Take 2! 4 Mile Creek Greenway at Piper Glenn

The Plein Air Buds will try again on Tuesday 1/22 at 1 PM for en plein air at the Greenway trail at Piper Glenn. Park at the nearby parking lot at Rea and Bevington Place. Wheel your art stuff on down the trail until you see the gang with easels and chairs and art stuff.

It will be cold... but no precip and sunshine expected. After an hour or so we can go to Starbucks to warm up and chat.

All artists welcome and free... except the coffee.

MAG Art Sale Going on at Presbyterian Hospital Matthews

Matthews Artists Guild will be displaying at Presbyterian Hospital from now until 2/15. We will take down the artwork Saturday morning on 2/16. Go by and take a look at works done in oil, acrylics, watercolor, pastel, colored pencils, photography, mixed media... just go look, ok? You will enjoy browsing through the beautiful works. And if you see something you'd like to buy, call the artist and arrange it. That is so easy. Get over there soon.

Take in for Presbyterian Hospital Matthews Art Sale Tomorrow

Matthews Artists Guild will be exhibiting and selling original works, as well as prints and giclees at the main lobby of the Presbyterian Hospital Matthews from 1/19 to 2/16. We anticipate over 30 artists participating. Stop by the hospital's main lobby and enjoy the guild's display. If you wish to purchase a painting, call the artist's number printed on the card next to the work.

For take-in, artists come to the main lobby of Presbyterian Hospital Matthews, 1500 Matthews Township Parkway, Saturday 1/19, from 10 AM to Noon. 
Bring in:

• up to 3 paintings labeled 
• the filled-out entry form (copies provided if you do not have it)
• fee ($15 for 1 work, $25 for 2 and $35 for 3). 

MAG members who are current on dues may enter works. You can pay your dues at the take-in table. 

Thanks to all our helpers: Jean Yates, Jan Herzog, Curtis Sloop, John Moeslein, Marcee Musgrove, Lindy Midkiff, TJ Yacenda, Joyce Fischer, and Jennifer Benson. And thanks to Presbyterian Hospital Matthews for allowing us to exhibit in their lobby again! 

2012 Exhibit at Presbyterian Hospital Matthews

Live Model Drawing Tonight

"Tom" by Jack

It is Wednesday and that means life drawing at the Matthews Community Center at 7 PM. All artists, 18 and older, are welcome. Cost? Depends on how many attend to split the model fee but it will never be more than $10. Bring enough cash for $4-10 along with your supplies a little before starting time 7 PM. 

Critique of the Critique in One Word? Excellent!

MAG is very fortunate to have many talented artists who share their expertise to benefit us all. Thank you to two such members, Russ Smith and Gene Lazo. The opening night of their critique was attended by around 15 fellow artists who are all accomplished and talented but just wanting some fresh eyes on works they feel were lacking. 

Russ, a professional representational artist with oils, and Gene, a professional photographer, took turns giving each artwork their assessment and then opened the discussion to the rest of the artists. Everyone gave and got suggestions, as well as encouragement. It was an enjoyable evening.

What were some of the observations and suggestions? Establish and maintain your painting's path. Don't block it and don't let it drop into an inescapable hole. Put the strongest contrast in the area you want the eye to go to first. Appreciate negative space and sometimes it is ok to leave it plain especially when your subject is enough to carry the work. Break up lines that are distracting. Make sure you are taking advantage of what's going on in the background. And sometimes your instincts are right on, despite yourself! 

Gene looking over artwork (smudged) brought in for evaluation

Russ explaining the critique process

Turn out was great for opening night of critiquing

Critiques are scheduled on the third Tuesday of each month. The next one is 2/19/13 at 6:30 PM at the McDowell Arts Center gallery rooms in downtown Matthews, NC. All artists are welcome and it is free.

Check out Russ's web site: http://russellsmithart.com
Check out Gene's web site: http://www.genelazophotography.com

Judy Mizell Workshop

Judy Mizell floral using pouring method for background

See more at http://judymizell.com/Judy_Mizell/Home.html

Lovely, isn't it? The background really does compliment the flowers beautifully. How do you make that background? Well, with Judy's method, one thing you avoid is a brush. It's all about pouring and choice of colors (staining and granulating). Want to learn how to do it? 

Come to her workshop 

Place: Matthews Community Center at 100 McDowell St. in downtown Matthews, NC

Date: January 24

Time: 1-4 PM

Cost: $30 for MAG members and $35 for non-members

Contact Nancy Kennedy at presenter@nc-kennedy.com by noon, Tuesday, 1/22 to be registered

Bring to class your check, a beverage and snacks to share and supplies listed below:

Wonders of
A Watercolor Pour
Workshop Supplies List

For this workshop we will be experimenting with pouring techniques so you will need some
staining colors and some granulating or sedimentary watercolors.
All the pigments listed are transparent,
an important factor in creating beautiful washes that won’t turn muddy.
You will need 
2-3 staining colors and
2-3 granulating colors
but bring in whatever you have-more colors will give you choices.
Be sure to bring in the tubes of paint for mixing the solutions, as well as your palette.

CHOOSE FROM THESE
Staining Colors:
Quinacridone
    Quinacridone Rose

Quinacridone Violet
Permanent Alizarin
Thalo (Winsor) Green
Prussian Blue
Sap Green
New Gamboge

2-3 Granulating Colors:
Gold Viridian
Ultramarine Blue or Violet
Permanent Mauve
Yellow Ochre
Raw Sienna
Burnt Sienna
Raw Umber
Burnt Umber

Brushes: Bring in whatever brushes you have, including
a large wash brush
and one for applying the masking fluid, preferably an old or inexpensive one

Paper: 140# cold press, 1 or 2 quarter sheets (11x15 inches) preferably Arches

Photo of your subject
If you’d like to get ahead of the game,
you can sketch out and mask the subject on your paper before the workshop.

Masking fluid (if needed)

Water Container

Misting bottle (if you have one)

Small Containers for paint solutions: 
For this technique we will be pouring solutions of pigment onto the paper
so you will need approximately 6 small containers to mix your paint in.
Empty pill bottles with tight fitting lids are ideal and
the unused portions can be easily saved.
Small plastic cups that come with laundry detergent will do,
as will most any kind of small plastic containers you find around the house.
You can purchase packages of small containers with lids at craft stores
but that’s not really necessary if you can find some reusable stuff at home.

An eye dropper or syringe (or even a drinking straw) 
is helpful for dropping a small amount of paint where you want it.

An old bath towel: to use on the table under your paper

Roll of Paper Towels!!! This will be messy but it’s lots of fun…

Paint Shirt or Apron

Plein Air Buds Cancelled Today 1/15 at 4 Mile Creek Greenway

It looks like rain! Let's try again next week... same location, Tuesday 1/22 at 1 PM. Starbucks? Yeah, we'll do that too after the painting. Hopefully better weather next week!