Some of my Essential Art Studio Furniture

Finally, after many years of working on our kitchen table, my studio/office is slowly being transformed into a more comfortable place to work. My newest addition is a sturdy wooden work table (that I designed to custom fit my space and needs) which my dad built for me.  It measures almost 7 feet long, 2 feet wide and about 36" high; perfect to hide a small shelving unit, an end table and a work stool all at a comfortable height to work without breaking my lower back! The table which also sports two roomy front drawers is built of solid pine and painted with an antique distressed finish. 

It sure beats dragging all my framing supplies out of storage and have to use the kitchen table or counter top as place to frame my artwork and cut mat boards and foam core!  I will be adding pegboard to the wall space above the table which will provide additional storage for tools.

Last year, my dad also built me a storage unit to organize foam board, mat board, sheets of glass, as well as various supports for my pastel paintings. I got the idea from an artist friend and then custom designed my own to accept standard sheets of mat board.  This storage unit is built of pine and plywood and has the same as the table.

The very first project I convinced my dad to build for me was a taboret to store all my pastels. After looking at many types of taborets, with careful planning and by combining several designs, I came up with this baby!

 The taboret has six fully extensible drawers as well as 2 lower open shelves for storage of papers and boards.

I just love my modest and cozy little basement art studio! ~ Thanks to my wonderful dad who so enthusiastically built these items for me ♥ I know they will be cherished and used for many, many years to come.

Pastel Workshop at the RBWBPAC!

This past Saturday, I was invited to present a second pastel workshop in Azilda, for members of the local art club but this time instead of using sandpaper, we used suede and velour as supports.

Our choice of subject matter included various floral scenes as well as a rabbit to practice drawing fur. The participants were delighted at the wide array of color choice for both the suede and velour  papers and it was fun experimenting with them.

 

The next pastel workshop will take place in Corbeil, ON. sometime in  April 2013. Please contact the artist for more information.

Soft Pastel on Sandpaper Workshop

Last weekend, I presented a 2-day workshop for members of the Rayside Balfour Whitewater Lake Brush and Palette Art Club. During the workshop, I demonstrated the techniques that I use for creating my pastel portraits with sandpaper as the support. Judging from their facial expression, I presume they were quite happy with their results.

 I was told that the participants enjoyed themselves so much that they requested I return early next year to teach them how to work pastel on suede and velour papers! I am delighted that my workshops encourage other artists to give pastel a try.... and it seems I have many of them hooked on the medium and thirsty to learn more about this versatile and enduring medium.

Keep on Painting!

Colette

Weekend Workshop and Horse Portrait back on the easel

Workshop at the PAClubhouse

Beautiful work from the participants!

Last weekend I spent 2 days teaching a workshop demonstrating Graphite Pet Portraiture Techniques to members of the Porcupine Art Club in Timmins, Ontario. It was fun to meet artists old and new and judging from the results, it looked like everybody enjoyed themselves!  I look forward to traveling to Timmins again for yet another workshop...

 After a stint with a back problem,  I am back at the easel working on this gorgeous Appaloosa Portrait.  I am really enjoying painting the rich colors of his coat using my pastels; mostly Rembrandt's, Carbothello's and Nu Pastels.

Onaping Falls Art Club Pastel Workshop

Last May I was invited to instruct a pastel workshop for members for the Onaping Falls Art Club. Participants learned to use soft pastel on archival suede board by painting a tulip and a day lily.  View the beautiful work each artist created:

artist Elaine Henning

artist Rosella Leclair

artist Jo Anne Parker

artist Karen Gratton



Artist Francine Aubin



Artist Dawn Searson

Onaping Falls artists hard at work during my Pastel on Suede Workshop

artist Gisele Demers

artist Kertu Rychlowski

artist Navaida Howe

artist Sheliah Chavarie

artists  Bernice Shea and Shirley Mirka

Pastel Workshop in Timmins

This past weekend I had the pleasure to give a workshop for members of the Porcupine Art Club in Timmins, Ontario. Everyone seemed eager and delighted to finally have the opportunity to dabble in pastels with the guidance of an instructor (the club workshop convener had been nudging me for the past few years...thanks Pam!). Each artist worked very hard and to my surprise, everyone managed to begin a second piece; many which were completed before the end of day two.

The results speak for themselves! I am so proud of what they accomplished in such a short time.

Day 1 Results

Day 2 Results

Dog in Graphite Workshop

Last night I had the opportunity to give a workshop to members of the local Sudbury Art Club which I belong to. I have to say that I was thrilled and pleasantly surprised to see the room packed to capacity. The fact that I brought my dog Shayli along, (our live furry "model") might of had something do do with it (wink).

I relished observing my students, all so attentive and receptive to what I was saying; ready, willing and eager to learn all they could in this all-but-too-short 2hr session. The room was almost vibing with utmost concentration as everybody worked diligently on each task I put forth before them. It really was such a pleasure to share with them some of the techniques I use to bring my pencil work to "life".

I would like to think that last night's workshop might have stirred in them a renewed interest for the medium that is so often misunderstood or overlooked because of it's simplicity. Gauging from the smiles and expressions on my student's faces as they gaze upon their masterpieces, I think I might just have succeeded.

Photo courtesy Ray Thoms photography