For today’s first, I had the privilege of returning to Local Color Art Gallery & Studio for another creative art class. Taught by Tricia Courtney and Sallie Divine, the class was called Art Pieces. Allowing old kitchen cabinet doors to serve as the “canvases”, we used acrylic paint to splatter and dribble on color and then added mosaic pieces and found objects to create wonderfully unique works of art!
I was excited about this class. The garden chair that I created during another Local Color class was fun and relaxing. I got over my fear of making a mistake and just enjoyed the process. I met Nina during this class and we hit it off well, sharing table space as we worked and laughed and encouraged each other. I looked forward to being in creative mode once more, painting again with Nina and Tricia, and adding dimensional interest to my art with the pieces of ceramic and found objects.
Tricia Courtney, artist and instructor
I selected a small cabinet door and painted it black. Inspired by a Monet painting called Water Lily Pond, I grabbed bottles of acrylic paint and pushed up my sleeves. There is something very freeing about painting without a paintbrush! No worries, no mistakes….all fun. I used blues, greens and browns to suggest the water in the pond and then added lighter greens, golds and yellows for the lily pads. Dots of sienna, coral and deep red suggested flowers.
I painted with confidence, having done this part before with the chair. When it came time to add the pieces to my creation, I was glad for Sallie and Tricia’s help! Using broken bits of blue ceramic tile, I arranged and affixed, creating the look of water at the bottom of my door panel. A few tiny shards of a red ceramic cup were sprinkled among the water lily flowers and I was done!
My friend Nina created a beautiful panel featuring purple and white irises. She added green pieces of tile for a flower stem and glass pieces to the gorgeous white iris. We once again had fun chatting as we worked and discovered more that we have in common. I look forward to lunch next week with Nina!
Nina creates her Iris panel
New friend Holly came to her first class at Local Color today. She quickly let loose her creative side and made a lovely panel with flowers and ceramic pieces. I loved how she affixed a long metal rod to the side of her panel, using hinges and brackets.
Holly with her lovely flower panel
This was a great class and in the midst of a busy week, created an oasis of calm and clarity. I’m no Monet, by any stretch of the imagination. But at Local Color, I don’t have to be! I can just be myself and enjoy the process of creation in a supportive environment. It’s a bonus that I get to take home a reminder of my time there.
Sallie Divine, artist and instructor