Tag Archives: Education

Mural for an Elementary School

  I had the great opportunity to meet with the first graders at South School and ask them what they thought was important for their fellow students to remember.  Their answers all revolved around the theme “Be Kind.”  Each of the children placed their hand print on the lower section which became a field ofContinue reading “Mural for an Elementary School”

Excellence Starts with the Basics

The basics seem so boring.  When I finally reached college age I was so excited not to have to take, what I considered, the boring curriculum subjects of math, science and foreign language and jumped at the chance to select more creative endeavor.  And so, in my first season of college I took drawing, design,Continue reading “Excellence Starts with the Basics”

New Fall Art Classes

New Humboldt County Art Classes are starting mid-September!  Acrylic Painting in Fortuna starts Tuesday, September 17th at Fortuna Fabrics and Crafts from 3:30 – 5:30 in the afternoons.  Classes are open from ‘pre-teens’ through senior adults – beginners and intermediate welcome.  The class runs for 8 weeks.  Call 725-2501 to sign up.  A Drawing ClassContinue reading “New Fall Art Classes”

Natural and Spiritual Gifts.

The Times-Standard, a Eureka, California newspaper included a very kind article about painting and teaching here on the North Coast. Here is the link:  http://www.times-standard.com/art/ci_23980365/natural-and-spiritual-gifts?source=rss.  I am eagerly anticipating new students for the upcoming Fall classes!

Experimenting, Learning and Working Hard

 Taking the attitude that we are learning and experimenting helps take some of the pressure that we put upon ourselves away.  If we consider learning a “win” then we are encouraged.  If we are perfectionistic in our expectations then we will certainly become discouraged when our efforts don’t measure up.  Personal progress is a reason toContinue reading “Experimenting, Learning and Working Hard”

Values in Color, Values in Life

Some of our days, or seasons of our life, can be like dramatic contrast in a painting.  There are portions of brilliant light juxtaposed by deep dark shadows – the peaks and valleys of life sometimes run close together.  In my work in ministry there were weeks when we would both prepare for a wedding, withContinue reading “Values in Color, Values in Life”

The Joy of Mixing Colors

My painting teacher, Jim Faber (who was a wonderful colorist) said is that “in light there is all colors.”  So when we paint we can attribute color to places that we know, scientifically, are there even if we don’t wholly see them with our limited eyesight.  For example, we may see only a light yellowContinue reading “The Joy of Mixing Colors”

5 “P”s – The Fourth “P” is for Passion

When we work with passion there is a quality that draws people.  We may or may not equate with the subject of the passion, but people tend to appreciate someone who is enthusiastically working with their heart and soul.  It is evident, it shows. May years ago I submitted a painting (there is a detail ofContinue reading “5 “P”s – The Fourth “P” is for Passion”

5 “P”s – The Third P is for Process

This video shows the process of creating a painted wedding portrait from initial drawing to the finished painting. Process – so much in life is a process, but we live in a culture of the instant!  Technologically we have so much available to us at lightning speed that it seems very old-fashioned to submit to theContinue reading “5 “P”s – The Third P is for Process”