Art Blog

http://www.richmond.ca/culture/artists/art-awards.htm

Thursday May 29, Phoenix Art Workshop was awarded the Business and Art Award of the year.  Thank you to Teresa Chow, one of our customers who nominated up for this recognition - Also thank you to my wife Roxanne who went to city hall to accept this award on our behalf.  OH YEh I would like to thank the academy and my wonderful Staff.

If your interested here is the acceptance speech Roxanne read at the ceremony.

My apologies for not being able to attend this evening’s ceremony as I had a prior commitment to teaching.

Congratulations to my fellow nominees for recognition of their important contribution to the arts in Richmond.   All contributions to the arts in my opinion should be recognized as an important and necessary element to the collective tapestry which makes up our community’s identity and culture.

Thank you to the City of Richmond and the Richmond Arts Coalition for this “Business and the Arts Award”.  It is a great honour to be recognized in this category.

The last 12 years in business have provided me with many opportunities to consider the important symbiotic relationship between Business and the Arts, as well as the opportunities and contributions of creative thinkers in business.  The competitive advantage in business is often identified as the ability to think creatively.  Creativity is often thought of as a singular quality.  In fact, right brain thinking is so much more comprehensive than that : Curiosity, critical thinking skills, passion, persistence, observation, and braving change are just some of the characteristics of this important attribute of business development.

As a matter of fact, creativity is the only asset that I could depend on when budgets were tight, money was scarce, time at a premium and resources were thin - creative thinking has been the lifeline of my business many times.

With continued cut backs to programs supporting the right brain development, the responsibility weighs heavily on our business and artistic community to nurture and inspire creativity. It is hard to image that in today’s world of higher learning and education, that in this information age we are still content only to develop half a brain.

For all of us in this room who understand this, keep up the good fight to keep funding for the arts alive.

Thank you all

Without access to the internet in Cuba, these pictures had to wait until I got back home.  Here is a little sample of some of the work I did while in Cuba.  Over all this excursion produced some nice work by all the members in our group.  In Havana we started off at Hotel Seville, with a stunning classical spanish colonial style courtyard lobby, perfect for our morning meetings and early evening cocktail hour.  With two of our guests arriving a day late due to a missed connection in Toronto and two other guests without their luggage ( thanks Air Canada) our first couple of days were a bit broken up but we managed to keep a stiff upper lip and find ways to enjoy the excitement of Havana.

This little pen and watercolour study I managed to complete toward the end our our two weeks.  First I inked in the drawing in pen made some colour notes and painted it back in the comfort of our Hotel Lobby.  Mostly because i was in full on sun, out of water and dead thirsty for a Mohito.  I liked the feeling of this active neighborhood behind the Capitolo Building in Old Havana.

This is definitely one of my favourite pieces of our trip, partially because of the memory of painting it was so wonderful.  Sitting outside our regular cafe in Trinidad close by Plaza Major, I spotted this character posing for tourists photos on the casa step just beyond our table.  Once again I started with a very quick pen drawing thinking I might not have very much time, but our elderly model was perfectly content to just enjoy the moment listening to our friend Israel serenade us on his guitar with both traditional latin music, as well as his unique version of some of my favourite beetles tunes … in Spanish of course!  When the drawing was complete and Israel still full of music, smiles and good humour I found myself completing this piece using the dregs from my cappuccino… mmmm I love this one - nice memory with my friends Belinda and Helen.

This quick little painting was done from the comfort of our little perch on the deck of our China town restaurant … yes thats right China Town in Havana.  This is a little noodle shack just opposite China town and I think I manages to capture the street atmosphere with this brightly painted wall and Cubans enjoying a quick bite.  I love the red wall in this!

This street scene I painted from across the street in the comfort of an enclosed restaurant patio with only my new friend .. a Trinidadian Artist who was fascinated by my painting kit and full of questions about my life as an instructor, shop owner and artist in Canada.  He was so careful not to interrupt me while I painted but with each break for a sip of beer he blurted out yet another question.  A lovely guy actually and I enjoyed several beer with him after my painting and joked and laughed the afternoon away.  Another great memory attached to painting on location.  NO wonder I love this life!

Another street drawing in Trinidad, this drawing was made after a wonderful lunch at the home of our lovely friend Marisol - Marisol made a wonderful lunch of fish, shrimp, rice and salad with sweet potato to die for ….mmmmm!  Anyone wanting to go to Trinidad staying at Marisol’s Casa paticular is a must.  Feeling completely content and buzzing just a little from the lunch wine I stumbled ( literally) across this scene which I just had to stop and draw … It is not the best photo of my drawing but I love the poses of this impromptu Domino game … actually I think this is my favourite piece from the whole trip because it captured the moment and mood of the afternoon.

