Figure Drawing Open Studio Woodstock GA

I'm excited to announce that the open figure drawing studio sessions are starting again!

Every Tuesday night August - September 2015

(No Session on September 22nd)

Model schedule still in the works but so far...

August 4th - Mike

August 11th - Melanie T.

August 18th - Michika

August 25th - Ellie

Painting with Casey Baugh

Last week was the third week that I got to watch and learn from modern master Casey Baugh.  And I am still learning from this man!  He did some awesome demos, showing off some new techniques, and even using different brushes than the last time we worked together.  I posted some of the highlights on my Studio 81 Facebook Page.

So here are a few of the paintings I did in between adjusting spotlights, fetching fabric, filling jars of thinner, changing radio stations, stocking water bottles, and helping out in any way I could :)

I'm most pleased with the top two - I actually really enjoyed the back view on top.  She held the pose beautifully, including the draped hands, and the light on her shoulder was very subtle. The palette in the second one was minimal, and therefor the focus was easily kept on her face.  The bottom two are a little too saturated, and forced.  I don't think I was relaxed!!! But good practice none the less :)  I'm already looking forward to Casey's next class in June 2014.

Figure Drawing Master Class with Michael Mentler

I am THRILLED to announce that "The Bone Doctor", Master Draftsman Michael Mentler will be coming to Studio 81 in December 2013.

Mr. Mentler is a prolific and gifted artist and a force as a teacher.  I feel like I could write ten paragraphs on why I think his work is so fabulous...but for now I will sum up why I think his work is so IMPORTANT -

Artists need an understanding of geometry and anatomy in order to take their work to the next level.

That's it.  I really believe that, and Mr. Mentler embraces both of those vital elements in his work.

This class WILL fill quickly!  Register via Michael Mentler's website - The Society of Figurative Arts -
today!

Figure Drawing Master Class with Michael Mentler

(The Figure in Dry Media)

December 2nd - 6th 2013

Location: Studio 81:Portrait and Fine art by Kristina Laurendi Havens

8594 Main Street, Woodstock 30188 

(2nd floor)

10-5 Monday - Friday

Aaron Westerberg Workshop Atlanta 2013

I am very excited to announce that Aaron Westerberg will be holding a portrait and figure painting workshop at my place, Studio 81, in Woodstock this October.  Aaron is a highly accomplished painter and has been published in numerous Art magazines.  He was on the esteemed staff at this years' Portrait Society of America Conference in Atlanta, where I had the pleasure of speaking with him in person, watching him paint an alla prima portrait, and I got a very helpful critique of my portfolio.

Aaron is a direct and engaging artist, and this will be a very full week of painting.  On Monday, Aaron will paint a portrait demo.  On Tuesday, the class will paint a portrait.  Wednesday, Aaron will demonstrate a full figure painting.  Thursday and Friday, the class will paint from the full figure.  The model fee is included in the class fee.

Class will meet every day from 10-5  Lunch will be one hour a day, and the studio is in walking distance of a dozen fabulous restaurants

 To register visit Aaron's website.  If you have any questions, please contact me.

Class is already filling up so register today! 

What does "alla prima" painting mean?

I have to admit, I had heard the painting term "alla prima" many many times, and never stopped to think about what it really meant.  There are several definitions of alla prima out there, but the most succinct definition I have heard is "all at once".  Which means you consider everything and cover everything in your painting in one sitting.

On a recent visit to my parents' in Western New York, I was lucky enough to attend a one-day class with my mother at a studio where she regularly takes painting classes, Partners in Art in North Tonawanda.  This was a one day class on "Alla Prima".

I have done many many paintings in one sitting in the past, but it was wonderful to be on the student side this time!  I really enjoyed watching the teacher, Joan Horn, demonstrate and work with her students.  I have also learned a lot about setting up effective learning and work stations in my own studio!  She's been at it since 1995, so I feel very privileged to have seen her classroom space, one that has been refined and improved continuously.

