New Site

Autumn Evening
8 x 12
Available at Albuquerque Museum Miniatures & More

I've just launched a new site devoted to my online classes and workshops. It includes not only class descriptions and schedules, but examples of the demos and instructional videos I use in the classes, resources, and much more. Click on over and take a look!

New 2011 Workshop!

OK, here they are in their sweet little tabernacle frames. They really ought to be switched around to be hung, but you get the idea.

I am really pleased to announce I'll be teaching a five day workshop in Taos, New Mexico next fall, September 19-23, 2011. The class will be held in a beautiful private home with two spacious studios that can accommodate up to ten students. You can go here for more information or to register. This is going to be fun!

New Classes & Workshops & Solo Show

I've just scheduled an online class -Painting the Luminous Landscape for January 8-February 5 , 2010. The class is limited to 10 students and usually fills quickly.

Here's the link for all the details about the class and registration (scroll down to Virtual Classes).

http://deborahparis-fineart.blogspot.com/2008/12/2009-workshop-painting-luminous.html

I have also scheduled an Advanced Class/Mini Mentorship to be held in April 2010 at my studio. I am very excited about this class! This program is limited to 5 artists (3 spots left) and attendance at a prior class is a prerequisite (or permission from me). You may register to reserve your spot if you have taken or will have taken a prior online class or workshop by April of next year.

Follow the link above for information and registration.

I am also happy to say that I'll be having a solo show in February 2010 at M Gallery of Fine Art in Sarasota, Florida. In connection with that I'll be teaching a five day workshop. The show opens on February 5 and the workshop runs from February 8-12. Contact M Gallery to register.

Spring Stream
8 x 10
Available at Deborah Paris Fine Art

Yesterday when I drove into town, I noticed that my neighbor's pasture was not only green but littered with new Angus calves. Today my pear tree is covered with blossoms. Spring is most definitely here. Even though most of the trees are bare and the fields are still ochre colored, that earthy spring smell is in the air.

I've spent most of this week getting ready for my virtual classes, the first of which starts tomorrow. There have been a flurry of sign ups this week, so there are just a few spots left in each one.

Hayfield Moonrise
10 x 12
Available at Deborah Paris Fine Art

Posting this image is perhaps a bit of wishful thinking. But the weather has been gyrating from one extreme to the other this past week- it was late autumn two days ago, spring the day before that, and winter today. Yesterday morning in the space of two hours I watched my rosebud tree go from bare to budding. Are the trees confused? I think not. Some deep sort of knowing keeps them in tune. I could use a little of that.


Last call for Virtual Classes- the first one starts this Friday.

Update: I've posted information on two virtual classes here. Both are four weeks and start in March.

More Virtual Learning

Spring Evening
10 x 10
Private Collection

I got some great comments on this blog about the post on virtual workshops and many responses from artists directly who expressed an interest in not only classes but one on one online learning. I'm in the process of designing several individual programs for interested artists which are tailored to fit their interests, needs, available time and technology. For example, one artist wants a once a week assignment and critique/discussion on a specific topic (color). Another is interested in learning about glazing techniques and wants a monthly assignment and critique. These individual courses will be geared to artists with some experience, while the classes could include beginners. I'm thinking that these individual courses can also act as a learning experience for me about what works best in online formats. I can handle about 4 of these at a time and I have two in the works. So, if you are interested in a one on one course tailor made for you or a critique of a body of work, please let me know.

Virtual Learning

Work in Progress
After the Rain 14 x 18

I laid in this painting about a month ago in preparation for the demo I did last month. The lay in sat around in my studio, and then this week the rainy sky seemed to provide the right idea to finish it. This is very rough-just the initial dry brush under painting and a first pass on the sky. I seem to be a little bit obsessed with fence lines and windbreaks at the moment, so there will be more coming soon I'm sure.

