February news from my studio

Fantastic Results from the Mining Challenge!

A launch always takes a lot out of me, and doing the art challenge was no exception. I ran my free "Mining Your Photo Reference" art challenge in January, and I was SO pleased that over 350 people signed up to take it! The comments were amazing, including this one from Heather D:  "Amazing video! I knew I was missing something in my art. I couldn't figure out what I needed to do to get past painting just the photo and getting results that were only ok."  And this one from Joan W:  "I just finished watching the video. That is probably the best video I have watched on how to use your photos to construct the structure of your painting. You were clear, concise, and very thorough. Your examples were excellent using a variety of subjects. Great job! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills."  Comments like those really make all the work worthwhile, and I was so pleased to be able to help so many artists make their work stronger!  At the end of the challenge, I opened the doors to my 4C Artist's Network membership group and had 25 new members join, excited to continue to deepen their understanding of art with me. That doubled the size of the community, and I am so thrilled for what these talented artists will bring to our community. 4C is now closed until next January so that we can build and develop strong relationships with each other. We are doing a 2 month study based on Mitchell Albala's new book "The Landscape Painter's Workbook", which I highly recommend!

Inside The Studio

I was so excited to get back into the studio after a long 6 weeks of break due to Christmas and the launch. I decided to embark on a February 28 day challenge for myself to create a small painting every day for the 28 days of the month. I have so much art materials and half done work, that it was beginning to get me down, so my theme for the challenge was Using Stuff Up! Not that I will use up my stash in 28 days, or even 28 years, but it did feel good to make a dent in it.

These are little 6x6" gallery canvases that I had leftover from another project. As well, the images were ones that I had in my stash that I hadn't done anything with. I used the same palette for all of them -interesting how different they look yet they are all harmonious and would make a lovely grouping! If you are interested in seeing the rest of the paintings done this month, and to snag one of them before they go to the spring shows, I invite you to check out my Instagram feed or my Facebook Business Page, where I am posting them as I do them -there is even a video of me creating one of them!

Learn From Me

I am happy to announce that I will be having a new Levelling up group beginning on March 8. My previous group is still going strong -as a matter of fact, I suggested we did the 28 day challenge together, just for accountability!

Learn about Levelling Up HERE!

I hope you enjoyed this email and I will talk to you again in a couple of weeks. Please hit the 'mail' icon in the bottom of this newsletter to write to me about anything! You are important to me, and I want our relationship to be a two way communication. Blessings Sharon

My work can always be seen at these galleries:

Leighton Art Centre, outside Calgary Lineham House Gallery, Okotoks ArtMatch, online gallery Art In Canada online gallery As well you can find me on social media using the links below 👇 Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone you know who loves original art or is interested in learning to be an artist themselves!!

Share |

Tribute to A Teacher

I had my last class for the year for my mixed media students yesterday. They have been a wonderful bunch of curious and willing learners, and I owe them a debt of gratitude for allowing me help them on their art journey. As a surprise, one of my very talented students also seems to be a budding poet! Sally Hodges wrote and performed this poem with the help of Pat Davis (who read the lines in blue), and it was all I could do to not bawl.

Poem for Sharon Lynn Williams

An artist sat on a folding chair,

She held her paintbrush in the air.

“What would happen if?” she said,

And thought of the message on her fore-head.

“Repetition with Var-i-ety”

“This way I’ll find out what might be”

She said, never needing herself to coax

As she set to work with new, bold strokes.

“I’m gonna keep loose and take a risk”

Never had art seen one so brisk –

This lady was fast! This lady had powers!

And she painted on for hours and hours.

Now this artist took on lots of folks

Teaching them what was real and what a hoax.

She passed on her knowledge. She shared her skill

And taught that art needs people’s… will.

Her passion was contagious , her eye very sharp,

On the less than good she did not harp!

“Isn’t this exciting!” she’d often exclaim,

“We’re going to play the Waldo Game”.

So she mixed up quins and her favourite blue,

“Looking for the colours is what you do”.

“Now if you are stuck you simply say

‘What do I like, or not, today?

What do I need to leave or change?

Believe that you know how to gauge.

You can fix and change and choose

No rules of never, so there’s nothing to lose”

So her students worked ‘til they all could say

“How cool is that!”…like their teacher one day.

May 2, 2011 The Monday Mixed Media Class

"With our sincere thanks for all you have taught us and for all your encouragement. We have gone far beyond what we thought we could accomplish and have delighted in the process. We owe to you a large debt of gratitude. Thank you so very much."

Wow, I am in awe....

Enjoy!

Share|

"Leighton Trees ii", plein air oil painting by Sharon Lynn Williams

"Leighton Trees ii", plein air oil, 9 x 12"
$595.00 framed; FREE S&H

This is the painting that I did at the Leighton Centre's Annual Clothesline Show and Sale -you know -the night that the storms blew in, creating such sights as the girl with the red umbrella from my previous post! Needless to say, the lighting conditions were changing every few minutes, so this painting kind of evolved out what I thought were the best of the spectacle. Hope you like it!
Now I am a proud Mama! I just finished the last of my full year classes for this year, so I thought I would share some of my amazing students work with you. This is the last project from my beginners to experienced beginners class. Pretty impressive eh?

Enjoy!

Registration is now open!

I have just been informed that registration is now open to the general public for my next year classes. I will be dropping my Tuesday night watercolour class to give me more studio time, but will continue with the Monday and Wednesday classes. These are:

Paint Creatively with Watermedia! All Year -all levels-barcode 60729
Painting with Watermedia -All Year -advanced -barcode 60728
Watercolour -All Year -beginner to experienced beginner -barcode 60727

The course descriptors can be found on my website -please note these have been updated for next years classes. You can register by phone at 403-777-7200 (listen for the prompts), or online. PLEASE NOTE that these classes filled up in the first month they were posted last year, so please register soon if you are interested to avoid disappointment.
Hope to see you there!

The teaching year draws to an end

This pin was attached to a lovely gift given to me by my watermedia students yesterday. We only have one more class to go before the semester ends and then we will have until the end of October before we resume again. Most of us can't wait for the break. It has been a great year all around with lots of new learning for both students and teacher! To all of my wonderful students, I want to thank you for bearing with me, for stretching me and for blessing me with your friendship and you great art works. I hope that you will be able to take something meaningful with you that will help you be able to see and experience the world around you in new ways, and to see the possibilities that are there in ALL of life when you ask 'what would happen if..."
Thank you!