Colour Theory class opportunity

I was asked to substitute teach a colour theory class. I imagine walking into a class much like a cold call. I dread it in many ways. It can be nerve racking. I know my stuff so all I can I hope is to liven up the room and make learning enjoyable, but you never know the dynamic of the group.

 This Monday night I got my chance to instruct a Colour Fundamentals course for another teacher who was away.  I had built  a curriculum for a similar course in the hops to teach it last fall, but it didn't run due to low enrollment. Now I got my chance and my fingers are crossed it went well.

 I think I offered a "colourful" FUN-damental class based on the outline and assignments I had to give. I managed to scrape together 3 corresponding slideshows for the monochrmatic, analogous and complementary colour scheme assignments.

I really like all the different set ups an materials they were experimenting with. And the chicken soup can reused and recycled for art. I also appreciated the bright colour true lighting in the colour fundamentals classroom.

Near the end of the class I offered additional notes on Plutchick's (colour) wheel of emotions and showed a video about colour and storytelling in cinema that is a real eye opening approach for any artist to understand the value and use of colour in motion pictures and how it can relate to their artwork. It was a great class and I hope to be able to offer some of the teachings again in the future.

I also wanted to share the beautiful colourful painting I saw created live at the latest Swinton's Demo night featuring artist Donna MacDonald. Its a cheap event to attend on a Friday night that I highly recommend. Her workshop is already full but who knows there may be another listed for the fall so keep your eyes peeled.

Figure drawing class Feb 18/2016

Hi all, I've been hiding away in my studio when I can and I'm not working one of 5 jobs or teaching. When it rains.... as they say. In the in-between time I've been working on something new in the studio which you may have seen in the background on my Episode 5 - Youtube channel video.

You can watch that here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwx8IOFGx3o

 I have my french Arches paper taped to a drawing board. I begin blocking in the dark values and background tone focusing on simplified shapes and trying my best not to get distracted and focused on favorite areas of interest until I have material down over the entire surface.

As I progress I leave some areas more sketchy, these areas are often like gems so I like to keep them for as long as I can.
---------

Back to school.

I'm instructing a figure drawing course at the Alberta College of Art and Design one evening per week.  We are already on class three, but because there is a model in the room I am hesitant to take photographs out of respect for the model. I took these after the model left the room, when on break or at the end of class to give you an idea what the work looks like on class 3 when we focused on creating values on toned drawing paper.

It is awfully bright in the classroom but you need to see your paper when you are drawing. The best tool the artist has is to squint to simplify the shapes and values.

I loaned a student one of my figure drawing reference books, this picture is to remind me who has what.

When the lights are turned back on the pieces do look quite different and you get a sense of the depth and breadth of the values in the pieces.

Some quick poses on the neutral concrete classroom floor.

The lights and darks by adding more material to the paper or by erasing out help to create the illusion of form on a 2D surface.

My favorite part of this drawing is the foot that just gives us a sense of detail of what is there. Our eye only focuses on one area at a time so this helps bring the attention back up to what the artist wants you to look at the head area.

The students discovered the push and pull of darks and lights in the final long pose of the session and the work turned out great.

SWINTONS ARTICLE AND SAMPLER

My latest article for the swinton's newsletter just came out.

Read it on the link below:

http://www.swintonsart.com/blog-articles/item/the-artistic-method

---

Here's some  pictures from the recent Acrylic Sampler I hosted down at the studios.

If this looks like colourful fun and you'd like to try it out sign up for a sampler on the Swinton's website:D

BATISTA - EPISODE 5 "The reason to get up in the morning"

still life with proportions

Proper proportions.

Constructing a proper foundation as a way to get a drawing right. The cons of sight size method are with set up and mobility. It is difficult to learn at first but very empowering when developing your "artistic eye" I prefer to use a comparative drawing system of measurement so that you can refer to any items at any distance and get a proper relationship and placement. Taking one solid measurement and comparing it with all the items in relationships between the objects. Then constructing a proportional plan and using negative spaces to help figure out how to draw a 3d set up on a 2d surface.