This drawing was a very quick drawing of all the action at the beer taverna in havana where we spent our last group dinner.  There was such a great atmosphere with live music, dancing and lots and lots of beer and great friends.

This drawing was my first of the trip .. a little stiff but there are elements I like about it … the crooked tour not being one of them.  Oh well - I still like the solid structures as a backdrop to the organic shapes of the figures and the parasols.

I’m hoping to put some more photos and some of our groups painting up in the next few days.  But I think these will give you an idea about why we love painting and traveling to all the exotic countries we do.

Modern Art Mondays

Term Two:  “The shift to New York”  

with Mark Glavina

Mondays 7:00pm - 9:30pm

January 25 - March 15

$165.00

This acrylic painting workshop is planned for those artist who have completed an introduction to acrylics or have attended session one of our Modern Art Class.  Last term we explored the art which inspired the Modern Art Movement, beginning with the Impressionists and the inspiration of Paris on the art world.  This term we will look at Post War influence, America and New York as the centre of art.  Students enjoy the stimulating environment of painting with a group of peers, inspired by great art movements while being instructed by an experienced, passionate and energetic teacher.   With Mark Glavina’s guidance, students explore a variety of painting techniques, ideas and concepts as well as subject matter inspired by these famous art movements.   For those feelings anxious about taking a painting class, put your fears to rest… this class is is the perfect place to experiment and make new discoveries, enjoy a hands on adventure through modern art and to bring out your creative spirit.  Please see our Store Blog for supply lists and ideas for you painting kit:  www.phoenixartworkshop.com/phoenixartblog

 

Watercolour 202

with Christine Guenard 

Tuesdays 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm 

January 26 - March 15

8 sessions - $165.00 

For those artists who have been exposed to watercolours and want to learn more…  Don’t think you are quite ready for an intermediate class but have passed the “this is a brush”  stage?  Christine will guide you through a series of painting projects, teaching you techniques and skills in a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. If you have done this class in the past, Christine has new projects each session so you can continue to learn new techniques each week. If you have never painted before you will be exposed to all the essentials of watercolor painting and develop your knowledge and confidence quickly in this class, project by project.  

Please see our Store Blog for supply lists. 

www.phoenixartworkshop.com/phoenixartblog

 

Introduction to Acrylics

Wednesday 7:00 - 9:00pm

January 27 - March 17

8 sessions - $165.00

Designed for the beginner artist as a basic introduction to this versatile and exciting painting medium.  Students will experiment with paint, textures, and colour,  and also will be introduced to both traditional painting techniques and contemporary techniques like collage, photo transfers and various texturing mediums.  On completion, students will have a good understanding of this exciting medium and its possibilities, how to apply paint and mix colour, and will learn about the creative process.  Please visit our Store Blog for a complete supply list and outline of this exciting painting class.

www.phoenixartworkshop.com/phoenixartblog

 

 

Intermediate life Drawing 

Mark Glavina

Thrusday 7:00pm - 9:00pm

10 weeks  $195.00

This Class is primarily for those students who have some experience in drawing but want to take their drawings to a new level, improve their drawing skills (particularly with the human figure and the portrait), as well as understanding composition and design.  Students will learn about proportions of the human figure, understand and experiment with gesture, contour, value and volume while drawing with charcoal and other drawing material.  8 model sessions are included with the fee - please see the Supply list and class outline on our store blog:   www.phoenixartworkshop.com/phoenixartblog

 

Open Studio with Annie Tsai 

Friday Mornings 10:00 am - 12:30 pm 

January 8 - February 26 

10 sessions  - $185.00 

This painting class is designed for beginner and intermediate painters working independently in oils, watercolours, or acrylics while being guided by artist Annie Tsai. In this studio-style class students are required to supply their own materials and subject matter of their choice.  Annie teaches on a one on one basis, helping students with the challenges and techniques related to their project. Through numerous in-class demonstrations and a hands on approach to teaching, students quickly gain confidence in developing their painting.  Note: Annie will be out of town for the second half of these classes and Mark Glavina be the instructor for the second half.

 

Sunday Open Painting Studio 

non - instructional

10:00 am - 2:00 pm 

January 14 - March 28

10 sessions - $120.00 

Join this open studio where students can come and paint 

with the support of their peers!  This is a self-directed painting 

session with limited seating - past students will have priority to 

come and use the studio space, develop their skills and share 

ideas and challenges with other artists. 

