A New Project

When my workshop group was here (a month ago-I can't believe it!) several of them asked if I had considered doing a book. I replied I didn't want to do a "how to" but that I would like to do a book of images. I even went so far as to download the Blurb software about a year ago but never got beyond that. So, Lisa McShane suggested that I needed a virtual assistant. What a great idea- me here in the wilds of northeast Texas and he/she who knows where!

So a week or so later I Googled "virtual assistant" and came up with pages of listings including whole groups devoted to promoting their members. Who knew?! After a little looking around I found someone with the skills I thought I needed and a few emails later-voila! Virtual Margie (I kid you not) and I were ready to start working on the new project.

So, this is the cover. The book will have about 25 images - mostly paintings but also some drawings- and some text which will be largely taken from posts over the last couple of years on this blog. I wanted to include some of my writing about art, art history, poetry, and my work. Sadly, I wasn't able to get permission to reprint some of my favorite poems, so those will be missing.

We are nearing the finish line with the project. I hope to have it done in the next week or so and definitely by the time I leave for Telluride in late June.

Speaking of virtual things, I have posted the summer and fall schedule of online classes here.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Drawing & Painting Trees

Southwest Corner
7 1/4 x 8 7/8
Vine charcoal on Strathmore 500 paper

For landscape artists, trees are arguably the most important raw material of our craft and art. Their very individual character, their attitude as living beings within the landscape make them a source of endless fascination and challenge for the artist. Artists in the 19^th century routinely sketched and painted studies of these sentinels of nature in order to understand their structure as well as their artistic bearing. These drawings and studies were then used to create larger studio works.

I have a new online class scheduled- Drawing and Painting Trees. I plan to structure it as an online atelier for the study of this most important subject. You can go HERE (scroll down) to read more and to register. Class is limited to 10 students - 3 spots left!

Sunset Pines

Sunset Pines
11 x 14
Available at Galerie Kornye West, Ft. Worth, TX

This is one of several smaller pieces in the Little Gems holiday show at Galerie Kornye West on December 4. If you are in the Metro area, stop in and see me!

Just 4 spots left in Section II of the Painting the Luminous Landscape online class in January. Info and registration here.

Update: Class is FULL

Online Classes & Workshops

Although my online class Painting the Luminous Landscape starting in January is full, I'm opening up a second section of the class (each section is limited to 10 students) because I've got a number of people on a waiting list and others who have expressed interest. The dates are the same as Section I. So, here is the link for information and registration - 6 spots left!
Update: FULL

There is also one spot left in the Advanced Workshop at my studio in April. Here is the link for information and registration (scroll down past info on Florida workshop).

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.

New Online Classes

I've just scheduled two new online classes. Here is the link for more information and registration.

An Excavation

Evening Pool
12 x 12
Available at Deborah Paris Fine Art

Most of this week I've spent preparing for and working with my online classes. As always when I teach, I am learning a great deal. Aside from the horror of watching myself on video, there is much to be gained by having to explain yourself to your students. One artist in my tonalism class commented this week that the process (indirect painting) felt like thinking backward. The more I thought about that, the idea of an archaeological dig kept coming up, except in reverse - building the painting from the ground up, but all along keeping in mind what will remain visible (transparent), what will be hidden (opaque) and what will be obscured at some point in the future -creating an optically complex surface which suspends all those layers in a single perception. The viewer is, hopefully, excavating visually, peering through layers of paint and time.

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!