Art ideas for the New Year

The New Year is an exciting time for artists. Once your artists eyes have opened there are so many many things to capture and express on canvas!! If you have only done a few paintings or are ready to approach a gallery, the New Year is a blank canvas ready for our imagination.

I set goals within the first three weeks of Jan. and find much to my surprise,, many of them just happen to get done by the end of the year. I have three major areas that I work on, if I have too many I get bogged down. I am all for a balanced life a long as it is mostly art!!!

1. What paintings/juried exhibitions/events do I want to do.
2. What do I have to do to make this happen
3. What resources are needed-time frame, materials, marketing

The top two events for Hidden Talent are the Trade Fair held late March and our Mona Lisa Black and White held mid-April. I am also planning more glazing workshops for late spring.
Now is the time to look for images for next years Christmas cards. I tend to ignore this until I absolutely have to get one done. I am almost out of cards, so the pressure is on.....
What are your goals? Are they important to spell out? Do your New Years Resolutions usually happen? Leave a comment...maybe by just putting it down you can make it happen!

Art is CHOCOLATE for the Brain

Keep your brain fit and young with artistic pursuits!
Dr. Gene Cohen have studied our mature brain and found our brains are firing and working great when painting and doing other creative pursuits. The quick passing of time, the intense concentration and of course the fun, provide the ultimate workout for the grey matter.

Our regular painting workouts sprout new dendrites and seeking out new challenges is what keeps us sharp. This helps to prevent dementia!!!
Our brain develops a hunger for artistic activities as we age and these activities influence more connections between our two brain hemispheres or 'moving to all wheel drive'. Using our brain in a more synchronized way (using both sides of the brain at the same time) is like chocolate for the brain.
Great aging is linked to making art and we are in our 'creative age'. This researched landed the good doctor on the cover of Time Magazine. Well done!
When you have your chocolate, it boosts the immune system and ends up keeping the body healthy as well!
Just another great reason to come to class...see you there!

www.cbc.ca/thecurrent WEDNESDAY Nov.21 section 2

2007 Year End Thoughts

I would like to thank all the devoted and enthusiastic students that make up Hidden Talent Fine Art School.
It is such a joy to see your enthusiasm for painting, that bright smile when something 'clicks' and that wonderment as you stretch yourself further than you thought possible. The joy of learning, regardless if you paint for fun or for a gallery is the true reason to pick up a brush!
Thanks to you, the students, the reputation of our School is fantastic-friendly, supportive, encouraging. Thanks to all of you that make the atmosphere of the studio what it is and that brought snacks, tips and humour to our well regarded school. I appreciate all of you that have recommended the school to others. The joy of painting is greater when shared!

2008 will bring many events- We have our annual Trade Show the end of March, a great opportubity to showcase our talented students. The Black and White show will be held in April , and by request a GLAZING class in the spring.

The Emerging Artist Group is off to a great start. We are now up to 7 members and with unlimited lessons expect to see a huge jump in skill levels and inventory!

Do you have a special request? a good idea? some tips for me? just blog them to me! I'll get to them ASAP!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...I hope Santa fills your stocking with art supplies!
Laura

On Laura's Easle

I have a special blog on my art work at http://www.artbylaura.blogspot.com/ Have a peek at my finished 8x10...I just couldn't keep the color away from my black and white.

And MORE Black and White

Bonita has an exciting landscape from her holidays ready for the Black and White Show.

Looking for art in all the wrong places?

Try a back alley scene once the snow comes or an arrangement of Christmas ornaments. Remember that the ordinary things in your life make great art- plate of cookies or a basket full of sock, that Hawaiian Hula girl on your dashboard!

The wonder of art is to make the ordinary- extra ordinary!

Even more Black and Whites

Eric from the Young Rembrandts painted a striking butterfly to add to our collection for DaVinci's Birthday party. And so quickly...Eric, get your Mom to buy a few more canvases for Christmas and bring us some more!

A reminder...all the Black and White paintings will be shown in the Spot Light Gallery in April and will be for sale at the amazing price of $100 each.....