So Joan got us started by having us tone a canvas with a pretty generous amount of sepia toned paint and thinner.  This layer was left to dry for a few moments while we watched her block in her initial shapes.  SHAPES - NOT line drawings!  We looked for the mass of the objects right away.  (STOP DRAWING! Was shouted across the room several times once we got back to our easels!)

After lightly wiping our pre-stained canvas, the goal was to block in all the shapes.

(my mom starting on her pot and peppers!)

Very thin paint.

Keeping the paint thin, we mixed a very dark dark and blocked in ONLY the darkest darks.  My set up was very light, so I only had a few spots to block in.  These shapes were more specific, and we took our time to make sure they were in exactly the right spot, because everything else was to fit around these initial shapes.

Keeping the paint thin, we blocked in the background colors and local colors on the objects.  The colors should be close, but don't spend too much time mixing the colors - the goal is to cover the canvas with as close as possible colors to make sure your tones, values, and temperatures are harmonious.  Our brush was pretty dry, and we scrubbed the color into the appropriate areas.

Once you were happy with the initial layer of thin paint, it was time to go back and add in some more details and highlights with slightly thicker paint.  Hopefully, if the initial massing in and the drawing in of the darkest darks were correct, all of the other pieces of the puzzle should fit together nicely.  My total time in front of my easel was probably between 90-120 minutes.  In the past week or so I tried a couple more alla prima still lifes in my own studio - I'll share those soon!

Painting in the studio...

I've been painting a lot.  That happens every May as the children approach summer vacation.  I'm in panic mode: too many ideas, not enough time to paint them all!  And to make it worse: I keep taking MORE pictures and getting MORE ideas!  I can't even finish a series of paintings before I want to move onto the next one.

Deep breath.

In addition to some of these you see here, I'm finishing a few commissions as well, and starting new commissions next week.

Let me know if you'd like to babysit so I can finish :)

From Wednesday night.  Lovely model posed like she's on a very boring date.  She's holding a glass of red wine.  The working title is "Boredom Buster"

The MOST fabulous young lady was walking near my art studio and I forced myself to go up to her and ask her if I could paint her - isn't she wonderful?!

Then when I was shoe shopping this adorable pose was struck by a mom and her baby girl - she's actually laughing in the picture because that's a really awkward position when someone shouts out "Hold it! I have to paint that!" and then it takes me three minutes to turn on my iphone camera...

And when I'm not painting, I'm teaching - and my students are doing so well!  A couple works in progress...

Studio Shelves are Being Built!

I'm excited to share a little progress made in the studio today! However it's not a painting - it's shelving for individual work stations and supply storage.

I love the studio - there is SO much space, great light and a lot of walls to display work.  However, after a year of showing my work in that space, I have only sold one small original painting during that time from showing it on those walls. Truth is: the space is great for creating and teaching, not so much for selling (partly because it is on the second floor...no window shopping!)

A few weeks ago, I visited a studio where my mother is taking classes in Western New York.  There was one room that really struck me as a great painting space - the walls were lined with individual cubby holes for still life set-ups, and artists had work stations in front of each spot.

The whole room made me want to paint - the work stations, the wall-to-wall colorful props waiting to be utilized in a unique still life, the fact that you had storage for all of your supplies...and that you were part of a group of artists all painting together.

So this week I (with the help of one of my fellow artists!) Started to build a similar set up in my studio.  I will be losing wall space, but very little floor space, and I will be gaining work stations, still-life display areas, and LOTS of storage!

So that's just the first wall!  The large square will be where artists can set up their personal displays - they are about 3' square, so you can imagine tall displays or long displays.  There are spots for folding chairs and folding tables to be tucked out of the way, and lots of shelves for storing a myriad of glass, flowers, knick knacks, pots and fabric to use in our still life set ups.

The second wall should be done this week, with an additional 4 work stations and lots more storage for paintings and supplies. Happy dance :)

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