I've been enabling children and adults alike to draw for more than a decade. It is not teaching. It is more like giving tools and opening eyes. The sessions for children are after-school a respite from the school day. The kids are always different depending on the day. The involvement in the explorations is high. When the whole group is quiet I know they have been engaged in the process. The sessions last for 4 afternoons and inevitably there is disappointment when they realize they are not scheduled to return next week. Adults looking to re engage in the process of drawing have other issues: time, family and that 3rd grade teacher sitting on their shoulder saying, "That's not a fish!" It takes courage to come back to drawing after that long. Over all, after 4 sessions with adults there is satisfaction - sometimes even follow through to continue - and the 3rd grade teacher has been vanquished.
All that to let you know there are afterschool Drawing Explorations for Winter scheduled for January 31, February 2, 7, 9, at LPCA . A second session follows later in February. Call 518-523-2512 and sign up your budding artist. Also a couple of adult workshops "Non-Judgemental Drawing for the Beginner" I love that title. Give drawing a try.
Tangled Contrasts, 14x11
Tangled Contrasts, 14x11
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
How to Get Out to Paint Snow
The last Saturday Plein Air Painters outing was in late October. It had been cold all month. I woke to snow, about 27 degrees, the first snow, wet, pretty - it was just covering the ground.
I had to go. Thoughts of a book and the fire did not deter me. Looked for long johns, wind pants-black-to absorb heat IF the sun came out, wind breaker, hat, Sorells, fingerless mittens-they're the best.
I am a pastel painter living in the Adirondacks of Northern New York.
Headed to the studio for my painting stuff. I planhttp://deleifheit.fineartstudioonline.com/worned to stick to small work, a sketchbook and oh yeah the umbrella.
Headed out to the arranged site a not for profit farm set in fields with the high peaks surrounding the view. This day the mountains would vanish under the wet snow hanging in the air. I was the first one there. No one else is on the property. The snow makes a shushing sound. Lots of wonderful compositions. Apple trees almost finished shedding brown leathery leaves. Rocks still warm from some ambient heat have snow caps, black and white. The snow had come in from the south, stuck to the sides of the trees - straight up. A murder of crows hang out on the long drive, keeping their toes warm I imagine. There is no snow on the road so it must be warmer than standing about in the snow-covered field.
The light low, obscured by the clouds, an amazing peaceful place.
I set up to get a small pastel done of an apple tree and split rail fence. About two hours into it one other brave soul showed up. I finished up - having gotten something in color and in my sketch book. The umbrella worked great - no spots on the work. We talked for a bit and she obliged me by taking some pictures of me at work. In the time we talked the temps rose and the snow stopped. The far tree line became visible but not the mountains.
I am only good for a short stint. I packed up and headed back to the studio. It was well worth the effort to get out to capture the essence of the first snow. I'm still revisiting those images.
http://deleifheit.fineartstudioonline.com/works
I had to go. Thoughts of a book and the fire did not deter me. Looked for long johns, wind pants-black-to absorb heat IF the sun came out, wind breaker, hat, Sorells, fingerless mittens-they're the best.
I am a pastel painter living in the Adirondacks of Northern New York.
Headed to the studio for my painting stuff. I planhttp://deleifheit.fineartstudioonline.com/worned to stick to small work, a sketchbook and oh yeah the umbrella.
Headed out to the arranged site a not for profit farm set in fields with the high peaks surrounding the view. This day the mountains would vanish under the wet snow hanging in the air. I was the first one there. No one else is on the property. The snow makes a shushing sound. Lots of wonderful compositions. Apple trees almost finished shedding brown leathery leaves. Rocks still warm from some ambient heat have snow caps, black and white. The snow had come in from the south, stuck to the sides of the trees - straight up. A murder of crows hang out on the long drive, keeping their toes warm I imagine. There is no snow on the road so it must be warmer than standing about in the snow-covered field.
The light low, obscured by the clouds, an amazing peaceful place.
I set up to get a small pastel done of an apple tree and split rail fence. About two hours into it one other brave soul showed up. I finished up - having gotten something in color and in my sketch book. The umbrella worked great - no spots on the work. We talked for a bit and she obliged me by taking some pictures of me at work. In the time we talked the temps rose and the snow stopped. The far tree line became visible but not the mountains.
I am only good for a short stint. I packed up and headed back to the studio. It was well worth the effort to get out to capture the essence of the first snow. I'm still revisiting those images.
http://deleifheit.fineartstudioonline.com/works
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