Use a strong vertical or horizontal as a base line as well as to draw items that are symmetrical on both sides. One the relationships are established and you have a good plan you can begin drawing the more compicated shapes you see and refine further from there.

There are many tips and tricks along the way, but it is also a good thing to actually do, you can only learn to draw better by drawing more.

When taking your measurement, you must keep consistent. Close the same eye, stand the same distance away, keep your arm outstretched and observe long enough to burn the info you need into your mind, then transfer it to your drawing.

Decide if things are at an angle off of the vertical or horizontal, and by how much. When things are going away from you in perspective, re you drawing them at the right angle. Are ellipses on the correct plane?

Are you looking down at an object, if so what spacial considerations should you be aware of?

Should you eat the banana first or wait until you have finished your drawing?

When the line work is done and all the shapes look correct, you can proceed in to the next step and begin working in light and shadows.

Sounds Sketchy - Sacred Geometry

I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to host the first "Sounds Sketchy" a Local 510.  For a first night, it is always a bit scary that no one will show up, but I was happy to see people came out to fill the house!  Thanks to everyone who participated at the first "Sounds Sketchy" event last night!

I designed a fun class for any level of drawing experience. We worked on creating the sacred geometry pattern "the flower of life" using whatever we had, compasses, coasters, shot glasses and/or string.

Everyone had their sketch books ready to go and began with drawing a point and a simple circle. From there we built outward; the tripod of life, the genesis pattern, the seed of life, the egg of life, the flower of life etc.

The remaining pictures here were taken by Jay Woolley, who is also the event organizer. Here I am with the flip chart I whipped up the night before explaining each step on the progression.

I brought art supplies to share, a bunch of books as reference, and some copies of notes for those who want to grab them and learn more.  The best way to learn with this kind of work, is to learn by doing.  I'm standing in front of the start of my creation of Metatron's cube.

Here Linden and I are getting deeper into the meaning of all this fun sacred geometry stuff and discussing the platonic solids and how they all can be created out of the Metatron's cube drawing.

I was really impresses by how into it people got and where they took it, great job everyone!

I like this final pic from behind my explaining how to continue on with the drawing. Preach it brother!!!

If you'd like to attend a free session they are every last Monday on the Month.
Silas is hosting the next one in February and the theme is "Regrettable tattoos!"
Be there!

Sunday Sampler at Swintons (January 24, 2016)

I mourn my computer and use one at work during lunch to post this. A great many things are happening but you'd never know since I haven't been able to post lately. A couple of lovely ladies at the Off beat drawing event on Friday night swear its "mercury retrograde" that caused my digital misfortune, though I don't believe that for a minute. Dropping it was definitely the culprit.

 Yesterday I had a terrific oil sampler at Swinton's. You wouldn't know it by the serious look on my face.  But it was FUN and went well. I changed the format of the session and I think it worked fantastic. The next one is full but there are more coming up so just visit Swinton's website and look for samplers if you are interested in signing up. http://swintonsart.com

I had some repeat students which warms my heart, and believe it or not, the majority who tried oil for the first time had never painted before either. Its a challenging medium but totally worth it..... beautiful, creamy and rich I cant say enough good things about oil, I love it. I look forward to inspiring more new budding artists, there is a lot of passion and know how in my brain that I'd love to share around :D

Starting off right...

Here is a fresh look how I go about getting my day started right.

Below is the episode that I just uploaded up to my you tube channel, and underneath is a basic transcription of the episode in case you'd rather read than watch. Enjoy!

I think it is prudent to dispel any myth of glamour or romantic ideas one may have about an artists life. At the end of the day, It is messy work pushing goop on a stick covered in hair.

Today's fast paced and busy lives, are full of immediate gratification, stained with bad news and pressured from every direction.  It seems Difficult for anyone to pursue what they love in life.......therefore persistence is key.

It’s not luck that I’m an artist. It is what I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid, I have geared every choice and every decision in my life toward pursuing this dream, no matter how ridiculous it may be. The same goes for talent, i may have been talented at 7, but 30 years later its a skill i've developed through my choices.

