Plein Air Paint Outs

in ,

Plein air, in case you aren't in the secret circle of those who know, is a fancy (French) way of saying "outdoors" - as it relates to painting. In the last five months (right before I found out I was pregnant - though I haven't made the connection until now) I've been a lot more proactive about getting out of the house and going somewhere to make art. I started a Facebook group and, recently, a Meetup.org group to involve other local artists. It also led to an ongoing series of figure drawing sessions at the Burning House Art Studio in Apple Valley - but that's another topic worth a few more blog posts :).

While I am not new to plein air painting, it has been a long time since I pursued it with any intensity. Even now, doing it a couple of times a month is not really that intense - but I am enjoying it a lot and want to do more. I'm hoping it's possible with three little kids...we'll see. The projected arrival of kid #3 in early November has given me the momentum to start the groups and organize events. Probably because I know it will be tough to do anything for quite a while after the baby is born. So...the plan is to have fun and wear myself out so that I'm sick of art and am ready for a break from it. Or something along those lines :)

I wrote about our first, Oro Grande Sketch-out before. After that, we went to the Buddhist temple in Adelanto. The place is in the middle of nowhere (as is anything here, I suppose...this IS the middle of nowhere ;)) and it surprised me with beautiful architecture, a sculpture garden and what seemed like hundreds of birds (see video below and listen...it's beautiful).

At the same sketch-out, I met Kate of Katesfolkart , a wonderful local artists who paints scenes from the middle-of-nowhere I mentioned above and makes it look good :) She is now one of my most consistent sketch-out buddies.

I'll try to write a bit about every sketch-out we've had so far, so keep an eye out for more reports :). For now, some of my sketches from the Buddhist temple outing: 

My Portrait Painting Workshop is this weekend!

I can't believe it, but yes! This weekend, August 3 and 4, I am teaching my first Portrait Painting Workshop! My past students probably remember me talking about wanting to do a workshop like this forever, and now it's happening! :)  Thank you to Joan Sowinski for hosting it in her Burning House Art Studio and to those who already signed up. A couple of people had to cancel this time, so I have a few spots still available.

I have lots of material...more than I can squeeze into two days, but I will try my best to give as much as I can. I am hoping we will even have some time to work with a live model!

How to Make Greeting Cards with Your Art

in

You have many great options when it comes to making cards with your artwork on them. The easiest one is outsourcing the whole process through a print-on-demand website (FineArtAmerica.com, Society6.com, RedBubble.com, Imagekind.com, etc). If you want a larger run of the same image, a printer like VistaPrint is probably your best bet. All of these services will give you a good quality, albeit generic-looking card. Now, what if you want to be a little more personal? I, for example, love having my signature on my cards. It's like a stamp of approval. It's me holding it in my hands, liking what I see, and saying so to my collector (because yes, even those who buy a card from me become my collectors :)). So this is how I do it:

handmade fine art card
handmade fine art card

1. The print

Let's assume you already have a nice, high-resolution, color-corrected digital image of your artwork. I scan most of mine, photograph those that can't be scanned and then adjust the color using Photoshop.

I use the same printer (Epson Stylus Pro 3880 Color Inkjet Printer) and paper (Epson Ultra Premium Presentation Paper MATTE) that I do for my open edition prints. Probably not the most cost-efficient choice, but the quality of image is superb and I like the fact that these cards are "frameable." I suspect that a regular home office printer capable of printing color photos should be able to do the job. I print the images a bit smaller than the dimensions of the card, so that I have space for the signature and the border.

2. The blank cards

Once again, lots of choices here. I tried about ten different kinds and found that I like Avery Personal Creations Textured Heavyweight Note Card and Envelopes, 4-1/4 x 5-1/2, 50 per Box (3379). They have a nice watercolor-paper-like texture and you can print on them using a desktop printer. I printed my information on the back of the cards before I began using stamps (see below).

