Class with Kingslan and Gibilisco

I just returned from a class in Omaha NE> with Ann Kingslan and her daughter Mary Gibilisco..
It was a design and color theory type class..
and what a brain stretcher it was for me..

The idea is they send you a line drawing.. and you can make color decisions before you come to class. This is all fine.. except my brain.. does a one hundred percent shut down.. when looking at someone elses drawing.. so I came to class without any ideas.. probably smart for me..

Then we were to bring oil paints.. either regular oils or Genesis .. not being a fan of oils.. I wanted to work in an acrylic,, but I wanted to bring paints along that would work like oils.. and offered an equivalent for mixing.. I wanted to really focus on the color side of a project.. So I converted my Traditions basic colors.. about 6-8 colors plus the grey scale.. to Globals..

The picture that is posted was the result of alot of learning and some really great teaching..
I realized I cannot begin a composition without a customer.. ie.. I have to have inspiration..
so I chose a place to hang this artwork.. a guest bedroom.. and used the colors from the room to dictate the pallet.. Once I had this.. it was easier..

I also realized.. I NEVER paint still lifes.. I never ever cast shadows.. and if I shade I do it as a folk artist.. for effect not realism... when I paint flowers they are part of the surface.. never in a vase.. this week really showed me the spaces in my education.. I really learned an immense amount... even though I know realize I AM A FOLKARTIST.. I will be able to use all that I learned in the art that I do..

One last note.. the Traditions paints were DELIGHTFUL to use.. I mixed up the entire bottles of the colors I was to bring as globals.. .. and shipped them via UPS ahead of class..
so I wouldn't have to worry about the airlines.. I also put them into zip lock bags in the box I sent.. just incase they opened or whatever.. they were perfect..

Off to apply what I learned..

Patty