I hope that those of you who celebrate Christmas had a lovely one, and those of my friends who don't or have a different celebration, had a wonderful holiday! And I wish everyone a Happy and Successful 2016!
So, with the holidays behind us it's now back to the routine of days and business as we know it. For me that is organizing and promoting classes and events, teaching, painting and running the Michael Wilcox School of Colour Canadian office. Sounds like I'm busy, and I am, but it provides for a variety of interests and leaves very few dull moments!
I have my regular classes coming up starting next week: Acrylic and Oil Painting; Creativity with Acrylics and Mixed Media; and ABCs of Acrylic Painting which can be found at http://www.susanashbrook.com/winter-classes.html.
There are specialty workshops featuring Knife Painting with Denise Pelletier; and Botanical Illustration with Frank Andrus, see http://www.susanashbrook.com/specialty-workshops.html.
In addition I am offering colour workshops being held at Wallack's Bank Street and Nepean stores: Colour Mixing; and Colour Harmony and Contrast, for information and registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/d/canada--ottawa/wallacks/?crt=regular&page=1&slat=45.4215&slng=-75.6972&sort=date&view=list
This morning I met with Cheryl, program coordinator at the Lodge, to set up a new art program for 2016. Their Christmas Bazaar was a great success in terms of raising money for art supplies and they are anxious to get going again! Can't say as I blame them!
So, the routines are falling back into place and should be in full swing by next week. I'm looking forward to it!
So, with the holidays behind us it's now back to the routine of days and business as we know it. For me that is organizing and promoting classes and events, teaching, painting and running the Michael Wilcox School of Colour Canadian office. Sounds like I'm busy, and I am, but it provides for a variety of interests and leaves very few dull moments!
I have my regular classes coming up starting next week: Acrylic and Oil Painting; Creativity with Acrylics and Mixed Media; and ABCs of Acrylic Painting which can be found at http://www.susanashbrook.com/winter-classes.html.
There are specialty workshops featuring Knife Painting with Denise Pelletier; and Botanical Illustration with Frank Andrus, see http://www.susanashbrook.com/specialty-workshops.html.
In addition I am offering colour workshops being held at Wallack's Bank Street and Nepean stores: Colour Mixing; and Colour Harmony and Contrast, for information and registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/d/canada--ottawa/wallacks/?crt=regular&page=1&slat=45.4215&slng=-75.6972&sort=date&view=list
This morning I met with Cheryl, program coordinator at the Lodge, to set up a new art program for 2016. Their Christmas Bazaar was a great success in terms of raising money for art supplies and they are anxious to get going again! Can't say as I blame them!
So, the routines are falling back into place and should be in full swing by next week. I'm looking forward to it!
Today's Painting Tip:
It's that time of the year again, when paint manufacturers, decorating magazines and clothing manufacturers all put out their new colour trends for you to see and hopefully become inclined to dress up your wardrobe or your home.
I make it a routine, at this time of year, to go to the various hardware/paint stores to pick up the 2016 colour trends brochures from a variety of paint manufactures and also a few decorating magazines promoting the new colours. I also hang the suggested colour palettes on a bulletin board in my studio for instant inspiration.
Because I do abstract and semi-abstract work, colour schemes are often left to my whim and fancy, rather than reproducing naturally occurring colours in a landscape or still life. The samples and trends suggested by the decorating industry give me a quick way to pick colour schemes that I like, and because they are trendy the finished paintings work very well with newly decorated rooms.
I know, I know... "Good art doesn't have to match the sofa", but it sure goes a long way in getting it hung over the sofa. I have noticed that when following the decorating colour trends my work sells faster in the popular colour schemes, and I don't see anything wrong with that! People who collect art know it doesn't have to match the sofa, and that's not what they are looking for in a piece of art anyway.
There is a large market for art out there, for example those who watch renovation and decorating shows on TV, where the art always matches the room. Working with Catherine and Jerome Pulcine, the CPI Team at Decorating Den (http://www.cpi.decoratingden.com/index.html), I see that designers often pick art for their client's room, and of course it's going to enhance the room. That's a market that may be even larger than the collector market. In any event, as an artist and teacher with the School of Colour, I always find the evolution of use of colour interesting, in any industry... you might too if you care to explore it a little deeper.
Oh also, please note that only the first two images are 2016 colours. I haven't yet done my run to collect the paint brochures so I've used versions from past years so that you can see what I'm talking about.
It's that time of the year again, when paint manufacturers, decorating magazines and clothing manufacturers all put out their new colour trends for you to see and hopefully become inclined to dress up your wardrobe or your home.
I make it a routine, at this time of year, to go to the various hardware/paint stores to pick up the 2016 colour trends brochures from a variety of paint manufactures and also a few decorating magazines promoting the new colours. I also hang the suggested colour palettes on a bulletin board in my studio for instant inspiration.
Because I do abstract and semi-abstract work, colour schemes are often left to my whim and fancy, rather than reproducing naturally occurring colours in a landscape or still life. The samples and trends suggested by the decorating industry give me a quick way to pick colour schemes that I like, and because they are trendy the finished paintings work very well with newly decorated rooms.
I know, I know... "Good art doesn't have to match the sofa", but it sure goes a long way in getting it hung over the sofa. I have noticed that when following the decorating colour trends my work sells faster in the popular colour schemes, and I don't see anything wrong with that! People who collect art know it doesn't have to match the sofa, and that's not what they are looking for in a piece of art anyway.
There is a large market for art out there, for example those who watch renovation and decorating shows on TV, where the art always matches the room. Working with Catherine and Jerome Pulcine, the CPI Team at Decorating Den (http://www.cpi.decoratingden.com/index.html), I see that designers often pick art for their client's room, and of course it's going to enhance the room. That's a market that may be even larger than the collector market. In any event, as an artist and teacher with the School of Colour, I always find the evolution of use of colour interesting, in any industry... you might too if you care to explore it a little deeper.
Oh also, please note that only the first two images are 2016 colours. I haven't yet done my run to collect the paint brochures so I've used versions from past years so that you can see what I'm talking about.
Painting Update:
My apologies that there is no update this week. I took a break from the studio over the holidays, but the two appliquéd leaf paintings will be basically finished for your review in the next edition.
Best Wishes to you and your's for a very Happy and Successful New Year!
And, my sincere appreciation for your interest in my blog. Without your readership it is just an exercise in talking to one's self, and, while I'm not yet totally crazy, it might be interpreted that way. Thank you so much for your support!
All the best,
Susan
My apologies that there is no update this week. I took a break from the studio over the holidays, but the two appliquéd leaf paintings will be basically finished for your review in the next edition.
Best Wishes to you and your's for a very Happy and Successful New Year!
And, my sincere appreciation for your interest in my blog. Without your readership it is just an exercise in talking to one's self, and, while I'm not yet totally crazy, it might be interpreted that way. Thank you so much for your support!
All the best,
Susan
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