I've been thinking this week about how the art world- and more specifically, my little corner of it- is changing. The most obvious change is how virtual connections have expanded our opportunities as artists to show and sell our work. But, all this activity in cyber space also encourages new ways of learning. My husband has been bugging me to organize some sort of virtual workshop for artists who would like to study with me, but are not able to make it to a class here in Texas. I like the idea for several reasons. Although face to face learning is undoubtably the best choice, I know that often a workshop experience- crammed into two, three or five days- can simply be too much information, too fast. A virtual class would give me a chance to provide more written material which could be read and studied on the participant's schedule and video demos which could be viewed many times rather than just one live session. Right now I'm thinking in terms of a blog that would be able to be accessed only by registered students and would have links to written material, video demonstrations and images, and where students could post comments and questions. This could be supplemented by video conference calls using Skype where work could be critiqued and discussed.

I'd really love to hear from anyone who has had any experience with an online class, particularly one involving visual learning. What worked, what didn't- was it a worthwhile effort and would you do it again? Or, from anyone else with ideas! Thanks!

Last Train to Clarksville

Winter Crows

6 x 6
Available at Deborah Paris Fine Art

I have had a number of inquiries about the workshops I am teaching in March and April that start with the question-where is Clarksville and how do I get there? Another popular question is whether this is the Clarksville of the Monkee's song Last Train to Clarksville. The answer to the latter tells you a lot about the answer to the former. Clarksville is one of the oldest towns in Texas, having been established in 1833. It has the oldest extant courthouse and the oldest newspaper still in print in Texas. At one time Clarksville was a thriving town and a center of the cotton trade in this part of the southeast. There were about 14 cotton gins in and around Clarksville and a cotton exchange on the town square. The railroad came through the north side of town with a depot, and number of storage facilities and grain elevators at its main crossing. The town's fortune's began to wane in the 50s, and at some point, not only did the train stop running, but the tracks were actually taken up. Not exactly a vote of confidence about the future of Clarksville. So, by the time the Monkee's wrote their song in the 1966, not only was there no train to Clarksville, there were no longer any tracks.

Lately though, things are looking up. A beautiful renovation of the historic courthouse was completed a few years ago, and the town square was renovated and refurbished with a Main Street grant last year. The beautiful old brick buildings are beginning to be restored and an art gallery opened on the square last year. Recently the block on the south side of the square which includes the old cotton exchange has been purchased with plans to renovate it. And, there is a lovely B&B in an historic home a few blocks off the square. Still, getting to Clarksville can be a challenge. Needless to say, there is no train. Its located in the northeast corner of Texas, so its within driving distance of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana and about a two and a half hour drive from either Dallas or Oklahoma City (the closest large airports).

For me, the landscape is the biggest draw- lots of rolling hills, fields, ponds, big oaks and tall pines and a slow pace to life that allows me to explore them all. The workshops will be held in my studio on our property- a comfortable, easy environment for learning and painting, both in the studio and outdoors. I am looking forward to sharing them with my students this spring. Both classes are limited to 8 participants and are beginning to fill. So, if you are thinking about signing up- don't miss the last train to Clarksville.

2009 Workshop

For a number of years, I taught painting workshops from my studios in Florida and New Mexico, as well as locations around the country. When we moved, I decided to take a hiatus from teaching. I knew that my work was taking a new direction and I needed time for R&D. In the last couple of months I agreed to do two demonstrations in the early part of 2009 . That got me to thinking about how I would go about demonstrating and talking about my work and I also received a few inquires about workshops. I enjoy teaching and have always received excellent reviews from my students. Its something I take very seriously, so I wanted to wait until I was ready to put the required time and energy into a class. So, I've decided to schedule a workshop here at my studio in Clarksville, TX, March 28-29, 2009.

I've given much thought as to how to organize this class. Most importantly, I wanted it to be small enough that each participant would receive lots of individual attention with enough time for painting exercises and demonstrations. So, I've limited the registration to 8 artists. Here are the things I'll be covering in the class.

-edit and simplify the landscape for maximum effect
-create a strong under painting
-glaze and scumble to create luminosity
-choose and work with transparent colors
-create an interesting paint surface using a combination of opaque and transparent passages
-choose painting supports, tools and materials for indirect painting methods

Please contact me if you have any questions and also please pass this along to any other artists who might be interested.

You can go here to read more information about the workshop and to register.