3. The tape

For attaching the print to the card, I use ATG Tape. I also happen to own an ATG Tape Dispenser, which is not a requirement but it definitely speeds up the process.

making-cards-3
making-cards-3

4. Your artist signature

I sign the card on the front under the image. Right now, I use an HB or H pencil (harder pencils don't smudge and pretty much emboss the signature into the card). I tried black and colored ink pens, permanent markers in different colors, and I just find anything but a pencil too distracting. It is a personal preference, and you should find your own :)

making-cards-2
making-cards-2

5. Your back of the card info

On the back of the card, I put my artist information. This can include the artist's name, the painting title and medium, website, email address, phone number, and even your photo and artist statement or bio.

making-cards-1
making-cards-1

I use a stamp I ordered through Vistaprint.com with just my name, phone number, and website address. I find it a whole lot easier than printing on the cards using a desktop printer.

making-cards-6
making-cards-6

6. The envelope

Don't forget the envelope! It goes inside the card :)

making-cards-5
making-cards-5

7. The packaging

I package a finished card in an acetate envelope that is a tiny bit bigger than the card. I buy those through Clearbags.com but they are also available at art supply stores and even Amazon.com.

making-cards-4
making-cards-4

Voila! All done and ready to be sold, gifted, and in general shown off :)

making-cards-8
making-cards-8

Questions? How do you make your cards? Leave me a comment below!

Guess who's in the paper!

in

  In April, I visited an art club in Phelan, CA, spoke a bit about myself and my art and did a watercolor painting demo of a little girl. It was a pleasant visit! I am often amazed at and very grateful to people who show interest in my art, and even more when they are willing to spend hours watching me paint. And, of course, my collectors, who spend their hard-earned money on a piece of art that I created. It's humbling.

Anyway, soon after the demo, I was thrilled to find a copy of Mountaineer Progress in my mailbox, forwarded by the club's president. Inside, there was an article about me! Other than calling the capital of Romania "a typical European village," it looks pretty good :)

 

newspaper article about Yevgenia Watts

 

alla prima portrait painting of a child

Adora - watercolor portrait of a little girl

colorful painting of a little girl in watercolor Some time last year, I was approached by this little girl's dad who asked me if I would be interested in participating in their project. The essence of the project is this: artists and illustrators are invited to create artwork based on or referencing photos of Adora, a 3.5 year old girl. At the time, I was not interested (partly, due to the fact that I would be doing this essentially for free). But it has been in the back of my mind since then, and when I was asked to do a painting demo for a local art club, I found a photo of Adora that inspired me and used it in the demo. I really liked the quality of light in the photo and how intense the little girl's expression was. It was fun to paint it.

I skipped the drawing and jumped right into it, painting directly. I was working from a black and white printout of the photo and pretty much made the colors up, referencing also my impression of the original photo. I was talking the whole time and answering questions, which was remarkably easy for me. It is pretty interesting how such an introverted and private person as myself can be so comfortable doing public speaking. It could be just the art-related public speaking, I guess. Something I am passionate about and happy to share :) I am doing another demo for a larger group on May 29th. Hope it goes well!

Watercolor Classes in Silver Lakes

in

Learn Watercolor Flyer

Do you like learning new things in a warm and friendly atmosphere? Have you always wanted to try watercolor painting but heard that watercolor is hard? Come and have fun! My classes are for beginner to intermediate painters and include step-by-step introduction to painting with watercolor. You will learn all about the tools and materials for watercolor painting, different ways to apply paint, and will make a few paintings of your own! Bring a friend to make it even more fun!

  • When: Mondays 11:30 am - 2 pm, March 4 - April 8
  • Cost: $99 (for a limited time). For a suggested supplies list, click here. A basic supply kit will be available for purchase at the first day of class for $35.
  • Senior Discount! Email me or call (916)749-6066 for details.

[button link="http://yevgeniawatts.com/intro-to-watercolor-helendale/" type="big" color="green"] Register Now[/button]

 

 

 

Foggy and Clear Ocean Watercolor Painting

serene beach scene original art watercolor A little while ago, I painted a series of 6x6" painting with an ocean theme. It was an enjoyable challenge. Enjoyable because I passionately love the ocean, even more than I have once loved the Black Sea. I really miss living in Oceanside and seeing all the different moods of the big water from my window. Of course, in Oceanside, I missed living in Berkeley, and in Berkeley, I kind of missed Ukraine. The grass-is-always-greener effect.

