I am happy to share that my painting “Lunch in Les Beaux de Provence” 23” x 24” oil on canvas, just won 2nd place in the 6th annual Lake Country Art Competition!!
Read moreLunch in Les Beaux comes in 2nd place
Old Loudermilk Mill came in 1st
Old Loudermilk Mill painting was chosen for first place
Read moreNow Selling EGift Cards online
Cycling along the Seine
“Zipping Around Paris” 16 x 20 Oil on Canvas. My first painting from France.
Sharing Dawnartstudios on Instagram!
Happy Holiday Cheer!!
I can’t believe It’s already this time of year. Wow, 2018 has flown by. Colony Square is celebrating the season with a Festival of trees. The reveal party is Nov 30th from 4 - 6. What is a festival of trees you ask? 30 uniquely painted holiday trees + barricade walls designed by local Atlanta artists displayed this holiday season (November 30th - December 28th). Plan your trip here during this holiday season to The Square and join us for the big reveal party.
Fun for the entire family, explore the colony of trees and barricade walls, meet the artists who designed these beautiful works of art, enjoy live holiday tunes + entertainment, holiday s'more stations, kid-friendly and adult beverages provided by Sunshine Alchemy, and more surprises.
Get There in Style!
Sketching out new bicycle paintings always makes me happy. I have a friend in The Hauge that allows me to paint from his awesome photos. You really should check out his work. It Kevin McPeake at Haagse Fiests Chic https://www.facebook.com/haagsefietschic/ It would be a cool adventure if we could arrange a show together.
There are so many great bicycle painting I want to paint, I'm trying to be fast and furious and paint one in a day and at least one a week!. Go check out Kevin's site and see if you can pick out the photos I'm using for references..
DawnArt Studio Kitchen Makeover
Here's what I have so far. I ran out of finished wood for the back splash, but it will be up soon. Very excited!!
Read moreLet the remodel begin!
Studio bathroom remodel has started! Before the tub and toilet fell through the floor, we decided to pull everything out and replace the sub floor and update the space. You can see in the first photo, just how bad the floor is. Now I need someone to come over the help me get the tub out of there!!!
Celebrate Local Artists
Celebrating Local Artists!! Join us June 11th, 2:30 - 5:30
The Tuesday Night Studio's 13th anniversary show at the Limelight Gallery in Binders Art Supplies. Don't miss a chance to meet all these wonderful artists and celebrate their accomplishments. We will have live music and a wine tasting as well.
Decatur Arts Festival this Weekend
Decatur Art Festival is this Weekend!!
I've been painting up a storm and have a lot of new work to show. It's May 27 - 28 Sat 10 - 6 and 11 - 5 on Sun. The Art show is on Ponce deLeon and you can find me in booth #70, In front of the old courthouse. More info here
Classes and Workshops
Tuesday Evening Painting Studio
Tue, July 11 - Aug 6:15pm - 9:15pm 4 Weeks $140,
Painting Techniques for all levels
Wed, June 21 - Aug 2 10:00am - 1:00pm 6 Weeks $225.
Plein Air Retreat Coastal North Carolina **2 spaces left** Thurs, Oct 12 - 15. 3 nights lodging and some meals included. Check in Thurs. - check out Sun afternoon. $485
Paint Yelapa Mexico Feb 3 - 10 6 Person Max.
6 Day painting retreat. 5 night lodging, breakfast each day, one dinner party. Check out photos from my Jan 2017 trip here
Join me in celebrating local artists thisl June 11 2:30 - 3:30 at the Buckhead Binders Art Store and Gallery
Take Control of Your Paintings: Class Recap
Here is a short slideshow of last weeks demo. One of my students brought a painting in and asked me to worked on it. We decided to take it a different direction. Taking out the sky and adding trees in the background. We talked about making area recede and changing the way the light moved through the painting. Need a few finally touches. I can talk about that this week. Take a look if you have a chance. Let me know if you have questions,
Dawn
Get the most out of your paintings
Techniques class 1 Recap
By taking the time to work out your design and values before hitting the canvas can make the experience more enjoyable and result in a better painting. If you haven't decided where you are going with the painting or what are the most important elements, you can spend most of your painting time trying to work through all that and it will show.
Here is a recap of what we covered in class today. Working from a photo, create as many gesture sketches as needed until you are happy with the design. These need to be fast and are meant to help you work through your ideas about the composition. Make as many adjustments as you need. Next step, create a value painting using black, gray, and, white. By taking away the color in a study, it's much easier to see what is going on in the painting. Again, make any adjustments to make a stronger painting.
In this example, I am working from several different photos.