 

Sunday Session Life Drawing 

6:30 pm - 9:30 pm 

Feb 7 - March 28

8 sessions   

Drop in sessions $12:00

Join us for this series of life drawing sessions with some of the lower mainlands best models in and environment that is beyond compare in a beautiful large well lite studio with full lenght mirior backdrop to ensure ensure a great vantage point every pose. poses range from 1 min to half hour and drop- are welcome!

Saturday Workshop

with Chris Charlebois

 9:30 - 12:30

Saturdays  January 23 - March 27

$ 225.00 10 sessions

Join us Saturday for what has become a long standing tradition here at the workshop.  master painter Chris Charlebois leads this exploration in Oils and Acrylics. This class is organized as a on on one instructional workshop with Chris assisting, demonstrating and encouraging students with their individual painting projects.   Students should have some painting experience and arrive for the first class with their own supplies and some prepared subject mater.  We are very fortunate to be able to bring Chris back for theses inspiring workshop where he demonstrated his palette knife and impasto techniques.  inspired by Riopple and Klimpt, his landscape paintings come alive with emotion and life.

 

Colour and Design Workshop

Mark Glavina

Fridays February 12, 19, 26

7:30 - 10 pm 

$75.00 (3 sessions)

The Colour Workshop is back - with out doubt our most popular and dynamic workshop for the beginner or the very advanced painter you are going to learn a ton about colour.  This three night workshop students will discover the interaction of colour , how to mix and design with colour and paint for more powerful compositions.  These classes are into two parts - theroy and practical hands on experimenting with colour relationships. 

All materials and supplies are provided in this three night workshop.

Youth Classes

Introduction to Art and drawing

ages: 9 -12

with Bronwyn McIvor

Tuesdays 4:00pm - 5:30pm

February 2 - March 23

8 sessions

This class for young people from the ages of 9 -12 will introduce to students a variety of art techniques, mediums and subject matter.  Students will be guided through the process of image making, drawing and developing their ideas and concepts learning art terminology and the power of the visual element. Some supplies are required. Some supplies are required and many are supplied as we explore printmaking, animation, collage, and painting techniques

Art Explorers

ages 7 -10

Thursdays 4:00pm - 5:30pm

February 4 - March 25

8 sessions

This class for young people from the ages of 7-10 will introduce to students a variety of art techniques, mediums and subject matter.  Students will be guided through the process of image making, drawing and developing their ideas and concepts learning art terminology and the power of the visual element. Some supplies are required and many are supplied as we explore printmaking, animation, collage, and painting techniques.

Youth Master Class

ages 13-18 

 with Mark Glavina

Wendsedays 4:00pm - 6:00pm

January 27 - March 31

10 sessions 

This is an advance workshop for young artists with a keen interest in art. Students must have established drawing skills and a positive attitude. Emphasis for the class will be placed on content, developing skills in acrylic painting and design, while in a mature studio setting.  Students will experiment with a variety of techniques, concepts and mediums and are required to have their own supplies and be ready to develop their own project ideas.

I can’t remember when I enjoyed teaching a group of students more.  With such a big class I felt a little pressed for time most nights; adding another hour to the class worked well, but still I wish I could have spent more time with you as individuals.  I was so impressed by what you all were doing - such a variety of work and so thoughtful.  I’m hoping you learned as much from one another as you did from me and I look forward to seeing you all in the next session where we will explore post second world war Modern Art.  This Monday I hope we will all get a chance to relax and enjoy each others work, as usual I will be there at 6:30.

Because our group is so large, I have decided to extend class hours from 6:30 to 9:30.  Come when you can leave when you must but the extra time will give me a chance to spend time with everyone, review their projects and help with technical challenges.  If you get a chance to email me or post a comment on the blog I would love to hear what you are all thinking in terms of your projects … It will help me prepare as well!

Happy Thanks giving

see you all on Monday

I’m hoping you are not all overwhelmed by the huge  ”Modern Art”  journey we have just undertaken.  I think a Journey is a great way of describing our class as I am asking you to walk in the shoes of some of the greatest artist of the 21st century. I think we all must be familiar with this saying “Until you have walked in my shoes, please don’t judge me”  … I am asking you to put yourselves in the shoes of  some or one of those artists.  Imagine you are Picasso, Cezanne, Klipt, Matisse or one of the many great Modern painters.  Along with the help of your class handout, research  the lives of artists, their subject matter, their movement, ambitions …. and recreate their experience in Paint.  IT IS A HUGE CHALLANGE!

Here are some things to think about to help you in your journey.

Read a little about the artist or movement

this link may help you get started (please don’t forget your other life responsibilities, home family work- we don’t want you to become completely obsessed to the detriment of your significant other but hey, a little passion never hurt anyone.