More Black and Whites

Look no further for inspiration! Ruth spent last weekend doing three watercolor entries into our Black and White Show. The flowers are fantastic and very rich...you don't even realize they are black and white. The big question is how did she get her background so dark? Ruth has also found an inexpensive frame to use in the show. Please ask me about it if you plan to do watercolors. We would like to keep the framework consistant.

All black and white paintings will be on sale for $100 at our opening in April.

Student Sucesses!

Congratulations! Marylou Olsen sold this painting at the St. Albert Painter's Guild art show to the City of St. Albert.

Congratulations! Melissa L'h was awarded a certificate, cash prize and ribbons from the Peace Hills International Aboriginal Art Contest! Melissa currently takes the 6-9 yr. old classes at Hidden Talent. Her painting is the Bear Spirit at the top.

Art Material Demo

Thanks Kim from Paint Spot - we learned so much about paint, brushes and varnishing! Lots of great door prizes and handouts! Visit Kim at her store on Whyte Ave. or High Street ( just off of 124st ).

Would you like to hang your art at her store??...she will have openings in Feb. and there will be a sign up sheet at the School.

An interesting comment-one of the watercolor students thought she wouldn't get to much out of our gallery talks during coffee break since most of us paint in oils. She was surprised at how much she has learned about composition and how it is effecting her choices for her next painting. During our breaks I am explaining Visual Fundamentals or as the English say a 'Foundation' course..

Want to know what the other students are up to???Be sure to visit http://www.laurawatmough.com/ for the latest student pictures and MORE balck and whites.

Is there anyone you know who might be interested in joining our school? Now is the time to have them register, before the Further Ed Brochure comes out in Dec.

Show and Tell

Who's painting at HTFAS? I have taken pictures of students working on their current masterpieces and invite you to send your 'Fan Club' to www.laurawatmough.com. If you know of anyone interested in starting art the Old Master's way, this is an easy way for them to find out what we are doing. Interested 'scared stiff and stick man drawers' are invited to drop in on a class.
There will be special drop in classes the first two weeks of December! Details to follow.

My New Toys

Every artist wants the ultimate carry all! We seem to collect alot of brushes, paints, tools and gizmos. With Christmas coming this might be the little hint you wish to pass on.

I managed to find this great storage box, complete with wheels at Costco for under $25. it has 47 pockets, at least and is very handy not only for travelling, but for organizing my reference photos, receipts, brushes, etc.

Do you have a favorite 'art toy'? Share your discovery and email me the details. I will post it for you!

Art Show Season

Thanks to all of you that attended the Urban Roots Show with the West Wind Artists. What a variety of art...we had over 80 pieces from contemporary to Realism. It certainly is a funky place to show at. We had a photo and a nice article in the St. Albert Gazette featuring the seven of us. It is open 12:00-4:00 most days.

October and November are filled with art show openings to attend. I enjoyed the Gallery Walk in Edmonton early this afternoon and visited with Cindy and Jim at Out of the Fire Studio on 124st st and Jasper Ave. I have a few pieces there (the rest are at Urban Roots and the Wood Gundy Show) and went to see how the turn out was....fantastic! If you didn't make it there this weekend be sure to drop by. Not only do they have great art, they also have beautiful glass pieces that would be perfect for Christmas giving.

We continue to get new artist joining us at Hidden Talent! Welcome to all of you and I know you will enjoy the atmosphere and great company that we have in the studio! The Winter 2008 Schedule is now ready and if you would like to reserve your place, please let me know. If you know of anyone interested in taking art lessons, please pass this info on and we can accommodate them before the Jan. rush!

Black and White Show Update

What a bunch of clever artists! We had cherries, portraits, shoes, animals, balloons, florals and a fountain! Many of us are inspired to do a few more minis after seeing how spectacular theses turned out!

We decided to postpone our Black and White show until April ( DaVinci's birthday) in order for new students to be able to participate and for the artists already participating to do more and larger (16x20) paintings. It will take a good number of small paintings to fill Spot Light Gallery. We want to make a big Splash, not a drip when we open the show. The same rules apply for the 16x20's.

