will find me back at the ranch taking my 7th workshop with Bob and maybe this time I'll get it right.
I decided to post this today as I was thinking onions after making an oil and vinegar salad dressing. To see this delicious recipe and read the story go to the Artist Food Network.

I have been invited to post on these blogs so please check the sites. I'm excited about both of them and their future.

Daily Painters of Texas
This is a unique blend of Texas Artists who will post daily. Canvas by Canvas members who have joined are Barbara Hackney, Cindy Yandell, Karen Foster, Maryann Stephens, and Margie Whittington.

Daily Painters Abstract Gallery
This site has been created to share the works of abstract artists across the world who are committed to their craft and paint daily.

ARLINGTON TEXAS ~ NANCY STANDLEE ~ DAILY PAINTER ~ CONTEMPORARY ~ ACRYLIC ~ STILL LIFE ~ EXPRESSIONIST ~ VEGETABLE PAINTING

Tony Saladino Abstract Acrylic Class

"Choose Your Dream", 20" x 20", Acrylic with some collage on gallery wrapped canvas, 1 1/2" depth (Click on the image to enlarge)

"A man's reach must exceed his grasp, or else what's a heaven for?" Robert Browning
Tony Saladino began our one day abstract acrylic class with these words to remind us that this is a journey and we should not expect to leave in the afternoon with a finished painting, but concentrate on the process and find our personal expression of marks and color. We had an advantage painting in a beautiful studio and grounds in North Richland Hills. Thanks Karen. I've included some photos at the end in a slide show which show the progression of his demo and he used a landscape photo for the initial reference.
Tony uses Purdy house painting brushes from Lowes in sizes 1", 1 1/2", and the 2" being his favorite and he scumbled his color keeping a fairly dry brush. In fact, he didn't wash his brush until about 20 minutes into his demo. A hint: He kept a blank canvas nearby to scumble leftover brush color before picking up new color. He says it's OK to look childlike in expression as it frees us from trying to please others. He urged us to bring all the areas of the painting together at the same time and not finish one area to completion. As his demo progressed he had many layers of color and areas of very thick paint with some of the layers showing through. He feels it lets your personality come through. He continually stressed to us "It's not about the subject but the division of space."


A painting he brought to show us above.
Tony didn't finish his demo as his ideas will change with future viewings. He feels it's finished when he thinks it's stimulating or stimulates a viewer. If you enjoy a good Argentine tango, search the dance floor as you might find Tony or Karen. In fact Karen's studio doubles as a tango dancing space. During the critique, Tony respected each individuals personal marks and inspired each of us to express those that reside deep within. What a great day of painting on June 10. His next critique class will be July 9.

Mouse over the photo for captions.