Open House at Michaels

This Saturday, I will be at the Michaels Arts and Crafts store in Conshohocken. (Just off Ridge Pk near the Blue Route's Norristown, Conshohocken exits.)
from 1 till 3pm, I will be among the instructors sharing their craft with the public. Free demonstration of what one can accomplish in a 2-hour workshop.
I invite you to stop in and register for a Wednesday night class.(Sign up anytime on Saturday for a 25% discount)
Have been working up some new images for paintings. Photos T/C soon!
Click the tab above to see schedule. It has changed from what it used to be.

Beginnings

Yesterday I visited a local day care center and talked with the owner about some possible mural work.

"Layla" 12x9" Acrylic by Jeanne Guerin-Daley

I absolutely love this part of my art! Beginnings. The beginning of a project. Ideas being born. The activity which occupies my brain when a new spark begins to develop. Brainstorming. It's that new landscape which I can begin to plow.  I think it has to be my favorite part of my art-making, when there is a seed of an idea, especially when it is someone else's idea. When a client is excited about that seed, and entrusts me with the development of that seed, it is one of the most thrilling and challenging parts of my job. And I love that! I can work my creative thinking to start something; then often the client will add their bent to it, and the idea will evolve and become something more,...

Please don't get me wrong. I'm no Einstein. Lord, no! I don't care much for numbers! (I am competent enough in dealing with numbers when it comes to paying the bills, etc,.. that is a job I have and can do b/c of necessity. But that doesn't mean that I love numbers!) Not when there are other things in this wonderful world of ours to pay attention to, like trees and sunsets and sunrises and clouds, and flowers and cicadas, and dragonflies [thanks to you, Frank!] and mountainsides and.... oh, sorry. Nature makes me get carried away!

There's something else about "beginnings."
When I make a painting on canvas, or on paper, it is the same way. My favorite part of the painting process is the beginning. I often-times thrash that brush about freely, flipping  my wrist to and fro, depending on the size of it, sometimes letting my entire body move with it, - I almost always stand when I paint -   having fun with the looseness that is an integral part of that "beginning." Later, when the likeness of the object is paramount, then I need to pay more attention to other details and the freedom of that "beginning" is often no longer available to me. Perhaps it is that fleeting time span of "the beginning" that intrigues me so much. All I know is, it is magical. There is a voice in my head that says: "It's just the beginning. You can't mess it up. If you do, you can easily fix it. No harm done!"

Do you have a "beginning" story to share? I would love to discuss this further, with more creative minds.... [please know that this does NOT mean you must be a visual artist to share!]

What is YOUR favorite part of your creative process?

Image: (c) 2011 Jeanne Guerin-Daley

New Location for Workshops

"Rose of Sharon"

I will changing stores soon. I will not be teaching at the King of Prussia store after this week's Wed evening workshop. but I will continue to hold classes at the Conshohocken store, and will begin to teach workshops at Bala Cynwyd's new Michaels store at 57 City Ave.

In a nutshell:
29 Feb 6-8pm at Bala store: Floral (has changed; was originally posted as Landscape)
3 March 10am - noon Free Demo at Bala Cynwyd store
     (Special discount when you register for class on this day)
3 March 1-3pm  Free Demo at Conshohocken store.
     (Special discount when you register for class on this day)
7 March 6-8pm at Bala  Landscape (has changed; was originally posted as Floral)
14 March 6-8pm at Conshohocken Floral
28 March 6-8pm at Conshohocken Still Life

Please remember that you must register 24 hours in advance of class.

If you have been thinking of trying something new, maybe this is it!
No prior painting experience necessary.
(And for people who DO have some experience: Intermediate classes coming soon.)

New Painting Class Schedule-Feb Mar 2012

Just worked out the new painting class schedule.

Have you been thinking about trying your hand at painting?
I can help you out with that.
I have been working on my schedule of workshops and am posting it below.

The details, in a nutshell...
In a two hour class, you will learn basic painting techniques and receive step-by-step instruction on how to complete your own 9x12" painting. No experience necessary. Class cost is $25 plus materials
Workshops are two hours in length. Choice of subject: landscape, floral, still life, or seascape.(Subject is specified in class announcement.)

Jeanne's Acrylic Painting Workshop Schedule:

Feb 8 at 630pm till 830pm: Seascape Workshop
Location: King of Prussia Michaels Store

Feb 12 TBA-a possible rescheduled class

Feb 19th at 3pm till 5pm: Still Life

Location: Conshohocken Michaels Store

Feb 22nd at 630pm till 830pm: Still Life*
Location: King of Prussia Michaels Store

Feb 29th at 6-8pm: Landscape
Location: Bala Michaels Store

March 3rd 1-3pm Open House at all Michaels stores.
From 10-noon I will be giving a free painting demo at the Bala store.
Then from 1 till 3pm I will be at the Conshohocken store. Come out and join the fun!
They are giving a 25% discount off the cost of all classes for which you register on that day!


March 7 at 6-8pm Floral
Location: Bala Michaels Store

March 14 at 6pm till 8pm Floral - maybe we'll paint an Easter Lily?

Location: Conshohocken Michaels Store

March 28 at 6-8pm Still Life
Location: Conshohocken Michaels Store
 
In honor of my friend/student JiangYing, I am planning to do a still life which contains flowers, so it can also be considered a "floral" (we will use the still life palette colors)

Questions?
Call me, Jeanne at 610-804-2888

Free minimalist Book

Look I came across while tweeting?!
Free Kindle book--but it's only available free for a small amount of time.
Just thought I'd share.
Check it out. (BTW, I get no kickback for this)

http://www.theminimalists.com/best/

"Odie" 12x9" Acrylic Commissioned Pet Portrait by Jeanne Guerin-Daley (c) 2011

I just realized that I never got around to posting my latest pet portrait here. So sorry! Here 'tis the pic! I really enjoyed painting this one! It's funny that I can never tell how a painting will go until I dive in. Because of the mixtures of colors in this dog, I thought it would be a real headache, but I think it went well. And, most importantly, the client loved it!

So these days, in between the hours of my new full time job, I still paint, take commissions, and I am still scheduling painting classes, although I have decided to schedule them less often. You can check the schedule clicking the tab above or just click here.

I am having so much fun with a seascape on my easel these days! It's two-thirds sky, filled with pinkish/magenta/yellowish clouds. It's a larger one than usual for me, and I am tackling it layer upon layer, a bit here, a bit there,... You'll see it soon I hope...

Oh yeah, and HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL!

Upcoming Painting Workshop Schedule

Here is my upcoming schedule of painting workshops:

"Bananas, Apple, n Pear" (Still Life)

"Sunflowers" (Floral)

At King of Prussia Michaels Store:

1-11-12 (WED) at 6:30pm LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP

1-25-12 (WED) at 6:30pm FLORAL WORKSHOP

2-8-12 (WED) at 6:30pm SEASCAPE WORKSHOP

2-22-12 (WED) at 6:30pm STILL LIFE WORKSHOP


At Conshohocken/Plymouth Meeting Michaels Store:

1-8-12 (SUN) at 3pm LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP

1-22-12 (SUN) at 3pm FLORAL WORKSHOP

2-5-12 (SUN) at 3pm SEASCAPE WORKSHOP

2-19-12 (SUN) at 3pm STILL LIFE WORKSHOP


Details:
$25 PER CLASS (not including supplies)
NO PRIOR PAINTING EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
MUST REGISTER IN STORE at least 24 hours in advance.
Students will complete a 9x12" painting in each 2-hour workshop.
Kids and adults welcome.
(For ages younger then 8, a parent/guardian must also attend)