The young artists have returned and the wise artist unite...

On Saturday I completed a special workshop project for two young painters.  They had made their first marks on watercolor papers and their individual  8 by 10 canvas ....Cassie is creating a design work inspired from Architectural Digest.  Reece is capturing a wild spirit of a red tail hawk posting on a fence post.  These mixed media ...collage mediums and brilliant acrylic washes added a sense of life and depth when they were finished.  Now Cassie still wanted to work  on  ...  maybe a bit of this or additions with some pure golden highlights. I was tired when they left but they did an absolutely great job and hopefully will continue on their individual journeys of explorations in painting.  I am anxious to hear any comments on their youthful approach in working with mixed media.

 Kathy is sharing her thoughts and processes...

 Thomas studies the copy print with additional molding paste on top... lots of questions... colors ...textures...

 acrylic painting on a trash can from the 1970's

 Thomas points out the layers and we all will have to wait to see how they adhere when they are totally dry....

Tony is guarding my process.... my quilt  hanging over the bannister ...

 the original painting...

 explaining my process of painting on top of the dyed fabrics...  wearing proudly my Halloween apron!

 Joe shared his mobile with Amy Butler fabrics...

 a close up...over the football screen...

 Ken's five berry pie for dessert!

 Thomas is putting his Chinese Almond salad... delicious...

 Leah being a good good girl!

 I love this work of Tony's....so ethereal and beautifully executed...

 leaf skeletons....

 gourds and layers of earthy scents...

 Todd Camp's painting ...a gift to Kathy...I love this intrigue in the compostion...

 a great dinner was enjoyed and the evening came to an end...  Thank you  Kathy and Tony










Tony and kathy have a great kitchen...

 Cassie first marks on her two works... colored pencils and acrylics...

 Reece has the beginning of her wild Red tail Hawk...

 Reece experimenting with washes...

 Cassie making some decisions to alter her design...

the assemblage is now completed on Reece's canvas...

 the watercolor assemblage...

 adding bright colors to incorporate future design pieces for her room...

 the watercolor paper assemblage in subtle acrylic washes of softened colors... Cassie created two views of her designs...

 Reece is playing with her ipad and phone...it is difficult to compete with Taylor Swift's newest CD....

 Cassie still wants to add purples and hints of gold...













this is a comparison of Cassie's two process choices...

On Saturday evening Ken and I had a celebratory community dinner with five other artists.  Each one shared their latest artistic efforts...paintings, mobiles, exhibits, marketing strategies, possible networks and museums to be discovered and explored.  We began....did not completely answer the question "Why do we do what we do?"  Where do you see yourself going...growing...how will you develop your own style?  The possible contributions and possible limitations an artist can experience with a gallery representation.  Etsy shops were displayed and discussed... what expectations should be applied?  Should one really lower their prices?   How does one make a connection with their "clients"?  The whole evening was very thought provoking and I found myself reflecting on the importance of communication with other artists ...of all ages...of all styles... all possibilities with my blog post artists.  It does take effort to have discipline to continue this exchange but the reality is we have free will to write as much as we care to expose.  I have limitations on my time spent...so the blog works well for me right now.  I am returning to my quilt....seeing it up in a room gave me a prospective I had not achieved before while I am working with it on my lap....thank you for a peaceful weekend.  God bless Malala as she continues her strength and recovery ...a brave heroine and she is everyone's daughter ...sister... child.  Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart