Exploring Blessings Part V... How to's of...

First, the  LAST local workshop this season looks at the  
FUNdamentals of Drawing - SEEing Like an Artist                              
Friday, Monday & Tuesday, April 1, 4 & 5 -- 9:30am – 3:30pm The essential of ANY work of art is sound draftsmanship and DRAWING. Learn how to ‘see’ like an Artist, and apply what you have learned to SEE with sound draftsmanship, composition, shape, form, character.

what may look like a scribble is in-fact an artist blueprint... Also known as a 'thumbnail'. Not all of them start the size of a thumbnail, it is just a term. They are essential to planning your work. No civil engineer would begin a bridge without a blueprint/plan... more artist might learn to see how it saves them time in the long run, if they get in the habit of starting with a plan... they will begin to see it as their Artist bridge. It is a lot easier to work out your composition on a small scale, than attempting to do so on your canvas.

We will take lessons from the Masters as you develop classic talents building a strong foundation for your own works of art.  All levels of experience

 Boca Grande Art Center link for class registration 

here is a link to a blog post when sharing about when this painting was in the works

  this is my last local class offered here in SW FL before 

HITTing the road for Tuscan and Plein Air Magazines 

Plein Air Convention & Expo... where I will be sharing MORE how to's with all that register for the Basics Course that I am so honored to be a part of the faculty for!

 Karen Ann Hitt Basics

SEEingYour Way to Getting Outdoors — Plein Air Painting FUNdamentals

Whether you are a seasoned studio painter or you’ve never picked up a brush, getting outside to paint can be a daunting challenge. Join Karen Hitt as she shares the FUNdamentals of painting oil outdoors, from setting up to sketching, design, composition, and learning to SEE en plein air — and capturing it all on canvas.

to join me in Tuscan in the Basics Course click here

There is one last adventure here in VENICE FLORIDA Before I HITT the Road, and you even have a chance to win AN ORIGINAL HITT during this NEW SEASON -- In thanks to The Buzz of Venice giving me the great honor of having my painting "Saturday In The Park- Fountain Park" be the cover for the Historical Venice Visitors Map 2016-17you have an opportunity to win the original or a "Heart Of Venice Views" version of it by participating in  Venice Art Walks and An Original Hitt Fine Art & Atelier during the Season.  Drawing is on May 5th at 7pm.  NEXT Art Walk is April 7th 2016 and that is my LAST Night here in Venice before Gary & I HITT the road !

Click on any image here for a pdf printable MAP and flyer

come on out and register to win 

An Original Hitt on April 7th 5-8pm

 

AND Last but not LEAST the fourth on this HITTing the road agenda... I am honored to be invited to be an Ambassador At Florida's Finest during The Forgotten Coast Plein Air Event in MAY 7-15  ...more of that coming soon.  I hope to see you Out & About HITTing The Road... 

at one of these learning opportunities of the 'how to's of... 

1. FUNdamentals of Drawing - SEEing Like An Artist April 1, 4&5

2. SEEing Your Way To Getting Outdoors- Plein Air FUNdamentals April 14th

3. Venice Art Walk - 12 Studio/Galleries April 7th & May 5th 5-8pm 

4. Ambassador At Florida Finest The Forgotten Coast Plein Air Event May 7th-15th  

Part III: How To's of Plein Air Painters Paradise

 "Painter's Paradise" Part III: You be the Judge... who knew how much life would change... 
Part III: I will get into a few more of my favorite things that make my work easier and what I have learned with all these miles traveled, from personal experience, friends, peers, muses... along the way.  There are a LOT of great resources out there. These shares,  are but a few of the possibilities.  Learning more everyday. My List:
1. Rosemary & Co. Brushes.
see last post (Post II) for more on each brush loved
2. Guerrilla Brush carrier
3. Strada Easel
4. M. Graham Walnut Seed Oil Paints
5. Shade Buddy Umbrella
6. Tripod
7. Car Window Shade Screen
8. Back Pack
(misc. bungy cords, clamps, etc.)
9.Bug & Sun Stuff
10. Sunscreen Shirts
11. Smart Wool Socks
(Out Door Studio)
12.Screened Gazebo
13. stool
14. Easel ( for larger panels)
15. Stan Rite Portable Easel
16. outdoor mat
17. portable Table
18. Raymar Panel Carrier
19, Revelite EL light

# 2, 3, 6 & 7 are the focus of today's post.  We are getting ready to head into nomads land of CO/Wyoming in the Routt National Forest area on our #USAHoneymoon.

Because Bryan Mark Taylor the genius and talent behind my favorite Plein Air Easel is running a little contest, thought I would focus on that today too.   Plein Air Magazine, Bob Bahr for Outdoor Painter helped me out with a share too, on how I use a car sunshade to protect my eyes from glare when a umbrella is not feasible.  SO honored by Bob taking my mistake and making it look good:
 Plein Air Magazine, Outdoor Painter: Painter Hack ( click on the link to the article)

My favorite plein air easels, are made by the same company.  Strada Easel.  I have the original, and the mini.  Hope to win a micro, Bryans newest addition to his genius line of easel.  These easels are both light weight and literally indestructible!  I have taken them around the USA, several times and stuck them on rocks, in rivers, sand storms, winds... (no snow yet) a little bit of everything.  He even has an extension so you can add larger panels.  Here is Bryans Facebook post on his latest contest:   

"One of our STRADA easels recently made a trip to one of the most remote places on earth, Easter Island! Where has your STRADA been?
Use ‪#‎stradaworldwide‬ in your post on Face book and we'll enter you to WIN a STRADA MICRO!
‪#‎stradaeasel‬ ‪#‎travel‬ ‪#‎aroundtheworld‬  " A link to Strada Face book Page: Strada Easel

this my first beloved 1/2 french easel

original Strada in La Conner Washington

This picture shows me at my first beloved easel.  Though I loved it, you can see that making it tall enough was a technicality for me. Most locations it was fine... though now that i have a higher one, it has really helped!  Second picture is the my first time using a Strada Easel, the Original.

painting at the "Angel Tree" in Charleston SC.  Notice the height of my Mini Strada

#2 and 6 on list

#1 and #2

Here are two essentials every time I go out, my brush caddy that I ordered from Judsons Ooutfitters, my new tripod, the lighter version, with my heavyweight head from my original tripod inserted.  Click on any picture to enlarge. 

here i used my original Strada, in my on the road studio set up as my paint palette. 