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art-timeline.htm but there are hundreds of other resources on line or even the public library.

1. Outline why you think this Artisit/Movement was significant in terms of the History of Art: 
2. Artist or Movement: 
3. Artist Concepts:
4. Common Themes/Subject Matter:
5. Style:(painting techniques of the artist/movement,  tendencies  of the artists/movement, colour pallet, scale).
6. What materials will I need?  (Keep in mind we will be using acrylic paints-acrylic paints have only been around since the 50’s so we will substitute acrylics for oils and I will help you get around some of the challenges of this in the classroom environment.)

All great painting are well designed, and good design starts with a good concept. Spend most of your preparation time thinking about a clear concept… we will deal with the other preparations during classroom time. Please come to our third class prepared with a clear idea ( or several ideas if can’t decide).

Please post your comments or questions here and have a quick look at the previous post on Design

Mark 

Good luck fellow Artist

To help you with your planning for your term project - please read the following thoughts on visual communications  and the impact of design elementsiand its relationship  ” Human Perception”.

How do we perceive visual information? Well that is not a simple question to answer as human perception is not a constant. There are many influences which determine how we see and interpret visual information; there are cultural influences, economic influences, sexual influences etc. For simplicity; this discussion we will set aside the physical mechanics of how our eyes and brains actually translate light into visual information and we will focus the aspects of human perspective that are more generalized. So we will deal with “Norms of Human”  perception and in this format I should add …. rather superficially.

In the visual picture plane large shapes appear closer than small shapes ( all other elements being equal), in other words we perceive the larger shapes appear nearer to us than the smaller shapes. Dark shapes appear closer than light shapes, shapes lower on the picture plan appear closer than ones higher in the picture plan. The shape of a circle is calming, the square strong and rigid, the triangle implies direction; Straight lines make our eyes travel across the picture plan faster than curved lines. We will look at more of these as we explore other relational design elements and how they effect visual problem solving.

Please consider that not all the elements of design are constant and that there are many other components influencing human perception. For example : In Western cultures we have a preference for visually entering the picture plan from the left, conversely in Japanese culture, influenced through reading from right to left would tend more to enter the picture plan visually from the right. It fair to say that men have a different perspective than women based on their life experience and cultural influences and religion, politics, age can have a large impact on our perception.

Basic human instincts play a huge role in understanding human perception. Modern art has embraced these ideas and with the maturing of psychology and the theories of Sigmund Freud the last hundred years in painting have illustrated this relationship like no other time in the history of art. Matisse and the Fauves were instrumental in exploring these relationships in particular with psychology of colour. Abstract expressionism focused on emotional response to visual yet non representational information. The relationship between the elements of design to human perception are in visual literacy what reading and writing are to literature

Think of the elements of design as visual grammar. Here is some terminology you will hear repeated in our classes, we will expand on these visual elements in a more practical way when paint hits the Canvas.  

Relational Elements: These two elements of design hold a special place for me in visual literacy because they exemplify my ideas about composition and visual communications. They are the most integral components of design and I refer to them as the Yin-Yang elements. These elements I refer to a relational elements because they are dependent on the visual elements

Contrast: the juxtaposition of opposing elements : light vs dark - large vs small - warm vs cool etc.

Balance: is the consideration of visual weight of opposing elements:

Visual Elements:

Line: can be considered as a continuous mark (or marks) along the picture plane

Shape: self contained defined area within the picture plane

Value: or tone is the relative lightness or darkness of any element existing within the picture plane

Texture: is the surface quality of the shape, texture can be physical (tactile) or visual

Form: refers to volume or size … any element occupies within the picture plane

Colour: also referred to as Hue

Design Principles (for in class discusion)

Emphasis

Harmony

Unity

Variety

Depth

repitition

movement

Colour: Colour also refered to as Hue is the most closely related element to Human emotion - We will dedicate the majority of our in class discussion around issues or colour. Here is some terminology

Hue: Colour title “blue” “green” etc.

Tone: the inherent value of the Hue

Croma: the purity of a colour relative to it’s intensity or saturation

Colour Tempature: the appearance of colours to be warm or cool

Tint: the variation of colour obtained by adding white

Shade: the variation of colour obtained by adding black

Primary: Colour which can not be mixed or formed by any other combination of colours. All other colours are derived from these three: Cyan, magenta, Yellow

Secondary: the sum of any two primary colours mixed together : Green, Orange, purple

Tertiary: or Nuetral colour are made when all three primaries are mixed together

Complimentary: Colour opposite on the colour wheel

Analogous: Colour relationships close together on the colour wheel

Here are some basic supplies you will need for our beginner Acrylic class and our Modern art Class - we will be adding to the list as the program advances, however there are a whole host of mark making tools and necessity is the mother of invention!  We will discuss all these items and more on the first day of class.

