Student show and sale @ Atelier Artista

Turned my space over to the students this week-end and they did a wonderful job maing a pofessional showing.

They had on display works in progress, prints and some master copies.

It looked terrific and we had a string of visitors all day and evening.

Recently at Atelier Artista

The start of the school year has me incredibly busy. I haven't forgotten about you dear readers of my blog. I have been drawing, painting, cleaning and teaching everyday as well. everyday. No days off, no rest for the wicked. Unless of course the wicked gets sick, which happened last weekend during Thanksgiving so that was my break, in bed then volunteering at the QAS Log drivers Waltz.  Heres a peek into a bit of what I've got going on.

At my last figure sessions I first did a painting I didn't like so I scraped it down, the following week I decided I was better off studying the form through darks and lights rather than sticky colour. Heres a few of the steps in drawing Neema last session on Wednesday night.

My classes are running every day of the week at Atelier Artista (atelierartista.com) Its not too late to join in if you'd like to take the remaining classes until the holidays let me know and come on down.

On Tuesday afternoons I have Colour in Theory and Practice. We finished values, temperature and colour mixing and are now venturing into understanding and using colour harmonies. 

On Wednesdays we do portrait drawing and painting and have begun the first stages of blocking in our self portraits.

Its all about the light and dark and beginning with a good likeness. Next comes colour and form enhancements.

On Thursdays We have classical drawing in the morning and are currently studying some of Bargues method.

In the afternoon on Thursdays, I give a lecture and demo in my "painting secrets of the masters" class.

On Fridays we study Anatomy and more in Full figure.  Ive worked out some theories on how to be both effective and efficient. After this class,  I head on up to Waldorf to teach teens. On the week-ends I have two classes at ACAD and on Sundays I often have samplers at Swintons. 

But wait.......there is more.... there is always more...

so keep your eyes on the prize  =:D

EPISODE 56 Robert Liberace workshop

I've been swamped since Alberta Culture days where I shook thousends of hands and now classes starting up......



8 at Atelier Artista.

5 at ACAD

1 at Waldorf

and 1 every couple Sundays at Swintons.



So this is a catch up episode from my workshop at Whidbey Island with Robert Liberace. Which was so good!!!



Please watch the episode and when things simmer down another will be in production.



:D

Artist trading cards @ Atelier artista

EPISODE 54 back to the studio

Classes start in 2 weeks!!!

visit http://www.atelierartista.com/2017-courses-list

and get your spot in the class of your choice before it is too late!

That time of year.....

That time of year is quickly approaching. Back to school = time to make art!

Atelier Artista just did a newsletter mail out to ensure all those who want to sign up or get on a waitlist have a chance. It is first come first serve and we already had a few email sign ups for waiting lists this morning. So get on it and spread the word.

http://mailchi.mp/4a154b9dca67/its-that-time-of-year-again-back-to-school

We also have a new shipment of plaster casts on its way for Atelier students to study from in the fall to add to the ones pictured below. Exciting.

See the unpacking of the shipment from Italy in the you tube video.

Atelier Poster Deigns

Created a variety of poster Designs for the fall semester at Atelier Artista. I just sent my files off to the Printers cant wait to start passing them out. Take a look:

 11 X 17 posters for the various art stores, Swinton's , Sunnyside and more.

 Here is a weird size 12 X 24 for the signage outside the studio.

Postcards for those who want to carry the information away with them.
Website currently updating in process.
Google calendar updated until 2018.

EPISODE 53 Packages from Italy

MAN OF MANY HATS

I'm often asked how I always keep so many things on the go and that I'm a man of many hats. Indeed, I keep the ball rolling in many courts, but I also try to keep it fun. Maybe I'm just a crazy workaholic. Maybe its that I'm doing what I love. You see for yourself in this monumental goal reaching Episode 50!

A dozen things from this past week

Well I didn't know exactly how to contextualize the juxtaposition of these images together. In order to improve our skills, we study a lot of different things every week at Atelier Artista. The images below are from various classes throughout this week. On the off chance I don't forget to snap some shots or  I'm not running around, instructing and/or creating work this is what you get.

 Before the long week-end began, I was tasked by the visiting artists in residence (Daniel J. Kirk and Katie Green) to create a drawing in response to the work "Mermacorn" made up by another cSPACE tenant. This is my preliminary sketch before tweaking and adding a dash of colour.

 I demoed these hard edged shapes in my" Open studio sessions" on Easter Monday.

 Here is the class room set up, the drawing horses in a half circle horse shoe shape.

 Some notes I delivered on the board while teaching the portrait students the nuances of what to look for when studying the anatomy and drawing the nose and mouth areas.

There is a lot here to cover.

 I like the ability to colour code a bit with chalk.

 Adding many points to observe as I go on with the lesson.

 I transitioning between notes on slate and the actual practical application of drawing medium on newsprint.

 Here is my handsome friend John Asaro head showing the facets and planes under lit conditions.

 And here is how makeshift studio conditions can be when working :P

 In the oil portrait class the students are adding details as we will be starting a new portrait in May.

 The students brought various objects for still lie class, as weird as it is , it is a puppet so I let it slide to add a bit more fun to the day.

 In anatomy of the figure class on Friday we are working on very muscular legs with a lot of definition. There is a whole lot more interesting stuff and fun going on all the time down here at ATELIER ARTISTA, Dont miss out, come on down and study with us as new sessions begin this May!

http://ateleirartista.com

Wednesday night figure drawing @ Ateleir Artista

These couple of shots are from the long Figure drawing session last week April 12.  I have these each and every Wednesday evening 7 - 10 pm @ATELIERARTISTA. Suite #410, 1721 - 29th Ave. SW. Calgary Alberta. To reserve your spot visit http://www.atelierartista.com/figure-drawing

In the eye of the beholder

In todays portrait class I taught the anatomy of the eye and how to see and create realistic forms when drawing the eye.

re·al·is·tic

ˌrēəˈlistik/

adjective

representing familiar things in a way that is accurate or true to life.

synonyms:

true to life, lifelike, truthful, true, faithful, unidealized, real-life, naturalistic, graphic

We discussed the anatomy, the academic approach, how we shade the sclera to represent its white spherical form within the eye socket so our eyes don't look flat and painted on. Where to look for the the important highlights that fall on the lens of the cornea and why, where the iris becomes highlighted due to this. How the cast shadow from the top eyelid creates more depth. 

After a bunch of notes on slate I did a quick drawing demo and then the students got onto their eye studies.

If this looks good to you and you might want to come learn all aspect of head and portrait drawing or painting come on down or sign up at http://atelierartista.com

Still life with banana

Why did the monkey like the banana? 

Because it had appeal! 

Your artwork should have appeal too!

 I think the art of the still life is appealing yet greatly under appreciated. Just gathering and composing objects in very much an act of art. Selecting and arranging items, then creating a juxtaposition that is pleasing and interesting tells a lot about the creator. There is also a lot of contrasts that can occur allowing for many different ways for the artist to explore mark making.

In this still life class I worked my demo piece alongside the students after a brief overview of our goals. One student brought a fantastic kettle, and of course his daily dose of vitamin K, a banana. 
Here is the little set up from where I was sitting on the drawing horse. Below are some of the steps as well as some of the students pieces.

If you think still life drawings are as cool as I do and would like to try your hand and strengthen your eye then come on down to Atelier Artista (http://atelierartista.com) Wednesday morning and learn the ins and outs of this fulfilling subject.