The struggle is real!

As an instructor, I see a bit of a different angle of the art making process. 

Daily, I see many students going through the ups and down of art creation.

I am acutely aware when my students struggle often bringing the to the point or frustration. They want to quit, they sigh and make grimacing faces. Some need to step away, others are brought to tears and all over art. I see and feel the ups and downs. I hear sighs, see the lightbulb go off and find a lot of discards in the trash. 

Our inner voices tell us…

This is awesome

This is tricky

This is sh*t

I am sh*t

This might be ok

This is awesome

….and again the cycle continues

I understand the personal challenges and how monumental they are in that moment. I think most people think its going to be easy and they are all going to leave the classroom a master. Artists seem to be a lot harder on themselves while in the pursuit of perfection than most do in the rest of their lives. We all battle deep inner voices, fight with the material and techniques and try to cram into our memories new lesson information. 

At times it feels like its laughing right in our face, this is supposed to be fun, at least smile back.

Know that you are not alone, we all go through this. You can’t hold onto any one moment, in this dance. Whether you are the best artist in the world or the worst, the struggle continues. C’est la vie. In our artistic practice, the only constant is change because of this we are always having to move forward and grow. Growing in our art skills and vision on the drawing pad, canvas as well as within. The most important thing is to show up, stick with your practice and you will push through. Trust the “artistic method” and trust yourself. You can do it!

At Atelier Artista, we believe the best thing you can do for your art is invest in your education. Put in the time and practice and in the long term you will reach your goals.

New classes are listed and starting up in 3 weeks.

We also encourage you to drop in for figure drawing, we host three nights a week and have a brand new bulk buying option here:

https://www.atelierartista.com/product-page/10-drop-in-figure-sessions

Announcing the Winner!!!

Atelier Artista is very proud to award this years People's Portrait Prize 2018

Emerging Artist Award to

Diana Shen Peng

Diana was given sketchbooks and a voucher worth $400 to take any of the classes offered at Atelier Artista or for our regular uninstructed Wednesday evening figure drawing sessions.

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Speaking of classes at the Atelier, the next semester is coming up quickly, classes begin the first week of April check out the intensives we have on offer visit http://atelierartista.com

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NEW!!!

We  have camps and classes in the summer for kids and youth, registration is open:
SUMMER CAMPS!!

On our way to the holidays

Lots has been going on as we careen toward the holidays. I'm excited for some time off but it wont really be off at all, my list just seems to be growing and growing but regular figure drawing is still happening. every Wednesday 7 -  10 pm at Atelier Artista. http://atelierartista.com

Marla came in for two Mondays evening sessions for private study with some Art friends.

I had a really off day with lots of interruptions and didn't manage to get out anything I was happy with.

We were very lucky to get to draw Jenn who is pregnant with twins another evening.

Last Wednesday Alexia came and posed for our regular Wednesday evening figure drawing session.

We have so much fun figure drawing here....

Liquid Imagination with Alexia Day

After a long day I was given the opportunity to participate in Mark Northcott's Liquid Imagination at Atelier Artista.  We did a lot of short poses and though I felt rusty and fatigued I was really glad I took part by the end of it.

Live String Quartet @ atelierartista

Take a look at Atelier Artista's regular Wednesday evening group. We were blessed by a pleasant treat, we had a live string quartet while our male model Devin did long pose. You can have a look and listen to the little iphone video I show below. Sorry viewers, no nude male model recorded here.

Here is another glimpse into the night. The sound was so much more than I could have anticipated. So much volume without amplification. Here is the drawing after the second sitting, I almost feel this is enough and I could have left it at that..........and then once the time has run out and the drawing has come to completion, after some help from my friends both in eyes and with hands :D

and below is another video with the sweet sounds of the string quartet for your enjoyment.

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.

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

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!

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.

More figure drawing from Wednesday

Every Wednesday 7-10 pm at Atelier Artista we host long pose drawing for only $20 + gst. So, whether you want to draw or paint and you want to study the human form you can come do it. We had a lot of drawers this session so we worked a few more warm ups before settling into the longer pose. See some of whats up below.

Go here for more info and to sign up:

http://www.atelierartista.com/figure-drawing

Return from Guanajuato

I'm glad to be back. The very next morning after my return I opened the atelier and we got back down to business.  There are warm and fond memories to revisit, pictures to go through, unpacking to do and a whole lot more. As they say "No rest for the wicked".

These feet did a lot of walking, it was hilly, so I bought myself these nifty boots. The entire trip my hands kept busy, I sketched, painted watercolour and gouache and saw many sights. My mouth tasting the culinary favourites of the region. My ears listened to the cacophony of the busy streets and battling Mariachi bands in the plaza.  There is much to tell and share, but it will have to arrive in its own time. For now back to the Atelier!

Listen to this! We started the portrait class with the study of the ear and why? we have to draw it that way. I did a quick demo after anatomical notes on the board. I gave each student a reference photo to study and transmit onto their paper.

 After the portrait drawng class we moved into the afternoon portrait painting portion where we continued our study f the ear. In this session we painted in the skin tones based on what we drew previously. We roughed in colour an defined.

 The following day in Still life/object studies we learned to draw bone texture with two skulls I borrowed from the decor of my house.

 I did a demo of finding dark shapes and some lights on toned ground.

 The students did great work describing the forms in their own styles. After a short break we moved into paint studies and how to mix warm and cool grey tones and how to lay them in for the skull study.

 We scraped back our work after the lesson ready for another painting session anther day.

 We also have a new studio assistant, on loan from JJ peters. Thanks to her sleuthing skills we have a full sized skeleton in questionable condition to work with. That was just the first two days back!

Coming very soon....

....more updates

plus

the latest episodes on Youtube from Guanajuato!