June 2022 Newsletter

Click on the images for a larger view

"Subtle Shades", 22" x 30" watercolor

Oh! That beautiful white paper

If only I had $10.00 for every painting that I forgot to leave some white unpainted paper I could probably take a great vacation. For most of my painting career I was unaware of the importance of leaving some white. When I first learned to paint I was an oil painter. It wasn't uncommon to use Titanium or Zinc white to accentuate or add a highlight to a shape. When I began using watercolors I was told that most watercolor artists do not use any white paint, especially if you want to be known as a Transparent Watercolor Artist. At that time there was a very renowned international group of artists known as the Midwest Watercolor Society. The members of this group prided themselves as a totally transparent watercolor society and had some strict bylaws as they pertained to using white, which is generally considered an opaque paint. I was told that if I submitted a painting in which I had used white paint into one of their competitions, I would be disqualified. At that time I didn't have the confidence to enter one of their international competitions so I didn't concern myself too much with this requirement.

Skipping ahead several years, I began to gain more confidence in my style of painting and I had learned to save very select areas in my paintings as a place to leave some of the white unpainted watercolor paper. It was a tough transition as I had never placed that requirement on myself. At first it seemed awkward and I was often stumped when working from a photograph where there was not a single area of white. That meant that I had to invent an area for my white paper. It was an important step in my development as a watercolor artist because I was determined to become a signature member of the the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, which was the new name of the Midwest Watercolor Society. This wasn't something that I necessarily had to do but rather something that I desired to do. Through much trial and error, I finally came up with the idea that I will always leave some white unpainted paper in the area where my center of interest is located in my paintings. I found through experimentation that this concept had a remarkable way of drawing the eye directly to my center of interest regardless what I was painting. To become a signature member of the Transparent Watercolor Society you have to be selected for three of their international art completions. Needless to say, it took several years and a lot of hard work, but i finally achieved my signature membership. I attribute much of that success to my decision to leave some unpainted paper in my paintings which is a beautiful accent for the dark and mid-values. I still teach my my students to always try and leave some white paper in the center of interest.

The painting above, "Subtle Shades", is a good example of this powerful concept is. In this case it was pretty much a no-brainer as I was painting a branch of Dogwood blossoms that are white to begin with. Never-the-less, this painting really exemplifies the dynamics and power of leaving the whites. You will notice that in other paintings on my website and in this edition of my newsletter. I constantly rely on the white paper to make my center of interest pop. Rarely do I paint something that is naturally white in an area, so I have to invent the white. It sounds crazy to many of my students but once they get used to incorporating this concept into their paintings they are usually amazed at the difference it makes.

Note:
For at least the next few newsletter editorials I have decided to feature a painting in my top center space that I can write about as an example of a specific style or thought process.

We now have a NEW Companion Website:


For several years we have received numerous requests that we offer prints of some of my paintings. To accommodate these requests we have designed a new website that is a companion to our current site.

This new site allows us to offer a large selection of prints of my paintings and even some prints of my photography. Yes, unknown to most, I'm also a photographer. There are also two galleries that feature original watercolors and original acrylic abstracts on paper that are available.

Another great feature of this new site is that you can choose from a variety of sizes and surfaces that you would like for your prints. We hope that you will check it out and be as excited about it as we are.


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)
Upcoming Live Zoom Classes


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.




"Colleagues"

June 15...Noon til 4:00pm Eastern
This will be a four-hour watercolor class on painting a stylized cluster of Sunflowers with lots of overlapping negative shapes and Creative color mixing similar to "Colleagues". You'll learn many of my favorite techniques in this class.

This class is for the intermediate to advanced watercolor artist.
"Combo"

June 23...Noon til 4:00pm Eastern
This will be a four-hour watercolor class on painting an Abstract Expressionist watercolor painting similar in style to 'Combo". Lots of information in this exciting class. Finding ideas for an abstract painting, creative color mixing, negative painting creating exciting textures, building dynamics in your painting, and a whole lot more.

This class is for ALL SKILL LEVELS
ARTIST WORKSHOPS
***Please Read***

We are currently booking 2023 and 2024 workshops. If you would like to schedule a workshop for your group in 2023 or 2024 please contact us soon so we can send you the information that you will need to make an informed decision. Email; sterling@sterlingedwards.com and request a workshop information packet.
When you write, be sure and tell us the name of the group that you represent and where you are located.
All spots are filled on a first come, first served basis.
If you want more information about any of the workshops below, get in touch with the Contact Person for that particular workshop. He or she can answer questions about the workshop price, lodging, airports, etc.

2022 Workshops

  • June 7, 8, 10, 2022 Cheap Joe's
This will be a three-day watercolor LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP on painting water with watercolors.
Contact: Edwina May, 1-800-227-2788
Edwina@Cheapjoes.com WAIT LIST

  • June 27-30, 2022 Petoskey, MI, Crooked Tree Arts Center
This will be a four-day watercolor workshop that will focus on a wide variety of watercolor styles and subjects.
Contact: Liz Erlewine 231-347-4337, lizerlewine@crookedtree.org

  • July 25-28, 2022 Alma, Michigan, Creative Art Guild of Mid-Michigan
This will be a four-day watercolor workshop that will focus on a wide variety of watercolor styles and subjects.
Contact: Kathy Litwiller 989-640-0094 klitwiller@cmsinter.net

  • August 22-25, 2022 Morgantown, WV SOLD OUT
This will be a four-day watercolor workshop that will focus on a wide variety of watercolor styles and subjects.
Contact: Byron Witt 304-292-5026 bwitt26@comcast.net

  • September 13-14, 2022 Siouxland Artists, Sioux City, IA
This will be a two-day watercolor workshop that will focus on Creative and Expressive Watercolor Techniques and subjects.
Contact: Paula Crandell 712-212-5045
paulacrandell1752@gmail.com

  • September 15-16, 2022 Siouxland Artists, Sioux City, IA
This will be a two-day watercolor workshop that will focus on Creative Watercolor Abstracts.
Contact: Paula Crandell 712-212-5045
paulacrandell1752@gmail.com

  • October 3-6, 2022 Nipomo, CA
This will be a four-day watercolor workshop that will focus on a wide variety of watercolor techniques and subjects.
Contact: Jerry Smith jsmithp38@sbcglobal.net
"Forgotten but not Gone"

22" x 15" Watercolor on Fabriano Artistico 300 lb cold pressed watercolor paper.

This is a piece that I painted about ten years ago.
"Fixer Upper"

22" x 30" Watercolor on 300lb cold pressed Fabriano paper.

Old buildings are great subjects for a semi-abstracted (Stylized) painting.
"Natural Rhythm"

22"x 30" watercolor on Fabriano
Artistico 300lb cold pressed paper.

This is a stylized painting that has a slight abstraction in the shapes. Paintings like this are fun because it isn't necessary to labor on perfection but instead take some artistic license with the colors and overall design.

This is a photo of Diane and me taken somewhere at one of the many vineyards that we like to explore in North Carolina.

Sometimes you just need to get out into the great outdoors and rough it a little.






As always, we appreciate your support. Please let your art loving friends know about our website and newsletter. They can sign-up for the newsletter on the website. Thank you.

Art; It chooses us. Seriously, it REALLY does.

Ponder this:

"Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one."
Stella Adler


(Scroll to the bottom for one more painting)

"Untitled"

15" x 11" monochromatic study using Payne's Gray.




Sterling Edwards / Artist, LLC
230 Sunny Acres Drive
Lewisville, NC 27023
USA


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