Painting Class Fun!

Hi Friends...

Thought I would share a recent class that I held on a lovely, breezy Sunday afternoon in my garage at home. It all started with two of my sweet nieces (age 9 and 26) asking me when we could do a "Craft Day" together.

  

I decided to make it a group by also inviting a few other friends and their daughters. So, we had a group of about 12 total. Because of the range in ages, I wanted to come up with a project that could be fun for everyone. So...the project was to create some amazing textural, abstract canvases.

 

I first asked them to just create texture on the canvas with no composition or plan in mind. I wanted them just to play with splattering, stamping, stenciling, doodling....mark making. They could pick whatever colors they were drawn to from my vast stash of craft paints. Some of them jumped right in without hesitation. Some did not want to even paint a canvas at all. They just wanted to watch. Once, I coaxed them along and they all got rolling...it was fun to just sit back and watch them all let loose.

The next step was to select some large stencils from a collection that I had hand cut and arrange them over the textural background. I had flowers and birds and general shapes. They were to use a stencil brush to go around the edge of the stencil and then paint over the textured background outside of those shapes so that the texture only showed through inside of the stencil shapes. Each person chose to use the stencils in different ways. It just kind of evolved. I had to reassure them that there is no right or wrong way to use them. They could create the image in whatever way it made them happy.

What I absolutely LOVED was how every canvas was completely different with the same instruction. I loved every one of their creations. Some were more orderly and soft...some, more crazy and bold in color. They were all really proud of the end product!

 

And, I am totally hooked on teaching this type of painting class.

I will be teaching this same type of class at the Art Bar on September 24th for The Arts Alliance. If you want to come play with paint and texture...check out their website at www.the-arts-alliance.org!! Remember...You do not need to be an "artist" to take the class. (I happen to think that there is an artist inside everyone!)

Cheers for now!

Lori
XO