Most recent little Plein Air done down at Casperson's titled "Morning Light" is being delivered to Final Touch Gallery this morning to see if it and 4 other paintings work in Kathleen's newest window display. Come check it out in person to see the colors better.
PLUS NEW CLASS STARTS TOMORROW!

Artistic FUNdamentals -SUMMER Start To Finish At the Venice Art Center Starts Tues. July 20th. www.veniceartenter.com

Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00–5:00pm (Two day workshop)

Session 1: June 8 & 10
Session 2: June 15 & 17
Session 3: July 20 & 22
Session 4: July 27 & 29
Session 5: August 3 & 5
Session 6: August 10 & 12

Instructor: Karen Hitt
This workshop is designed to take you “Start To Finish” in the FUNdamentals of accomplishing your artistic endeavor. HOW TO’s of planning, thumbnails, composing and executing a painting. All mediums are welcomed: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Pastels, Pen & Ink, Graphite. All levels welcomed. This class is designed to take the essential foundation of strong drawing skills, composition, value, capturing light, color theory and expression to a finished work of art. Still life, Portrait, Landscape, Seascapes, Cloudscapes may all be explored. A strong emphasis will be on classic techniques, while exploring and learning from the "Masters" works of art. Supplies needed are each student’s medium of choice and drawing materials.
Fee: $80/Members $105/Nonmembers

Lives Saved

Lives Saved of my old brushes that is. Well On Day 3 of Painting daily till next teaching day... or "What I did on my summer vacation" essay continues with the big reveal this fine Monday morning. I am happy to announce... SUCCESS! Lives of brushes were saved and restored to their fine edges!

Thanks in part to Don Demers suggestion in his workshop to soak them over night in Turpenoid Natural- then clamp matboard to the ends...
Well I added a few steps to that. If you would like to try restoring some well used brushes to life of real edge painting again, here is what I used:
1. Turpenoid Natural
2. Gamsol Pure Mineral Spirits
3. Kafka brush oil and preservative
4. mat board/cut into small squares
5. soft paper towels/rags
6. opened up coated paperclip
7. paperclips/ heavy clips
Ok, first, simply soak your brushes overnight in the turpenoid natural. IT IS IMPORTANT that you use a container that doesn't allow your bristles to touch the bottom, or be bent as they soak. (Brush cleaning tin that has the coil extension at the top works great) I filled it to just over the top of the hairs.
After soaking the brushes, rinsed them in Gamsol. Then those that still needed attention, in the lid of a jar, had a little more Turpenoid natural. Held brush in there and cleaned it by combing inbetween the hairs with a coated paperclip(softer edge) Did this until rinsed completely clean and bristle laid straight again.
Then, rinsed in Gamsol again, then dipped in Kafta brush oil, along with the edge of a small piece of paper towel. Carefully squeezed out excess oil, carefully re-shaped and wrapped the bristles with the slightly moistened paper towel, to keep the hairs straight. THEN sandwich all between too pieces of mat board and clipped the end with either another paper clip or heavy duty clip for bigger brushes.
After leaving them that way over night. Opened them up this morning, and YEAH!!!! Like new brushes to paint with again.
Considering the times, even on sale, new brushes are expensive... so-
have a dozen like new plus to add back to my daily painting jar. YEAH.

Hope these steps work for you too. Just carefully soak, comb, reshape, clamp, and finally reveal- NEW LIFE

Happy Painting, May it be an up day. What have you been up to on your summer vacation?

Cayo Costa's Hidden Hut is a plein air oil on linen done on a beautiful spring day just off of Boca Grande Island. We journied by boat from Venice and anchored at shores edge of Cayo Costa's Island. Really enjoyed this plein air endeavor, not to mention the day. If you look closely You will see the hut built probably by a scout amongst the foliage on the island.

JUST posted my summer schedule at the VAC to the right too... Classes start as soon as June 6th... for all ages. Children and adults.

Floridians Season....

Well it is amazingly STILL beautiful out and about weather! Many have been plein air painting... ummmmmm - NOT hardly I though. Have turned in my summer teaching schedule to VAC and next year to Boca Grande! Can you believe it. Think the quick draw at the "Forgotten Coast Paint Out" may be my next plein air endeavor. Missed last quick draw planned when knee tried to be a thigh. What's up with that! ? ! ? On top of that the very next week for the first really significant time, threw my back out! OK, I don't know about you, BUT I AM TOOOOOOOOO YOUNG to be this OLD! Even if my middle guy turned 21 on the 21st this month. In the spirit of too young to be this old here is a painting of a friends dad titled "Nah Nah Na Nah Na..." May it be an UP day! k

Venice Art Center "FINE ART SHOW AND SALE" Studio E is where new line of Fine Art Giclee's Posters and other line of gifts and collectibles are being introduce THIS WEEKEND! Feb. 27th & 28th 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Made available for the first time is the new series of THREE images to start off the "The Heart Of Venice Views" fine art posters of our your favorite spots around Venice... originally painted en Plein Air... are now available to collect. Come check them out... plus many other items being made available for the first time, just for this show.

other hat...

http://inhislightbeforethedawn.blogspot.com/ is my other blog... of another hat that I am sometimes brave enough to share. Never ever meant to offend opposing points of view with the heart felt inspirations written there. Anyways... you may find todays entry (though LONG) uplifting. That the only purpose for sharing it here too. MAY IT BE AN UP DAY! K

NEW CLASSES START TONIGHT AT VAC... and MONDAY at Boca Grande Art Alliance. Hope to see you there. AND confess, hope to see you out and about plein air... when the temperature makes it to at least 55 degrees!

22nd of December... JIMINY! Ok, the stocking ARE hung... with care-

Classes until the new year are wrapped up...

AND it appears Portraits have taken over my plein air time.

THAT is one reason for Plein Air... to get OUT AND ABOUT. It is a WEEEEEEEE bit nippy out there the last few days. Here is one portrait that am working on cuz could not resist her eyes... Campbell is her name. She is still in the WORKS... but sharable.

Have Two Paintings on Display in the Artist Invitational At the Katherine Butler Gallery. http://www.kbutlergallery.com/Templates/calendar.html

Have a NEW SERIES of Fine Art Giclee Posters now available... and mini magnets too for the commercial side of things. "Above Approach" from a Plein Air Oil is the First in the Series of 3 Posters at $55 each, unframed. It is the small picture here. Will post the poster soon. Magnets are printed on fine art rag paper actually in a fine art giclee quality too. Very nice and only 5 bucks.

Lots of NEW CLASSES start in Jan too. See links to the right including two new workshops at the Boca Grande Art Alliance... Many of your favorites, plus lots of new workshops are available at the VENICE ART Center. Don't forget about the up close and personal SMALL GROUP setting of no more than four at the Origianl Hitt Art Group.

Thats all for now.... know the new year will definitely include OUT and ABOUT with the Venice Plein Air Art Group. If you want to join, its free... go to PleinAirFlorida.org for more info on the group.

hope its an UP day! Merry Christmas to YOU! May you be blanketed in JOY!