THIS IS A QUICK POST ... literally at a pull out on Rabbit Ears Pass moving the house... I will be back.  Go to face book and post your pictures with your Strada Easel and enter to win a micro! 
1. Rosemary & Co. Brushes
2. Guerrilla Brush carrier
3. Strada Easel
4. M. Graham Walnut Seed Oil Paints
5. Shade Buddy Umbrella
6. Tripod
7. Car Window Shade Screen
8. Back Pack
(misc. bungy cords, clamps, etc.)
9.Bug & Sun Stuff
10. Sunscreen Shirts
11. Smart Wool Socks
(Out Door Studio)
12.Screened Gazebo
13. stool
14. Easel ( for larger panels)
15. Stan Rite Portable Easel
16. outdoor mat
17. portable Table
18. Raymar Panel Carrier
19, Revelite EL light
Speaking of Back To School, here is my list 
Workshop & Classes to date.  
This too will be updated by part III.  Until our next!

Part II: How to make your own Painters Paradise

"Painter's Paradise" Part II: You be the Judge... who knew how much life would change... 
"How To's" post, sharing a bit of what i have learned along the way on the 3 year journey to grow as an artist to meet the next season in life! With that said, I make no claim to be an expert; simply sharing what have learned along this journey.  What works for me and yes, what doesn't 

Starting first with the right tools. Here is this artist list.  My Painting "Painter's Paradise" surrounded by a few of them. First share, Part II:
1. Rosemary & Co. Brushes.  I am not just saying this, they seriously have enhanced my ability to paint tenfold.  Everyone has their favorite brushes.  These are mine.  Look at "Painters Paradise" here, I layed certain brushes in places that I might have applied their use.  Another key, that i ALWAYS say to students, I do NOT want to look at your painting and know exactly what brush you used to paint it... they are TOOLS not crutches.  A good brush frees you up to paint. Every brush picture shared here, is a Rosemary & Co. Brush.



THIS is a NEW, I haven't tried this Rosemary &Co. new line yet, but asap i am going to! Its a synthetic, that I think will be affordable, especially for the beginner.  NOTHING can replace having proper tools.  Painting is hard enough without working against yourself, by not giving yourself every available advantage.  This spoken by a single mom, who has had to make every penny count.  I learned years ago, the investment goes further buying the best you can afford, verses saving pennies on cheap replacements for the best.

Ivory Long Flats

Masters Series 279 Long Flats

These two pictures of brushes, are the two main brushes that i currently use.  If your budget needs to edit, this may be your answer. 
These fan brushes pictured below are very useful, especially for me with my sky work, or mist in water; read their caption.

Fan Brushes are a tool,

not a vice.

the six pictures above show two other types of brushes that i like to use.  To the left are angles at different degrees.  They work for edges, and also i use the sword and the daggers for foliage and grasses a lot.  Prices are very very reasonable on all of these.  The pointed, round brushes are a long time staple.  What I love about the red sable rounds, is that I use them for both my oils, and my watercolor painting.  The long riggers are excellent where a palette knife doesn't do the trick.  Again, see the painting pictures shared to give you an idea of how apply these favorite brushes to my painting processes.  These are just my suggestions, in my humble opinion.  

"Painters Paradise" and Rosemary & Co. Brushes

  excited about another in the works.. sets hope to be adding at "An Original Hitt - K Hitt - Fine Art & Atelier" 230 Ponce de Leon Ave. Venice FL 34285
 

This next picture is one of my greatest honors on this journey, when Symi, with Rosemary &

Karen Ann Hitt & new patron Symi Jackson with Rosemary & Co. Brushes

Co. Brushes chose to surprise me at the Lighthouse Paint Out by purchasing my little painting anonymously... and keeping her being my newest patron a surprise until the last night!  Exceedingly more than i could ever hope for or imagine keeps meeting me along the way.  A lot of thank you's, especially a great big thank YOU God.  See you at the next... "The Journey IS our destination" Part III   


Part III I will get into a few more of my favorite things that make my work easier and what I have learned with all these miles traveled, from personal experience, friends, peers, muses... along the way.  There are a LOT of great resources out there. These shares,  are but a few of the possibilities.  Learning more everyday.  Stay tuned for part III where begin to break down more of this list, as we all get ready for back to school. 

2. Guerrilla Brush carrier
3. Strada Easel
4. M. Graham Walnut Seed Oil Paints
5. Shade Buddy Umbrella
6. Tripod
7. Car Window Shade Screen
8. Back Pack
(misc. bungy cords, clamps, etc.)
9.Bug & Sun Stuff
10. Sunscreen Shirts
11. Smart Wool Socks
(Out Door Studio)
12.Screened Gazebo
13. stool
14. Easel ( for larger panels)
15. Stan Rite Portable Easel
16. outdoor mat
17. portable Table
18. Raymar Panel Carrier
19, Revelite EL light
Speaking of Back To School, here is my list 
Workshop & Classes to date.  
This too will be updated by part III.  Until our next!