When your paintings are done, bring them in to be photographed and put on the web site. You cans see some inspiring examples at http://www.laurawatmough.com/ under Galleries-Black and White

Free Photo to paint!

Paint this Free Photo!
I have had over 20 blossoms this summer on my two Hibiscus plants in the front framing area of the school. I must have 2000 photos! I would like to share one with you so that you can paint it at home if you like!

Why paint this picture?
My first thought is that this flower has motion and rythym. The composition is fluid and not boring. The negative space is varied and interesting. There are nice areas of light, and the highlighs are not to washed out. Love the colors!
Small changes...
I would crop the top closer to the flower and maybe leave a bit more space on the right side. Or else I could increase the space on the left. If I enlarge this photo, I would make sure that the leaf area was enhanced or lightened to ensure that I could see what was there.
What Size?
Try a longish rectangle and decide small or large. What about 24x36??? or 18x24? make sure you gesso the canvas twice and lightly sand between coats.
Colors
Monochromatic: Yellow Ocher, White and Light Red.
main colors: Cad yellow Light, Cad yellow, Cad orange, Cad red Light, White. Shadows: Add paynes grey, Perm Green to your palette. Experiment and add magenta and browns.

I retain my copyright but give you permission to paint this photograph in any way you would like. If you would like to sell reproductions of your painting, please email me for permission at lwatmough@shaw.ca

Art Answers
My newest blog, ready to help you with more fine art information.
This month: Photo tips for artists...
Check this out!
http://www.artanswers.blogspot.com/

Finally the Newsletter!

Finally...There has been major problems with the blog, but they are working on it. I see there are still a few glitches. Thank you for all the emails wondering where the newsletter was!

Summer News
I was asked to be the offical oil painting teacher at the Capitol Ex
( Klondike Days to us oldies). My sponsor was Kim at Paint Spot who did a fantastic job . Between the two of us, and my wonderful volunteer students we inspired many to 'pick up the brush'. That's my very supportive hubby( the one in the shirt!), Ed, making sure everything is going right!






Capitol Ex First Annual Art Walk
Barb Girouard, and Jeannette Sommers , members of the Emerging Artist Group joined me in displaying our art to the many people in the agricom at Capitol Ex. This was the first year and with help from Stephen Liley many of the bugs were ironed out. Congrats to Barb for selling her painting of birds.




Urban Roots

West Wind Artists ( a group of artists that I exhibit with on a regular basis) will be showing new works at Urban Roots ( Whyte Ave.) in October. Would you like an invitation? Please email with the words 'Wine and cheese' and I will send you all the details. We would be delighted to have you come!

Mona Lisa Club
We will be presenting a 'Black and White Show' in November...all 100 pieces will be the same size and same price, an affordable $100! and of course black and white with a touch of color. Please email the word 'Mona' for an invitation to a private art preview!

Fall Registration

Registration is currently being taken for the fall semester!

All classes start the week of Sept. 17th.

Adults

Mornings-Tues, Thurs and Sat from 9:30-12:30

Tues afternoon-12:30-3:30

Mon., Tues, and Thurs evenings from 7:00-10:00

Young Rembrandts

Mon. 7:00-9:00 or Thurs 5:00-7:00

Children

6-9

4:30-5:30 Mon, Wed, Fri
5:30-6:30 Tues

9-12

4:30-5:30 Tues

5:30-6:30 Mon, Wed Fri

call Laura at 419-2055

Emerging Artist Group

Would you like unlimited lessons? Want to learn to paint faster?Are you interested in learning about marketing and gallery shows? Would you like to take your art to the next level? We have limited spaces available for the right person! Call Laura 419-2055 for details.

Look for Glazing Workshops and photos of Hidden Talent Students at Capitol Ex at http://www.laurawatmough.com/

Painting Tip: Have you seen the new paint pushers? They look like short handled brushes but have different shaped pieces of soft plastic on the ends that let you sqeegee off run away paint! See Lee at Paint Spot on High Street to reserve yours now!