August 2023, Newsletter
Click on the images for a larger view
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"Grasping", 22"x 30" Watercolor
This painting was a demonstration piece from my recent LIVE ZOOM CLASS on painting a stylized landscape.
Thank you to those of you who took part in our survey in our July Newsletter.
We want to know what you would like to see. As our LIVE ZOOM workshops are becoming more and more popular, we are doing a survey to find out what you would like to see and learn. Our survey only takes a few minutes and will help us decide what to offer going forward.
Do you remember your first art sale?
Not long ago we were visited by a couple that wanted to come to my studio and purchase some of my paintings. It was by appointment and I was all too happy to have them stop by. The visit resulted in a some sales of original paintings and an assurance that they would be back for more over time. They were very interesting people and had a real desire to learn more about my background in art and what first inspired me to become and artist. When I told them that I have essentially been an artist since I was twelve years old they asked if I have been selling paintings for that entire period of time. I was quick to inform them that I started selling my paintings when I was around eighteen but that I had been studying and learning to paint since age twelve. That was the time when I first decided that I wanted to be an artist and began taking oil painting classes. Like every artist that I've ever met, it took a lot of time and practice to reach a level of confidence in my work to actually display my paintings and put a monetary price on them. Even then, there was a lot of insecurity and fear of rejection. Sound familiar?
When I was eighteen I worked as an X-ray Orderly in a hospital in Miami, Florida. They needed someone to drive patients around in wheelchairs and I needed money to buy a car to drive myself around. Every month the hospital published an employee newsletter where they would announce promotions, births, birthdays, and other news related to the hospital employees. There was also a calendar of upcoming events. One day while reading the newsletter I saw that there was going to be a hospital employee arts and crafts show where everyone was encouraged to bring handicrafts and paintings to show and sell.
Almost on a whim, I decided to put a few of my pencil drawings and a small oil painting in the show. Why not? It would cost me nothing and I might just make a few dollars that would put me closer to buying that car. This was in 1970 and I was making $1.65 an hour so anything would be a step up. The painting I brought to the show was a 12"x16" oil painting on canvas; it was framed in an old second hand cheap frame that I managed to find somewhere. The painting was a night scene of a western ghost town with moonlight shining on the front side of the dilapidated buildings. It was inspired by a photograph that I saw in an issue of National Geographic Magazine. At the time I was unaware of copyright laws and had never even heard the word "Copyright". I can honestly say the painting wasn't too bad even though it didn't look at all like the reference photograph. I was nervous and did not know what to expect. This was the first time I had ever shown some of my artwork to anyone other than family, who of course, would always tell me how much they loved it. I knew that I was about to be tested.
When the doors to the show opened there was probably no more than a dozen or more people that showed up. For the most part they were employees of the hospital, but with in hour there were probably thirty or more folks wandering around. Some of them would stop and look at my table while others just walked past it. So what do you do when they stop and look? Do you try and interact with them or just let them look hoping that maybe they will ask you about your work or, just maybe, want to make a purchase. I just sat behind the table very quietly because I was too insecure to interact with them. I realize now that I missed an opportunity to explain my art and hopefully bond with the customer, but at the time, I had never been in this situation, so I just sat there.
Then it happened. A woman asked about the small ghost town painting. She seemed to be intrigued with the piece and asked how much I was asking for it. When I told her that it was $25.00 she opened her pocketbook and handed me a cash payment in that amount. Hopefully, she did not see my look of total disbelief and awe when I realized that I had just made my very first sale of one of my pieces of art. That was the only thing that I sold that day but that was OK. I had just proven to myself that my paintings have value to someone other than myself and that there are people that will actually pay for them. Again, I was only making $1.65 an hour at my job so that one sale was the equivalent of working fifteen hours. I probably had about three hours of labor and maybe three or four dollars in materials, including the crappy looking second hand frame. I couldn't wait to paint more pieces and really become a successful artist. A few years later I moved to Winston-Salem, NC and was accepted into a small art gallery where I sold quite a few of my paintings.
I know that many of you also sell your art and probably have a similar story about your very first sale to someone other than family, close friends, or work associates. Let's face it, most people work very hard for their money and when they are willing to part with some of it to buy one of your creations it validates you as an artist. It's a wonderful compliment and it all begins with that first sale.
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***PLEASE NOTE***
If you live in the U.S and would like to order from our website store, the quoted price of the item will now include the shipping costs rather than the shipping costs being added separately.
We regret that because of exceptionally high shipping fees we will only ship to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. If you live in Canada or Mexico and would like to place an order, please email sterling@sterlingedwards.com
and we will get back to you with shipping, pricing, and payment instructions.
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NEW SALE GALLERY
We now have a SALE GALLERY featuring a select group of original paintings on our website. All of the paintings in this gallery are reduced 40% from their original retail price.
These are pieces that have been in our inventory for a while that we would like to move out of our studio. ALL of the paintings are sold unframed and will be shipped in a heavy duty mailing tube for protection. The price of each painting includes the shipping costs.
This is a wonderful opportunity to purchase an original painting at a substantial discount.
To view the gallery, click on this link
or go to www.sterlingedwards.com and click on "Artworks" in the top tool bar. New paintings will be added from time to time so check back often.
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Here's what I've been up to lately
July was a relatively busy month for us. I taught a three-day LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP on Acrylic Abstract Expression and a one-day LIVE ZOOM CLASS on painting a Stylized watercolor landscape.
I also conducted a two day virtual class introducing my new video series titled, "Introduction into Watercolor Abstracts", produced by the Artefacto School of Art.
