Zentangle Workshop

Well I had over 40 people attend the workshop! The studio was packed. Everyone seemed to be having fun creating. I gave everyone a small sample of some patterns I thought they would enjoy. The bottom right is an original pattern I call "elephant knees!"

Illustration Friday submission, theme is "tail"

Here's my submission. Drawn in colored pencil. You can buy the Christmas card here if you're interested: https://www.etsy.com/listing/84361080/reindeer-spotted-deer-christmas-card-5-x?ref=shop_home_active

I will be offering new Colored Pencil classes in February, 2014 if you are interested!

A free Zentangle Workshop and 2 art classes

Free Zentangle Workshop, Dec. 7, 2013

Seacoast Artists Association

225 Water Street, Exeter, NH 03833

(603) 778-8856  •  www.seacoastartist.org

Zentangles are miniature pieces of unplanned, abstract, black and white art created through a very specific Method from an ensemble of simple patterns on a 3.5-inch square paper tile. The process helps you to focus on each stroke and provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well being. The options and pattern combinations are boundless. Zentagles are fun to create for both kids and adults. I will go over the specific process with you and demonstrate some of the paterns you can use to fill in your individual tiles and show you how you can shade in or color your pieces.

2 hour workshop from 2-4pm on Dec. 7th, 2013, right before the start of the Santa Parade. 

January 2014 Zentangle Drawing Class

Seacoast Artists Association

225 Water Street, Exeter, NH 03833

(603) 778-8856  •  www.seacoastartist.org

This class is for those of you would like to learn to create Zentangles. Zentangles are miniature pieces of unplanned, abstract, black and white art created through a very specific Method from an ensemble of simple patterns on a 3.5-inch square paper tile. The process helps you to focus on each stroke and provides artistic satisfaction along with an increased sense of personal well being. The options and pattern combinations are boundless. Zentagles are fun to create and provide a source of peace and meditation in your busy day, while create beautiful art. I will go over the specific processes with you and demonstrate the paterns you can use to fill in your individual tiles. You will also be shown how to color your tiles. 

What to bring: Sakura Pigma Micron Pens, size 01 (0.25 mm). White BFK Rives Printmaking Paper, 26 x 40 inches, or a similar high quality sheet. We will fold and tear them into 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch squares durng the first class. For coloring your tiles: colored pencils & pencil sharpener or watercolors with a very tiny brush (size 0 or 1 works well), or fine tipped felt pens. A #2B drawing pencil and a gummed eraser. Minimum class size is 3. Class size limited to 7.

Class starts: Tuseday, January 7th, 2014, and runs 8 weeks, 10:00 to 12:00 pm. Cost is $135.00. 

To hold your spot please mail a check directly to:

Revelle Taillon, 26 West Pine Street, Plaistow, NH 03865. 

For more information you may call 603-382-3397 or email Revelle at rtaillon@comcast.net. 10% of each tuition is donated to the SAA Art Scholarship Fund.

Class will be taught by Revelle Taillon, member of the Seacoast Artist Association. She holds a BFA in graphic design and illustration and has been teaching for over 3 years. She has worked in just about all mediums. Revelle’s Blog has samples of her work and technique: www.revelleimagemaker.blogspot.com

January 2014 Drawing Class

Seacoast Artists Association

225 Water Street, Exeter, NH 03833

(603) 778-8856  •  www.seacoastartist.org 

Have you been frustrated because you never learned the tricks of the “drawing” trade? Have you painted for years but never really learned to draw? Time to learn something new? Something that will improve your hand-eye coordination, slow aging and grow your brain connections?  

Anyone can learn to draw with the tools I will teach you & lots of practice. Break down objects into their basic elements and shapes, see their edges, notice positive & negative space & composition. Blind contour drawing can enhance your understanding of how to render what you are looking at in a realistic manner quickly. Practise shading & start to understand perspective. Learn the dimensions of the human face and work on a self portrait. Make drawing practice an enjoyable part of every day and you will become comfortable calling yourself an artist! 

What to bring: Small sketch book for daily practice, black fine tip markers such as Staedtler pigment liners, 1 medium black marker, 3 colored markers or colored pencils (any colors), a ruler, a small inexpensive paintbrush, a  9” x 12” Strathmore 400 Series Drawing Pad, kneaded eraser, white plastic eraser, blending stumps, drawing pencils. Minimum class size is 3. Class size limited to 6.

Class starts: Tuesday, January 7th, 2014, and runs 8 weeks, 12:30 to 2:30 pm. Cost is $135.00. 

To hold your spot please mail a check directly to:

Revelle Taillon, 26 West Pine Street, Plaistow, NH 03865. 

For more information you may call 603-382-3397 or email Revelle at rtaillon@comcast.net. 10% of each tuition is donated to the SAA Art Scholarship Fund.

Class will be taught by Revelle Taillon, member of the Seacoast Artist Association. She holds a BFA in graphic design and illustration and has been teaching for over 3 years. She has worked in just about all mediums. Revelle’s Blog has samples of her work and technique: www.revelleimagemaker.blogspot.com

About my Learn to Draw class in Exeter NH, Oct. 29, 2013

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About my new Colored Pencil class in Exeter NH, Oct. 29, 2013

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New classes

I'll be holding 2 new art classes at Seacoast Artist Association in Exeter, NH starting October 29th. One is Learn to Draw and the other is Colored Pencil. Each class runs for 2 hours and is 8 weeks long. If you are interested, shoot me an email and I will send you a flyer!

"Do Not Disturb"

My two elephants drawing is finally complete and is hanging in a show at Seacoast Artist Association. I'm including some more of the steps I did before I got to the final piece. I used both graphite and charcoal, smudging along with a stump to keep my fingers off the piece. I did a lot of research before I settled on the background. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. All told, I probably spent over 20 hours on this piece. I'm including some detail shots also. Final size is about 8.75 x 11.75 inches on Canson paper. My title is "Do Not disturb" because I believe all animals deserve dignity and to be left alone in areas where they can thrive. I want my great great great grandchildren to still be able to appreciate their beauty and dignity when they grow up.

When I start a drawing, I look closely at what to leave in and what to take out, what changes to make overall to the composition and how to make it more unique. I love working on the animals eyes and usually change them somewhat. With these guys, they were just big black dots so I added in detail after researching close-ups of elephant eyes. Google makes it so much easier to find reference material. Never just settle on the photo you have in front of you. Make it your own. You'll be happier with the results.

So I start my drawing laying out the large shapes and outlines of the animal in pencil, turning my paper around several time as I go to be sure I have the positive and negative shapes correct. Then I usually start on the eyes and then start adding light details, which I will later build up in layers. I have my trusty gummed eraser in case I get too dark or want to bring out some highlights. It's all very relaxing and meditative, no matter how many times I draw. I just love it. Time flies by and I loose all sense of time. Enjoy!

Illustration Friday theme: Hidden

I created this drawing in colored pencil and then added the snow in Photoshop.