Below are my initial gesture sketches. The wagon is the focal point and the house is just the back drop. But in my first sketch the wagon is a minor player. I switched to oil pastel and tried agin. It wasn't until the 4th one, I came up with something I liked. I finally made the wagon the major part of the painting. I was able to work through this in about 30 mins. That's the beauty of a rough drawing, just keep tossing them out until you get a good one.
Gesture sketches for wagon painting
Next week - block in the painting with color.
I often will do this step in acrylic so that I can make quick adjustments before starting with the oils. When you"re happy with the overall design and color palette, it's time to paint!
Blocking in color for wagon painting
All of this took under and hour, and the time and struggle it will save for the rest of the painting will be well worth it.
We will work on blocking in the color in next weeks class.
Second week making color notes.
Below you can see the next steps. Making color and value decisions.
Until then - have a great week!
Dawn
Hope to see you out there.
Happy fall, Dawn
Art Framing - Using Spring Clips
I know I've always said I'd never make videos, but after giving a talk at the Eatonton Art Guild, there were a lot of questions on how to use the hardware I recommended. I just happened to be in the studio framing that day, so a no frills video seemed like the easiest way to explain myself!
Hope you find this helpful,
Dawn
PS this is where I order my spring clamp American Frame
http://www.americanframe.com/products/wood-picture-frame-spring-clip-f9100.aspx
DIY Palette Box and Wet Panel Carrier
As I am getting ready for the 3 day painting retreat at The Parker Ranch in Clayton, I thought I would share this earlier post on how to build a palette box. If you are handy, it's nice to make your own! - Dawn
In a recent Plein air workshop, one of the students asked me to share how I made my palette box and wet panel carrier. Of course I've had that on my to do list for months, but that was the motivation I needed to get my to sit down and work on it.
A portable palette box and wet panel carrier for plein air
I typical paint 12 x 16 when working plein air, so I made the bottom of the box large enough to hold that size once I put the sides on. 13x 17 plus the handles. Once I had the back cut out, I cut out the space that will go around my tripod. I used the jigsaw and drill with a spade bit to make this cut.
Now I have base of the palette box, I made the sides. I used 1/2 inch oak for this and cut them to size using the miter saw. Next I cut a block to bring the handle up to the same height as the sides. Now I put an adjustable bracket on the handle that will hold it on to the tripod.
This is a close up of the handle. I mitered the top piece so that it can easily slide on to the tripod and the tension will hold the box in place. Also, it can be adjusted if I ever change tripods.
Time for the folding shelves. I made two sides for the shelves first to make sure I had the measurements right, then cut the panels to make the tops. Glueing and nailing them to the frames
Okay ready for the hinges. I ran four small hinges down each side.
Here's the completed box. I put blocks on the back as well with enough open space for me to guide the panels in. I have clips on the sides that will hold the panels in place. It will hold 2 panels facing each other with plenty of space between them to keep them from touching.
I also stapled elastic to the sides, that holds my palette knives, brushes and small tubes of paint. Then put mirror hangers on the sides and attach a shoulder strap and voila!!
Okay, there you have it. I hope it's helpful
Thanks Megan for motivating me to actually do this. Let me know if you have any question!
You've Come Along Way Baby!!
I started this one back in June. I was on a plein air trip with friends in my favorite painting town, Elizabeth City, NC, when I found this little gem. Back in the studio, using the plein air study, photos, and memory, I set to work to make my master piece. Months passed. A tweak here, and a tweak there....and there...... It was so close but still needs something.
Well, today, I might just have it! This might just be the day! I think I finally have it pulled together.
If you want to paint this great spot with me in October, I still have 3 spots left in my painting retreat Click HERE
Yoga in the Studio 30 Day Challenge
I've been missing my yoga practice for a while now. Classes are time consuming and honestly too strenuous (for me ) to keep up on a daily bases. So I decided to give myself a 30 day yoga challenge .
I found a 30 day yoga series on youtube, Yoga with Adriene. I really liked the first one. It has an easy pace and she has a comfortable teaching style. I told my friend Suzi about it, she decided to join me. Yay, It will be a lot more fun and we can keep each other honest!
I'll start my day with a 30 min yoga video and post here. - the videos - not me !! We just started Day one, but I have the first 5 days below. I'll keep adding as we go along. Maybe you'll find one you like or do the challenge yourself! - Dawn
Abrams Falls in the Studio!!
I am finally getting around to finishing my plein air studies from the Great Smokies! I have so many wonderful starts, I need to take time in the studio to finish all these ideas. On of the best parts of getting back to these - it takes me right back to the day I was out painting and everything that day.
Snow Day!!
Another bike painting for you. During the winter months, I become obsessed with capturing the variations of grays around me. Here a painting of a dedicated cyclists traveling in a snow storm with style. If I could be so dashing on my bike!