Anyway, these seascapes were also a challenge. First of all, because I don't paint many landscapes in general (I see a potential for another 30-day challenge here) and because of the simplicity that I had in mind and was able to achieve. I had to force myself to stop and walk away. If you're an artist, you know how hard it is to stop (unless you hate the painting, of course! :)) I think I was mostly successful and I wouldn't mind keeping these little gems for myself. They remind me of all the wonderful places in coastal California: San Diego, Monterey and Carmel, Point Reyes, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Ventura.

series of ocean themed watercolor paintings for sale

 

On Impressionists, Cellists, and Cool New Website

watercolor and ink sketch musicians playing cellos Okay, I'm back from the break that I had to take after the intensity of the 30x30 challenge and daily blogging! If you are following me on Facebook, you know I haven't really fallen off the edge of the Earth :).

I did drive to Sacramento to visit my family, with both kids...An 8 hour drive, which was not as horrible as it sounds. I have pretty well-behaved kids :). The trip was good. The week I spent not cooking or doing housework or even watching the kids that much was worth it. The grandparents and all the other relatives got to enjoy the babies, I got my fix of art stores. I even slept in on most mornings! Really, this was as close to a vacation as I've been in a long while. I did have plans to go to San Francisco and see the Vermeer exhibit at DeYoung but Elijah (my 3.5-year-old) got sick, so I had to adjust my plans. Instead of going to San Francisco, I stayed in Sacramento a few extra days and caught one of my favorite events - 2nd Saturday Art Walk.

As in most similar events, the majority of the art was so-so, some was blatantly bad, but a few pieces were pretty great. I visited a couple of places new to me and enjoyed the work of a wide range of artists. I noticed that, even though I am drawn to abstracts, particularly color field ones, they seldom keep my attention for longer than the initial few seconds. Oils and acrylics dominated, as usual; not much watercolor.

I also visited a used book store, Time Tested Books, and got two art books. One is on the Russian Symbolist artist Vrubel (in Russian, which is extra cool), the other on the Impressionists (The New Painting: Impressionisms 1874-1886. ). This second book I liked for the pictures but it turned out to be quite entertaining to read, too. It documents eight of the original exhibitions of the Impressionists, with painting images, descriptions, and essays. I think the best parts of the book are, however, the quotes from the contemporary reviewers of the exhibitions.

gustave caillebotte paris street a rainy day impressionist painting

For example, this famous painting by Gustave Caillebotte is criticized for its odd composition (I don't really like that lamppost in the middle, either), unimaginative treatment of figures, and ABSENCE OF RAIN :). Caillebotte is also praised for his drawing abilities, which, apparently, few Impressionists possessed. It seems like not very much has changed in the last 130 years and that even the Impressionists were your normal everyday artists.

While browsing the books, I enjoyed listening to a duet of cellists who were performing at the book store. I semi-discreetly snapped a couple of photos with my phone and last night, made the sketch on top of this post. Look out for the video of me making the sketch. Speaking of videos, I will soon be launching a new website dedicated to my how-tos, step-by-steps, videos, tutorials, and all that educational stuff. Eventually, it will become the platform for my online painting courses. Yay!

 

My artwork is now on checks!

in

In early December last year, I was approached by a check printing company, CheckAdvantage, to see if I was interested in creating several sets of checks with my artwork on them (shout-out to Skinny Artist, I was found through their artist directory!). So I said, sure, and last week, we launched my CheckAdvantage products. I am tempted to buy my own address labels and checks :) (good sign, right?). There are nine themed sets with four images each, featuring my favorite artworks. Seascapes, cityscapes, flowers, trees, California, Europe, and even a separate set of sunflowers :). I'm pretty excited about all this. I always look for something artistic and, preferably, unique when I order checks and I love writing a check and thinking of the person receiving it and how they would say, "Oh, this is a very cool check! She has a great taste." Or something like that :). I can't wait to run out of my current boring checks!  

 

Yevgenia Watts Checks Yevgenia Watts Side Tear Checks Yevgenia Watts Address Labels Yevgenia Watts Checkbook Covers

 

 

artistic checks