Gift Certificates
We have received several request for Gift Certificates recently so Diane and I have decided to offer Gift Certificates for $75.00 or $100.00 that can be redeemed for Videos, Live Classes, Art Supplies, and Paintings. The Gift Certificates can be purchased on our website; www.sterlingedwards.com under Art Supplies.
(Not redeemable for live, on location workshops)
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Upcoming Live Zoom Classes and Workshops hosted from our studio
All my Live Zoom Classes and Workshops are designed to illustrate and explain a multitude of creative techniques. There will be plenty of painting time for each participant. I am available throughout the entire class to offer suggestions and/or critiques as you work on your paintings. As an added bonus, you will receive an unedited video of each class for future study.
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Expressive brushstrokes, rich colors, and dynamic design are all concepts that you will lean in the creative and exciting three-day LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP on painting Acrylic floral and landscape subjects.
Lots and lots of techniques and design concepts will be explained and demonstrated in the workshop. Forget the details, this is all about design, brushwork, and rich colorful statements.
August 7, 9, 11
Noon til 4:00pm U.S. Eastern Time
THIS WORKSHOP IS SUITABLE FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS.
$300
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"Negative Painting on Steroids" |
I have had many requests for this workshop so here it is. The title says it all. In this one-day class I will not only show how to do negative painting but I will also show how to maximize the techniques to create a truly dynamic watercolor. Negative painting, layering, glazing and charging, saving whites, building rich dark values, big brush techniques, building a strong composition, and much much more.
August 18, 2023
Noon til 4:00pm U.S. Eastern Time
THIS CLASS IS FOR THE ADVANCED WATERCOLOR ARTIST.
$100
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"Painting an Atmospheric Landscape with Watercolors"
Paintings similar to this piece are what first attracted me to watercolors. It's early morning and the mist is still hanging in the air. It's so quiet and serene. In this four-hour LIVE ZOOM CLASS we'll discuss composition, layering colors and values, blending techniques, big brush watercolor techniques, negative painting, and more.
September 7, 2023
Noon til 4:00pm U.S. Eastern Time
THIS CLASS IS FOR THE INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED WATERCOLOR ARTIST.
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"Painting Stylized Structures"
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Old buildings, lots of rust, multiple textures, ramshackle construction and you have the potential for a beautiful watercolor painting. In this three-day LIVE ZOOM workshop I will show how to painting an old factory similar to this piece, and abandoned lumber mill, and an old and expressive barn in a natural setting.
Negative painting, saving whites, building rich dark values, working with large brushes, glazing and charging colors, and much much more in this workshop.
November 14, 15, 17, 2023
Noon til 4:00pm U.S. Eastern Time
This workshop is intended for the intermediate to advanced watercolor artist.
$300
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"Painting Nature's Beauty" |
In this three-day watercolor LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP I will show a multitude of creative watercolor techniques to create loose and expressive paintings. You will see three different paintings during the course using mostly large brushes to keep the painting loose and fresh.
Day One; A waterfall with lots of rocks and movement.
Day Two; A group of birch trees on the edge of a lake in the early morning hours with a foggy background.
Day Three; A snowy meadow with large pine trees and a distant snow covered mountain.
THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS, HOWEVER; PREVIOUS WATERCOLOR EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS BENEFICIAL
December 4, 6, 8, 2023
From noon to 4:00pm daily U.S. Eastern Time.
$300
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2023 Workshops
- August 21-24, 2023 Colonial Beach, Virginia, Creative and Expressive Watercolors.
There will be a lot of creative ideas and techniques in the exciting workshop. All designed to make your work stand out and command attention. ALL SKILL LEVELS
Contact Janice Jones, theartscenterofmontross@gmail.com
- September 13-16, 2023 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Watercolors from A to Z.
This watercolor workshop will cover a wide variety of subjects and a multitude of create watercolor techniques. Contact; Louise Hall
louise.hall@shaw.ca www.greatartworkshop.com ALL SKILL LEVELS
- October 4-6, 2023 Reno, Nevada...Stylized Interpretations with Watercolors.
This creative workshop will show you how to push design and color to create a unique and thought provoking visual statement. You'll learn a multitude of watercolor techniques and design principles.
Contact; Anita Watson, tarnished@sbcglobal.net ALL SKILL LEVELS
- Oct. 30, Nov 1&3, 2023...Big Brush Watercolor Landscapes, LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP, hosted by Cheap Joe's
In this workshop you will see how to paint a watercolor landscape using mostly large brushes while keeping unnecessary details to a minimum. There will be a lot of creative techniques and subjects in this workshop.
Contact; Edwina May, edwina@cheapjoes.com, 1-800-227-2788
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"On the Road to Acoma"
15" x 22" Watercolor
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Untitled
11" x 15" Watercolor
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"A Great Fishing Pool"
22" x 15" Watercolor
This painting is in the permanent collection of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.
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This is a photo of Diane and me taken at one of the many North Carolina vineyards that we explore when we have the time.
Sometimes we just have to get back to nature and rough it a little.
A special thank you to Diane for all that you do to manage our business and keep things running smoothly. It's a full-time job and your attention to detail and professionalism is appreciated by all. I couldn't do this without you.
Spread the word
Please tell your art loving friends about our website and newsletter; word of mouth referrals are by far the best advertising. They can sign-up for the newsletter on our website; www.sterlingedwards.com . Thank you.
As always, we appreciate your support.
Art; it chooses us
Ponder this:
"An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision"
James McNeill Whistler
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Sterling Edwards / Artist, LLC
230 Sunny Acres Drive
Lewisville, NC 27023
USA
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