Take art classes, go to art school, travel abroad, read books, practice daily, teach, write, apply for grants, have a show coming up, a commission etc. congrats…. You are an artist!!! Now forget any financial security, a social life, health benefits, travel, holiday bonus, vacation pay etc. you are pretty much on your own now. Good luck!

In order to do what you love as much as possible you need to treat it like an obsession. Your single minded focus must be on the job. So Show up and do the work.

2% inspiration, 98% perspiration:

Paint paint paint.
Draw draw draw,
whatever it is that you do just do it. 
 Make it habitual and things will fall into place far more often. If you have a routine and keep organized, you will have more room to do what you want with your life. Time is of the essence, we only have a limited amount in our lives.

In my world no 2 days are the same, so i have to be open enough to ride the wave and be spontaneous while not losing sight of my goals while keeping some semblance of a plan together.

I’m a morning person. I get up early in order to beat the sun.

I wake up with the goal to get everything done right away, I do more before noon than most do in their entire day. To get more time in the studio i make the choice to go to bed earlier if i can.

When I get up I take a sip of water then write my morning pages, I learned them from the artists way, highly recommend it if you haven’t read it or feel your creativity blocked.

It is my morning puke, the part of my daily routine when I get out all the words and blocked up feelings, and clear the air of pressures, repressions and dreams before I even get out of bed. I’ve been doing these at least since the 90’s, Turns out I had to do them in school growing up too.

I never read them, but It is a record of continuity,  it may be fun down the road to look back on who I was in the past and contrast and compare. As for the obviously bad years I throw the whole book in fire at the temple at the burn.

When I’m done I hop out of bed, make it right away, because its much nicer getting into a made bed later on.

I have other parts to my early morning routine, shower, shave and shit, from feeding pets, put away dishes etc. basically I do the necessary stuff right away so I can leave it behind me.

 You need to ensure you give yourself enough time in the morning so that you are not rushing out the door. This way you are collected, calm and happy.

Not until after i get everything in order do i even consider looking at my phone or touching my computer. They are great  tools but also stealers my time.

A good habit to form when doing anything is to clean up after ones self. Constantly. It never seems to end, But get it done first so that afterward you can play.

The same goes on in the studio. I get in as much as I can while managing my life and often spend a huge majority of my time in the kitchen and tidying up as I go.  The other days of the week are for cleaning, grocery shopping etc is Sunday chores but if I can sneak it in somewhere earlier I do to free up more time on the week-end. The more time to focus without interruption from annoying and menial tasks then etter to nuture creativity.

So start off right, in life as well as in the studio.

So now you can look at your watch, hopefully it is still early, grab a cup of something hot and let the real art lifestyle begin…..

Until next time, my thanks and gratitude……

Creativity and Destruction

I made a new video blog, It is the very beginning of the new year after all, so I decided to try something new this year and that is make a summation post of each passing week. I'm taking this time  to share with you my reflections as I refine myself and my practice. I hope you stay with me and support me in the next 52 weeks. I'd love for you to follow along and see what develops.

Not long ago I was completely without a studio. Mostly, in order to make new work I’ve been making make shift spaces,  like in my kitchen and arranging and re-arranging them temporarily as needed to get stuff done. Its hard to call yourself a “practicing artist” without a suitable place to practice, a temple of creativity to apply my craft. 

So that has been my top priority. Which is why I went on the cleaning tirade in the first place. I got rid of tons of stuff, donated plenty and paired down the majority of my supplies. It is no secret so I can admit her to you that I have a bit of an art supply addiction. Hey, you Never know what you may need when inspiration takes over.

 

I am happy to report that I now have a tiny space in a dim basement in which to create. It is little and it is cold but it is mine!!

If you are anything like me, Organizing elements of ones life can be a real challenge. I remind myself its like organizing elements on a painting, it has to be done to get to the good stuff ad then it will have been totally worth it!


For me art is about creating something that is uplifting and that conveys beauty. And though I may destroy I see myself as a builder.... making new things happen.
To me this is fuel, there is a life force in it, I feel renewed and invigorated following my creative achievement or when I have the opportunity to inspire others to create and follow their dreams. I hope this has done that for you.

~my thanks and gratitude.

Paint brush and panel prep - Studio Batista

To