Models Needed for Life Drawing

Models are needed for the Wednesday night life drawing sessions at the Matthews Community Center on McDowell Street in downtown Matthews, NC. The sessions run from 7-8:30 PM. If you are interested, contact Nancy Kennedy at model@nc-kennedy.com.

"Tom" by Jack

Bill Colt Will Share his Collage Technique at 10/8 MAG Meeting

Bill Colt's Free Enterprise

Are you one of those artists that starts out a painting on fresh white clean canvas? Then are you ready to be totally blown away by Bill Colt!

Bill Colt, a Monroe multi-media artist from Monroe can't begin painting until he has added some "texture" to the surface made up of drywall compound (might see some plastering tools among his brushes), cheesecloth and... old commercial ads? Yes, he creates a collage of cut outs from newspapers, manuals, album covers, etc... on the heavily textured surface. Only after all this preparation is he ready to paint his subject. Cows, street scenes, cars and airplanes seem to be his passion.

Maybe his passion will inspire you to look below the surface of your art. What can you add beneath it all to make your art more interesting and fresh? Can't wait!

It all begins with social time at 6:30 PM on Tuesday 10/8 at the McDowell Arts Center studio downstairs. You know you want to meet Bill! The presentation begins shortly after announcements at 7 PM.

Bill's web site: http://www.billcolt.com

Plein Air Buds Will Be at Copperhead Island 10/1

View of Lake Wylie from Copperhead Island

The Plein Air Buds will be at Copperhead Island Tuesday morning 10/1 at 10 AM for some informal painting/sketching/photography outdoors. All artists are welcome to join in. There is no cost. Bring a sack lunch and some water bottles. We will meet at the parking lot. There are restrooms nearby. Weather looks to be fine... nice!

Check out directions and more info on Copperhead Island here: http://charmeck.org/MECKLENBURG/COUNTY/PARKANDREC/PARKS/PARKSBYREGION/SOUTHREGION/Pages/CopperheadIsland.aspx

Critique Night Tonight with Russ and Gene

Gene Lazo and Russ Smith discuss pastel work

Why come to Critique Night? 

Well, do you want to improve your fine or photographic art? Would you like new fresh eyes to help you see what you've been overlooking? Is there an artist that could not benefit from the help of other artists, expecially from the likes of Russell Smith (professional oil painter) and Gene Lazo (professional photographer)? 

Get on over to the upstairs gallery of the McDowell Arts Center tonight, Tuesday 9/17 at 6:30 PM (latecomers never humiliated). Bring in 1or 2 works for encouraging evaluations or just watch... but, why do that? Be brave and hear what may be of great help to your art. MAG is all about encouraging the arts and artists! We are all about helping to improve local art. 

Another reason to attend? It free and open to all artists. Enough said. Join us!

People's Choice Award Goes to...

Suit of Deceit by Alex Whisonant

Alex Whisonant's Suit of Deceit won the People's Choice Award during the Matthews Alive festival. No surprise. It is not only vibrant but interesting. What is she trying to tell us with those figures climbing the stairway within the tie?

Over 500 votes were cast for 102 out of the 127 works entered in the Matthews Alive Art Show. Everyone should feel like a winner.

Holly Glasscock Demonstrated the Secret to Quick Painting is in the Preparation

Holly Starts with pale lavender sky on cadmium red light underpainting.

"Visual Vivance" is what Holly Glasscock calls her musical painting performance. She says, "The music has to be lively." Why? It makes Holly paint freer and quickly. She has to finish the work in 45 minutes! When the music ends, so does the painting; that's her goal. 

She starts with a drawn image on gessoed masonite covered with a cadmium red light underpainting to complement the green landscape. Her palette contains cool and warm hues of different colors with Dioxazine Purple thrown in.

Her subject for this demo was a landscape with cows. Two photos were used as references. She used Photoshop filters to simulate squinting for one photo, which simplifies the scene to show light and dark areas. The other photo was just a regular shot that may have manipulated shadows and highlights. She also mixed colors to match the colors in the photos before painting and painted dabs of matched colors on the picture. By the time she is ready to paint, she is fully prepared and can easily paint the landscape quickly... in 45 minutes. And for Holly, her haste aced a great painting. Bravo! A memorable demo!

Holly saves the cows for last.

Great attendance for Holly's demo.

Beautiful and finished by the end of the meeting.

Thank you, Holly.

Holly holds classes at her home for beginners or advanced students. You can find more information at her web site: http://hollyglasscock.com/http___www.hollyglasscock.com/Classes.html. 

Thanks to Eric Casaburro for donating his video skills during the demo. 

MAG will have Bill Colt as our guest presenter for our October 8th meeting.

Plein Air Buds Will Be At Treehouse Vineyards 9/17

Yvette at last plein air outing at B&B in Matthews

Tuesday, 9/17 at 11 AM the Plein Air Buds will venture out to Monroe for a paint out at the Treehouse Vineyard. All artists are welcome. There is no charge.

The vineyard offers a wine tasting and tour for $6. You get to keep the wine glass. If you would like to join in on the paint out and/or enjoy the wine tasting and tour let Debbie know at magart2009@gmail.com.