Hello
Welcome to the FLOAT-YOUR-PIGMENT Newsletter #186 Simple Design
This week I want to tell you about all the great things that will be happening starting in 2019. In January I will be heading back to Florida for 2 weeks to run many of the Dillman's Festival of Artists along with a workshop and 2 paint parties. I am working hard on finishing up the BeckerArt Tutorial Sketchbook and hope to get it finished by this summer. I am back to painting for The Never Forget, Armed
Forces Exhibition that will take place on the 27th of May. Last week I was offered the opportunity to take a few students to France on a workshop (see below if you want to join me). I am getting super excited about going back to Kanuga with a few students to get us motivated in our artistic endeavors. I still have spots left if you want to drive down to North Carolina with me... let me know if you want to hitch a
ride.
This coming Thursday the Lakes Region Watercolor Guild will have their December Meeting/Demonstration.
the demonstrator is Donna Jill Witty For more info go HERE
Yes to Class at the Civic Center in Libertyville, Thursday, Dec 13th 1 pm to 3:30 pm
Yes to Class at the BeckerArt Gallery in McHenry, Saturday, Dec. 15th 9:00 am to 11:30 am
Last week in my Thursday class we worked on simple designed paintings. I told the class if you are painting an object of any kind, for instance, a portrait or let's say a vase filled with flowers or even a reindeer, the easiest composition design would be to have the object light and the background dark or the object dark and the background light. This is the KISS method (Keep It Simple Stupid). Too many times we overthink the composition and designs of our paintings, keeping it simple
is always a great way to get a good design in your work.
KISS IT
David
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Dark Object, Light
Background
Above I painted in the light wash background.
| Light Object, Dark Background
Above I painted in the dark wash background. I also used masking fluid to keep my small lighted objects light
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Above I started painting in the dark wash objects.
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Above I started painting in the light wash objects. Took off the masking fluid.
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Above I continued painting in the dark wash objects.
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Above I continued painting in the details of the light wash objects.
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Above I finished off the details and added snow to cover the whole painting.
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Above I finished off the details and added snow to cover parts of the painting.
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Both finished paintings above are simple in design so that the background is opposite
of the foreground object.
Short Notice Workshop in Southern France
April 13th-27th
I have the opportunity to take a small group of people to southern France this coming April at a very reduced rate because of the short notice workshop. Read what the owner says below about this workshop venue and then if you think you want to join me, please email me at BeckerArt@gmail.com and I can get you in touch with the owners who can tell you anything you want to know.
I put links on many of the places he had listed in his notes below... WOW! I can't wait to sketch, photograph and paint these places.
Chris Georgas and Fabienne Montserrat say:
The Le Monastere vacation idea started as something uniquely for cyclists – which we do to this day. We started in 1995 and it was slow at first. However, in 1996 one of my former employees (I was a leader of a policy department in the Ministry of Finance in Ottawa (Like your Treasury) asked me if her mother could bring a group of artists to Limoux. I agreed, but under the condition that she would have to tell me what to do. Now, 23 years later I have taken the advice of
over 25 art teachers and me and my team have created I think the best operation of its kind, combining ideal conditions for creation and teaching. Most of our teachers, mostly from Canada and California, return to Le Monastere every second year. Our clientele for both artists and cyclists are entirely word of mouth. We don’t advertise.
We are based in the town of Limoux, in the middle of the province of Occitaine – about 60 miles from the Mediterranean Sea and the same from the border with Spain. It is the most interesting, both historically, geographically and culturally in France. It was the playground of Picasso, Gaugin and their contemporaries at the turn of the last century. It was the first foothold of the Romans 80 years before Julius Caesar conquered the rest of what is now France. It is where
the Troubadors began and is the heart of the legend of the Holy Grail and the DaVinci Code story. The oldest human remains were found here at the Caves of Niaux, with its 15,000-year-old wall paintings. There is much more and I will give you a list at the end of this note to google.
What do we provide?
Sites: Over the past 25 years I have – given the advice and requests of our art teachers – researched over 40 sites within 60 miles of Limoux. Over the two weeks, every morning I look at the weather for different sites and choose the best place to paint pleinair. All of these sites are interesting both historically and culturally. There is a variety of village scenes, flowers, and of course, landscapes – from flowering fields to the sea, canals, boats, rivers, mountains, abbeys,
castles and vineyards. Even if you aren’t an artist there are things to see, study and do. We have comfortable vehicles and a longstanding local staff to guide you. I like to describe myself as an artists caddy. I’ve learned a lot from our teachers over the years. Google these places to start with.. Limoux, Mirepoix, Lagrasse, Collioure, Minerve, Foix, Rennes le Chateau, Bugarach, Cucugnan, Peyriac de Mer, the Canal de Midi, Montsegur. Plus the 30 or so small quiet villages with fabulous scenery very close to Limoux.
Comfort: Our accommodation is four-star – Le Monastere ( for some pictures look at our site www.lemonastereadventures.com ) with five rooms (with en-suite bathrooms), wisteria covered courtyard, professionally lighted studio – and all dedicated to your group. If there are more than 10 participants we also have the Vine House (with its 100-year-old grape vine over one of the balconies.
Food and wine: We treat you like visiting friends. My wife Fabienne cooks regional dishes some evenings in Le Monastere and we take you to very good and very interesting restaurants other evenings. The wine in the region is excellent and we have no limits for the meals. Google Blanquette de Limoux, Corbiere wines, Minervois wines. All breakfasts are included and 12 of the evening suppers. You are on your own in the town for supper on two nights. Several nice restaurants.
Equipment and transportation: we provide you with easels, boards, water bottles, and chairs so you don’t have to bring your own. We pick you up in Toulouse on Saturday and we take you back there on Saturday.
WORKSHOPS and DEMOS in 2019
Dillman's Festival, Ft Myers Beach Art Association DEMO, Florida, January 26th
For Information Click Here
Dillman's Festival, Marco Island Center for the Arts DEMO, Florida, January 27th,
For Information Click Here
Marco Island Center for the Arts WORKSHOP, Florida, January 29th-30th,
For Information Click Here
Dillman's Festival, Dunedin Fine Arts Center, DEMO & Paint Party, Florida, February 1st
For Information Click Here
Dillman's Festival, The Villages, Demo & Paint Party, Florida, February 2nd
For Information Click Here
Morris Watercolor Guild WORKSHOP, IL, March 1st,
Information to come
France Workshop WORKSHOP,France, March 13th-27th,
Information to come
Dillman's Acrylic WORKSHOP, Lac du Flambeau, WI, June 3rd - 6th
For Information Click Here
Vermont Art Event WORKSHOP Classes, VT, July 29th - August 2nd,
Information to come
Cheap Joes WORKSHOP, Boone NC, Sept. 9th - 13th
For Information Click Here
Dillman's Watercolor WORKSHOP, Lac du Flambeau, WI, Sept. 23d - 26th
For Information Click Here
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Edward Hopper is one of those masters that did it all, both watercolor and oils.
Back in art school I studied his work intensely and was often told that my work looked a lot like I was studying his work, which was very true.
It is a great idea to go back and study the masters now and then.
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Get those Holiday gifts for those artist's in your life. They would love a set of 6 BeckerArt brushes!
I now have 2 sets of BeckerArt Brushes... they are the original set which includes the 1 1/4" flat, the #16 round and the #4 rigger. My NEW brush set includes the 1/2" flat, the 1/4" flat and the #8 round
Click Here to Purchase BeckerArt Brushes
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For any other info please email me at david@davidrbecker.com |
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