Samplers at Swintons

It is the first Sampler of the new year at Swinton's  and what a fun one.
This one was Acrylic and next weeks sold out one is on oils.

I moved from Studio 2 into the big studio and was super early to set up everything, so I feel I did my best one yet. Below are a few pics I managed to snap during the acrylic sampler.

If you'd like to try a sampler with me go to Swintons website and sign up!

Sampler - Oil vs. Acrylic

The great divide. I don't want to pick one favourite over another as both mediums have their uses, strengths and weaknesses. I advise you to try both unless the decision is for a certain reason, such as space, pets, ventilation etc. Both have a lot to offer and there is tons you can do with either. At the end of the day painting is still just pushing colourful goop on a stick covered in hair.

Acrylic sampler previous Sunday's pieces:

Oil Sampler this Sunday, some of the pieces:

Given the short amount of time and the varying degrees of experience and class size, the participants did great in both samplers, and hopefully found some inspiration for them to continue on with the noble craft of painting =;D

Acrylic Sampler at Swinton's

Sunday Sampler at Swinton's Art Supply. 

What a lovely way to spend a Sunday.
I wish I got to do this every Sunday.
My kind of church, the "Church of Creativity." 

Here is my quick demo piece for this weeks class.

No experience necessary!!!!
If you have always wanted to try painting, but don't want to drop hundreds getting the supplies before you try them out, Come down to Swinton's for on of their samplers. I will help you get your paint on.

This class is for people who have never painted before or a re beginners who have been hit by the creative bug. Its a great way to try out a new medium and to learn to mix different colours.

We work on fundamentals then everybody gets a bit of time to make their very first acrylic painting that they take home after they are finished.

I love the colours on this piece as it gets blocked in, a little more time and thick application of pigment......

And presto, nice work Lisa!

this mushroop piece was started on a bright yellow underpainting which gave the mushrooms a luminous quality, I'm totally stealing that idea. Even the instructor learns stuff on sampler days.

This participant had a wonderful sense of lighting on this snowy mountain.

Think you might want to try acrylic or oil out with me? go to Swinton's website (here) and look up when the next sampler is scheduled.

Oil Sampler this Sunday at Swintons

I've given away all my Sundays, not to church, but to the temple of art at Swinton's and I love it.  There is no other place I'd rather be that within the walls of the studio praising creativity.

I lay out everything we need and begin the session with an overview of the entire process and the materials etc before beginning the demos.

Just as in the studio, I like to start the session with a good half an hour setting up the palette. Here the students have a chance to experience the feel and properties of the material by mixing colour wheels as well as tints and tones. This is where the fun really begins. Oil can be sticky and takes some time to get used to its wonderfully creamy properties.

We plan out our compositions then block in with big brushes the large areas of colour. I like how this sampler students piece looks already, good start and great tones on the support surface.

More detail and smaller brushes are used as the piece develops. Pretty good for 3 hrs, with demos, lectures and a store tour, how to clean up etc. If you are interested in trying out oil or acrylic with me sign up at Swinton's today! The next one is Acrylic happening Sunday, March 1st, 12:30 -3:30 pm. Click here for to sign up.

A little sampling

Every few Sundays I get the chance to introduce fledgling creators to new materials at Swintons through their samplers. It is a great joy to have a group of people who have never painted come in and 3 hrs. later they have a solid foundation and walk out having painted their first piece.

This particular class we focused on Acrylic paints. Swintons provides everything you need to get started, even gloves if you want. Lol.  She put on that blue super heavy,  she took my oil sampler last week and wanted to see how the two mediums contrast and compare.

Each participant gets to choose their own subject, we have a large box of examples to choose from or you can bring in your own. At least I don't scare them away from art by making it a class type assignment like shading a ball or painting the ol' trusty pear.

This looks like a fun palette to work with. Some work on an easel others on the table. Whatever works.

This participant had experience in watercolour and I really like her command of the colours in a very rich medium. Its hard to believe sometimes that these are not well seasoned painters.

This floral painting turned out really beautifully, and just in time for Valentines day!