April 2022 Newsletter

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"It Grows in a Jungle", 22" x 30" watercolor


Is it finished yet?

In my opinion, that's the $64,000 question that every artist asks every time they painting something. We paint and we analyze then we paint some more and we analyze some more. I find it somewhat ironic the the word analyze begins with the word anal. I just had to throw that little barb in. OK, it was a big barb, but it does make a good point. I wish that I had ten dollars for every painting that I thought needed just a little bit more just before I totally ruined it with unnecessary clutter. Anyone who has painted for any length of time knows that look. It begins looking scrubby, mushy, muddy, and over corrected. If you are painting with acrylics or oils you can always wait for it to dry and then redo what you messed up. However, if you are painting with watercolors it's most likely just another unsuccessful painting and is thrown in the pile with all of the others.

So what is the answer? Do we risk putting a piece of art that looks, maybe not quite finished, in front of an ever critical audience? If not, then maybe we should open another bottle of wine and walk that very narrow tight rope and risk overdoing it. This is the kind of stress that artists put themselves through on a pretty regular basis; most non-artist types don't understand this dilemma. In spite of what many think, being an artist can be stressful at times. Yes, I know that you're probably shaking your head in disbelief. Never-the-less it's true.

Here is a simple solution to avoid overworking a painting that I learned about twenty years ago from my mentor Zoltan Szabo . I would not go so far as to call this foolproof but it's the best solution I've heard so far. I was taking a watercolor workshop with Zoltan and brought a painting into the class that I painted the evening before. Each morning he would critique our previous days work before doing his morning demonstration painting. The painting I laid on his table in the stack of student paintings was an Autumn landscape. After a while, the pile of paintings dwindled down to where I could see that I was the next to be critiqued. By that time I started having second thoughts about the piece that I chose to have him critique but it was too late to worry about it. Before I could even think of a good explanation about what I could plainly see was painted incorrectly he picked it up and laid it on his table directly under his mirror for the entire world to see. I began to imagine what everyone's response would be. It was a horrible painting and some in the class fainted instantly while others ran to the bathrooms holding their hands tightly over their mouths to avoid messing up the room. Still others immediately packed up their art supplies and left in a hurry before they could be infected by my lack of painting skills. All that I could do at that moment was just sit there and wait for a scolding and life changing critique. Then it came; "It's muddy". That was it! All of the Maalox that had just guzzled was wasted and I asked him to tell me what I could have done differently to have avoided the muddy mess. I was expecting him to say something like; "you should have taken up pottery". In his typical calm voice he said, "anytime you hold a loaded brush over your painting and you are not sure what to do with it, the painting is finished". That was it, and I have relied on that priceless little piece of advice since that day.

The painting above, "It Grows in a Jungle", is a good example of using Zoltan's philosophy about overworking. I have painted hundreds of floral watercolors over the years and it is not uncommon to overwork them to the point that they no longer look fresh and spontaneous. This painting tempted me to add more color to the leaves and I was literally holding a loaded brush getting ready to do just that, but I didn't. I almost had to fight myself not to do it because just like most of you I wanted everything to be perfect. At the last second though I took a closer look at the painting and realized that it looked like a loose and fresh watercolor painting and that the additional color would not enhance the painting as much as it might take away from it. So I signed the piece and moved on to my next painting. Lesson learned. Who says that you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

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.




"Cantonese Farm"
April 12...Noon til 4:00 PM Eastern Time


Stylized old buildings, trees, hanging laundry, and colors. Lot's to learn in this class. Negative painting, saving white, adding rich dark values, and more.

This class is for the intermediate to advanced watercolor artist.
$100.00
"Vibrations"

May 12... Noon-4:00pm Eastern Time


This is a four watercolor class on painting a colorful semi-abstracted floral. There will be a lot of negative painting, and layering shapes, and other creative techniques in this exciting class.

This class is recommended for intermediate to advanced watermedia artists. $100.00
"Northern Wetlands"

May 17, ...Noon til 4:00 PM Eastern Time


This is a four-hour watercolor class on painting a marshy wetland with lots of negative shapes and colors. There will be a multitude of watercolor techniques and brush techniques in the Zoom Class.

This class is for the intermediate to advanced watercolor artist $100.00
‌
"Picasso Style Watercolor "

June 1...Noon til 4:00pm Eastern Time


This is a four-hour watercolor class on painting a crazy and fun Picasso Style abstract painting. If this class doesn't tap into your creative side then nothing will. You'll see negative painting, creative color mixing, expressive calligraphy, saving whites and building rich dark vales and much more.

This class is for all skill levels. $100.00

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


  • April 2022 Valley Watercolor Society, Los Angeles, CA
This is a four-day LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP on Expressive Watercolor Techniques for Painting a Floral.
Selina Cheng, selinachengart@aol.com 310-283-4105

  • May 2-5, 2022 Pensacola, FL. Palette Productions
This is a four-day watercolor workshop on Expressive and Creative Watercolor Techniques.
Pat Page, info@paletteproductions.net 850-293-5414

  • 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

  • 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.com

  • 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 WAIT LIST
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 13-16, 2022 Siouxland Artists, Sioux City, IA
This will be a four-day watercolor workshop that will focus on Creative and expressive watercolor techniques and subjects.
Contact: Paula Crandell 712-212-5045

  • October 3-6, 2022 Nipoma, WA
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

  • November 10-12, 2022 Art of the Carolina's Trade Show in Raleigh, NC
Information Pending

.....Paintings from my archives.....
"A Great Fishing Pool"

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

This painting is in the permanent collection of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour.
"Southwest Symbols"

18" x 11" Acrylic on gessoed watercolor paper.

This was a quick acrylic abstraction of an ancient tree in the southwest.



"Just Hanging Out"

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

This is a painting of old Lobster Buoys hanging on a wall as are sometimes seen in fishing villages in Maine, Newfoundland, and other Northeastern coastal areas.

This is a selfie of Diane and me taken somewhere in Montana. We spent almost two weeks driving the entire state and loved every minute of it.



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

Ponder this:

"Art is longing. You never arrive, but you keep going in hoping that you will."
Anselm Kiefer

(Scroll to the bottom for one more painting)

15" x 11" monochromatic study using Liquid Pencil.




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


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