Jun 23

Thomas Schaller

"The medium of watercolor seemed ideal for this kind of light-infused, atmospheric and emotionally-charged story telling. And it still does."
A Moment with Thomas Schaller


Some Ways to Boost Creativity

I've been sent many articles with suggestions on how to amp up your creative juices. Try one?
10 Prompts to Spark Your Artistic Ingenuity
8 Ways to Boost Your Creativity
42 Art Prompts for Discovering New Creative Ideas
11 Ways to Be More Creative Starting Now


Loosening up your Style

Here's a couple of articles to get you loose as a goose.
5 simple tips for loosening up your drawing or painting style
5 tips for loosening up your painting style


Thank you Art Tutor and Artist Network for above links

Jun 16

Why Art Is Good For Your Heart 

Research has shown that as little as 30 minutes of drawing or painting can significantly lower cortisol levels (which is the biological indicator of stress) in your body and that lasts way beyond the time you were making the art. 
There are some additional links at the bottom that are also cool.
Why Art Is Good For Your Heart  
Thank you, Art Tutor


Violet

Some interesting associations about the worlds of purple. From industrial Pantone colors to the scent of lavender, a just for fun article about a secondary hue.
These Violet Delights
Thank you, Artists Network


Greg Gandy, Brandon Smith & Joevic Yeban

New Paintings
If you are interested in urban watercolor combined with a love of San Francisco, this is the exhibit for you!
Show: Jun 14 to Jul 2
Reception:  Sunday, Jun 17, 4-6 pm
Local Art

STUDIO Gallery 1641 Pacific (between Polk and Van Ness)
Thank you, Pat

Jun 09

New Line of Watercolors at FLAX

Introducing Limn Colors, available at the FLAX Oakland store starting June 9th, coinciding with our new intro to watercolor class. The producer is located in Oakland, so if you are into supporting local business, here you go!
Limn Colors
Putting Paint to Paper: Intro to Watercolor
Saturday, June 9, 2018
1 pm - 5 pm

Sherwin-Williams Paint Colors by Collection

I found this sight completely by accident and was going to move on to something else but clicked on the "Color Through the Decades" and had a lot of fun with those collections. Went on to the "Historic Collection" and "Lifestyle Collection" and just kept exploring.
They are, of course, talking about house paint and not watercolor, but I still found it a fun way to approach color.
Paint Colors by Collection
If you are digitally adept, you can upload a photograph and there is a component where you can actually play around with your color ideas on your computer, phone or pad.
Paint a Scene

30x30DirectWatercolor2018! 

I just received this notice, so it's a little late, but worth looking at. It is a just for fun challenge, no competition, just paint, paint, paint.
Lets do 30 Paintings in 30 Days!
Day One : #30x30DirectWatercolor2018
Thank you, Laurie

Jun 02

Mary L. Harden's School

San Francisco Botanical Garden Society presents Native Plants of San Bruno Mountain, New Watercolors by Artists of the Mary L. Harden School of Botanical Illustration. 
Reception: Thursday, May 17, 5–7 pm
Show: May 02 - Aug 31
Native Plants of San Bruno Mountain
Thank you, Janie


Two Hundred Years of Blue

The color blue and the planet’s elemental hue, the most symphonic of the colors, recurs throughout our literature as something larger than a mere chromatic phenomenon — a symbol, a state of being, a foothold to the most lyrical and transcendent heights of the imagination.
Two Hundred Years of Blue
Thank you, Roslyn


Add Simple Figures to Your Landscapes

It’s often the case that a figure or two, set in a landscape, can add a touch of humanity to the scene. This poses a worry for a lot of artists, because not only do they think that they need first class figure-drawing or portrait skills to make the people they add to the picture appear authentic, but they’re not sure about where to put them, or how big and how many.
How to Add Simple Figures to Your Landscapes - Part 1 
How to Add Simple Figures to Your Landscapes - Part 2 
Thank you, Art Tutor