 

Acrylics Paints

Alizarin Crimson, or Quin. Red/Crimson,  

Cadmium Red Med Hue or CRM light. Brilliant red

Cadmium Yellow Med Hue

Lemon Yellow, Hansa yellow light, Bismuth Yellow light

Phthalo Blue green shade, Prussian Blue, Cerulean blue 

Cobalt Blue, French Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo blue red shade

 

Brushes

A variety of inexpensive Hog and Synthetic brushes and sizes from flat, angles, filberts

 

Canvas

a variety of canvases, canvas boards, or watercolour paper

Mediums

Acrylic medium or gel medium ( both gloss and matte)

 

Other

• Rags
• Pallette knifes 
• water containers
• pencils/charcol
• Pallette:  large flat pallette ( paper pallettes are fine) 
• paper towels
• found objects ( will discuss in class) 

Beginner Drawing and Design Class

Welcome to our new drawing class where we will explore design using a variety of drawing materials, subject matter and artistic style to facilitate a better understanding of art.  We will focus most of our attention on a variety of methods teaching us how to look and see like an artist.  Students will require a few materials listed below to achieve our goals.

Graphic Pencils

2B pencil

4B pencil

6B pencil

Large Blending Stump

White vinyl eraser

Kneadable eraser

double size pencil sharpener

9 x 12 Sketch Book 

Soft Black Charcoal Stick or Conte

Soft White Charcoal Stick or Conte

2x Large Bull Dog Clips

 

*** Students registered in classes at Phoenix Art receive 10% off all supplies and are added to or members list!

Supply List

Watercolour Drawing board (or stretcher board)

140 lb watercolour paper or 11X15 140lb 

2 small Water container ( yogurt/ice cream/coffee can )

2b and hb pencils

White eraser

Roll of paper towel or tp

1’ or ¾” flat synthetic brush (Phoenix Nimbus)

½ angle brush  (Phoenix Nimbus)

# 4 # 6 and # 10 round watercolour brush (Phoenix Nimbus)

watercolour pallet (largest  mixing area possible)

1” Masking tape or 2″ butcher tape 

Masking fluid*** Optional 

 

Pigments

Choose one or two pigment from each group of colours.  To get the most benifit from these classes.  please have at least one colour pigment from each group.

Group 1   Alizarin crimson, rose madder, permanent rose,

Group 2   Cadmium red med, vermilion, permanent or grumbacher red 

Group 3   French ultramarine, Winsor Blue red shade , Cobalt Blue

Group 4   Prussian Blue, Thalo Blue, cerulean Blue

Group 5   Aureolin, lemon yellow, winsor yellow, or Hansa yellow

Group 6   Cadmium yellow pale, new gamboge, naples yellow 

Other       Burnt Sienna, Viridian, Chinese White, Paynes Gray

• 
• My painting Kit Location Supplies The following supplies are a great idea for any medium, but keep in mind simple is best.*Portable easel *Painting chair ( if you like to sit) *Parasol ( small and light weight ) *Insect repellent and sunblock *Hat*Sunglasses *Drinking water / painting water (separate)Drawing Supplies:  If you have not painted on location, start with drawing *2B,4B,6B pencils *Permanent drawing pens*Graphite powder *Drawing paper (60lb min) *Drawing Board*Eraser (kneadable) *blending Stumps Painting Supplies (all the above plus) *Paints (see list below ) *Palette  w / cover *Paper towel / rag *Water container *Round Brushes ( range from 4 -10 ) *Flat or angled brushes (1/4 ,1/2 and 1”) *Pre-stretched watercolour paper 140lb *Canvas or canvas board *Masking Fluid (for watercolours) *Painting mediums (for oil and acrylic)*Thinner (for oils) 
• Suggested Colours (select at least one colour from each line)
• • Alizarine Crimson, Rose madder, Perm. Rose
  • Cad Red Med,Vermillion/scarlet, perm Red
  • Fr Ultramarine, Windsor Blue R/S, Phthalo B red shade
  • Prussian Blue, Phthalo B, Cerulean Blue
  • Aureolin, Lemon yellow, Winsor, Hansa light
  • Cad Yellow med, New Gamboge, Naples 
  • Burnt or Raw Siena 
  • Viridian, Phthalo Green, Permeant Green 
  • Titanium White, Flake White, Chinese White