November News

From Laura's Easle
Sun Sisters
40x60
I enjoyed painting this majestic floral and I think this is my new favorite size. Flowers have long appealed to me- they are a powerful reminder of how to live your life. Just like a flower, life is short, colorful and fantastic, and eventually you will bloom!
As the Greeks once said...Art is long, Life is short.

Hints and Tips
Painting Large: A flat table was helpful when painting the Irises, as I could lay the painting flat and work from the sides to the middle. This helped me to paint the top of the Irises as I could easily reach the top from the sides.
Whiter White: For you highlight, add a wee bit of Cad. Yellow light to your white. The warmth of the yellow will bring the white further forward and it will look brighter.
Best Artists Website for November
www.artrenewal.org. This site is very pro realism and has an immense amount of information on it! Enjoy!

News from Hidden Talent
Critiques - Mona Lisa Club - Student Art Show - Jan. Registration

'At Home' Picture Critique Sat. Nov. 18th 1:00

Bring your painting projects from home for a group critique . We will go over basics and I will help you with the next step. Cost $10

Mona Lisa Club

A group of us will paint Mona Lisa but with a twist. This will be an at home project with only a few meeting for guidance from Laura. We are hoping to have a gallery show in the spring with all the unique Mona Lisas...any size, any shape, any pose, any color, any era, etc.

Our first meeting will be Sat. Dec 2nd at 1:00 Please have Mona drawn out and your monchromatic started if possible. ( file available) There will be no charge to belong to the club or for the meetings. Call 419-2055 if you are interested. Many thanks to Heidi for taking on the job as our coordinator!

Hidden Talent Student Art Show December 16th

The high light of our fall session is the Winter Art Exhibition of student art on Sat. Dec 16th from 1:00-4:00. All students are encouraged to show their art and invite family members and friends to see the awesome art produced by Hidden Talent students. Plus you get to see all the paintings from the other classes!

Drop off of framed paintings will be prior to Thurs. Dec. 14th, so we have a day or two to hang. Many times this is the first opportunity for artists to show in a ( friendly) gallery setting. All paintings will be available for pick up Sat 16th at 4:00 to take home for Christmas. Check with Laura for more info.

Registration for January

Current students only may register for Jan. session until the art show (when registration is open to all). A post dated cheque or a visa/ mastercard charge will hold you space and place.

Interested? Take a look at www.myartschool.blogspot.com and www.laurawatmough.com

October Artist Newsletter

'On the Spot'
2nd Annual Great North Paint Out
Thanks to a few brave artists we had 19 plein air paintings to exhibit.
The Alberta members of the Oil Painters of America hosted the well attended event and would encourage you to come and vote for your top three picks. The votes will be tallied on October 20 and the winner of the People's Choice Awards will be announced then.
Participating artists are Cindy Revell, Doris Charest, Shail Honey, Laura Watmough, Barbara Girouard, Heidi Ferguson and Susan Burris.
Many thanks to our sponsors Delta Art, Swinton Art Calgary, Raymar Panels, Source Tek Panels.

Framing Tips
When framing you art work think about whether the viewer will go into your painting, or will what's in your painting come out to the viewer.
For example, choose a frame that curves inward if you have a scenery or still life that the viewer can 'visit'. The frame edges will be closer to you than the painting.
If you have an animal/person in action, choose a frame that brings the action to the viewer and the painting is the closest to the viewer with the frame receding towards the wall.

A Special Invite...
The Alberta Society of Artists is showing 'Moments In Time' at Red Strap Market, 97 st and 103 Ave ( the old Army and Navy Building) , a juried show featuring artists from across Alberta. There are 25 artists and 47 pieces juried . The opening reception is Sunday Oct. 15 from 2:00-4:00. There will be refreshments served and musicians will add to the ambiance. Laura will exhibit two pieces there and would love to see you!


Tips on Color Mixing
Making Great Darks
Darks are important to the structure of the painting. Most artists lay down the darks first, in order to judge the other color/values and keep them pure. It is easier to lighten a value or color than to darken a value or color.
Transparent Dark...Sap Green, Alizarin Crimson and Thalo Blue in equal amounts.
Landscape Darks...Ultramarine Blue + Burnt Sienna OR Prussian Blue and Burnt Umber


Top Web Site for Artists this Month
Great Grids of Any Size for Artists!

Fantastic Phyllis found this web site and it's a great one! If you ever wanted a graph of any size this is for you. Easy instructions help you print out a grid, then just photocopy the grid onto a transparency, or let Staples do it, and voila! You have your own grid to use in class!!!
www.incompetech.com
Do you know of any artists websites that I can pass along? Send them to lwatmough@shaw.ca and I will post them!

Laura's September Newsletter

Mountain Art Retreat

I was fortunate enough to be part of an all inclusive, art intense week with John Banovich, the famous African Wildlife artist! Our hosts, Jamie and Denise Soule from Wild Streak Art in Penticton have raised the bar so high, I doubt I will ever have such a great workshop experience again!

There were many LCM ( life changing moments) for the students as John was most generous and kind in his critiques, helpful hints and gentle pushes down the path of professionalism in ART. His passion for art, as well as preservation of African wildlife was inspiring. I recommend that you visit his web site www.johnbanovich.com

I have many new friends and am looking forward to sharing our progress with each other. I plan to feature their websites so that we can have a glimpse into the workings of the wild life artist! They are a different breed altogether. The Okanogan artists are very creative in their marketing approaches as well! Watch for Valerie, Beve, Ramona, Bonnie, Texas Cindy and others!

Laura Watmough's September Newsletter

Laura's latest efforts have been a large waterlily and a large ( 48x60) Iris.
"I am painting heritage plants, the plants that you Grandmother or Great Aunt gave you and you have passed along to the neighbor's down the street. It seems that these plants are our roots literally and we take them from one house to the other when we move. I have some wonderful ferns from MEME, my mom's mother and glorious peonies from my MOM that I must have taken a thousand pictures of. Inside I have a shamrock plant that is indestructible from Grandma Walsh and a Christmas cactus from the Quinton's Grandmother. This painting is done using the glazing technique that allows the colors nearest the canvas to still peek through the top layer.


This month painting is all about getting outdoors and capturing the colors of autumn on canvas. Plein air painting is great fun and an even better excuse to be out enjoying the last warm days left in the year. Laura, Doris Charest and Shairl Honey , Alberta members of the Oil Painters of America will be hosting the second annual Great North Paint Out Sept 15,16,17 9:30-12:30. This plein air/social event is open to all Alberta members in all mediums. Meet at Hidden Talent for a map of painting locations and plan to visit at lunch in a local restaurant. Advanced registration is required. Gallery Show opportunity for Oct.!
Book your calendar for OPENING NIGHT FRI.SEPT. 29 @ 7:00

Hidden Talent Fine Art School was fortunate enough to host a DOUG SWINTON plein air workshop in late August. Here are a combination of tips from Doug and Laura.
Start withdrawing your subject with burnt sienna or burnt umber( Doug says to throw bs away and Laura LOVES it....Try it and see for yourself!)
Use thin paint first...Thin with ecohouse and paint the shapes. Remember a maximum of 5 shapes in a painting (Sargent's rule). Thicker paint is added last...if using Liquin, this will help your paint slide over a wet area and is great for details.