October 2022 Newsletter

Click on the images for a larger view

"Two Cranes", 22" x 30" Watercolor on Fabriano Paper
This was a stylized demonstration painting for a recent workshop in Sioux City, Iowa for the Siouxland Watercolor Society.


Bright colors vs. colorful gray's

Let's talk about colors a little. We're artists and each of us has our own preference as to which colors we like and which we don't like. From time to time we decide to try other colors if we become bored with our current palette or we see a trend leaning towards specific colors. If you sell your paintings, as I do, it's always a good idea to see what is popular, but I never let that influence my decisions about the colors I place on my palette. I learned a long time ago that trends come and go fairly frequently and we can drive ourselves and our customers crazy if we make constant changes. It's OK to experiment a little and throw a few pieces into the marketplace just to see how they are received but those who liked your paintings in the past probably liked them partially because of the colors you used. They found that your color selections were a suitable mix for their decorating needs.

What I am going to discuss now will sound a little odd but I have found it to be an amiable plan for me and the customers that purchase my paintings. I intentionally use the ugliest color on my palette in almost everything that I paint. The color is Umber. Not Raw Umber or Burnt Umber but just plain Umber. It a dull, almost muddy and lifeless color by it's self, but I can take any other color on my palette, add a little Umber and create some really beautiful grayed down tones. Many of my customers state they like that my paintings have colors that aren't harsh and don't clash with their decor like some of the brighter and more intense colors do.

The painting above, "Two Cranes" is a watercolor semi-abstracted painting on Fabriano 300lb watercolor paper. If you study this painting for a few seconds you will notice that there are a lot of grayed down colors as well as the brighter and bolder colors. Many of the grays were produced by adding Umber to the color mixes. If you scroll down to the paintings near the bottom of this newsletter you will see three more watercolor paintings where I also grayed the colors down a little by adding a touch of Umber in the mixes. You still see a nice variety of colors but they don't overpower the eyes. The grayed down colors make the areas of unpainted white paper look brighter and they also make the dark values look darker. Even the painting of the flowers, "Lavender" has some Umber added to some colors to gray it down a touch.

I am not suggesting that bold and dynamic colors are bad, in fact I often use them in my Abstract Expressionist paintings which are also heavily influenced with varying grays. Towards the end of the painting I will sometimes throw in a few strong punches of intense color to make the painting more dynamic.

This is all just food for thought. I am not suggesting that you reinvent the way that you paint or the selection of colors you typically use. If anything, it's just a way to get even more variety and traction out of the colors that you like. Just for the record; I also occasionally mix grays using complimentary colors too. For example mixing my Prussian Blue with my Brilliant Orange. If mixed in equal amounts I get a nice neutral gray. If I add a little more of the orange I get a warmer gray whereas I can get a cooler gray by adding a little more of the Prussian Blue. But I still rely mostly on Umber to make my grays. Who would have ever thought that I would fall in love with the ugliest color on my palette?

The Umber that I use is Holbein W329



Here's what I've been up to lately

September was a busy month. I was honored to have been selected to be one of the jurors for the 2022 International Watercolor Society Exhibition; Indonesia Competition. The exhibit is in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was a privileged to have helped judge this collection of beautiful watercolors from around the world.

I was also honored to have been invited to exhibit (digitally) in the annual International Exhibition of the Mexican Watercolor Society.

I taught a four-day watercolor workshop on painting stylized and abstract expressionist watercolors in Sioux City, Iowa for the Siouxland Artist Watercolor Society. We had a full house of really fun, energetic, and creative artists. Thank you to all who attended and to all that worked hard to make this workshop such a success.

I recently received a copy of a new book written by Parisa Diba whom I met at one of my workshops in California a few years ago. She is a wonderful artist and has written a fantastic book titled, "Seascape Watercolors with the One-Wash Technique". I have one of her beautiful paintings in my private collection.
I am very proud and honored to have been asked to write the Foreword for her new book.

Newsletter Archive

If you would like to see some of our past newsletters click on "Newsletter Archive" in the top tool bar of my website; www.sterlingedwards.com.


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 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.


"Stylize It"
Oct. 31, Nov. 2, Nov. 4
Noon til 4:00pm Eastern Time


This workshop is filling quickly
Space is limited

You will learn a wide variety of creative watercolor techniques in this workshop including negative painting, layering shapes, working with large brushes, creating exciting textures, saving whites, building a strong composition, and much more.

Day One; Painting a stylized still life

Day two; Painting an old weathered tree

Day Three; Painting boats stacked in dry dock.

This workshop is for the Intermediate to Advanced Watercolor Artist.

$300
"Acrylic Abstracts on Paper"
November 12 & 13, 2022
Noon til 4:00pm Eastern Time

Click here to register

This is a two-day LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP on painting Acrylic Abstracts on gessoed watercolor paper. You'll learn effective ways to design an abstract painting and a multitude of creative techniques to produce an eye catching and dynamic abstract painting that will capture the viewers attention.

Even if you have never attempted to paint an abstract piece of art you'll find this workshop very enlightening and useful. It is by far the most liberating style of painting that I have ever done.

This workshop is for ALL SKILL LEVELS

$200
"A Maine Waterfront"

December 6, 2022...Noon til 4:00pm Eastern.

Click here to register
This is a four-hour LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP on painting old wooden buildings with watercolors.

There will be a wide variety of creative watercolor techniques in this workshop including negative painting, layering shapes, working with large brushes, creating exciting textures, saving whites, building a strong composition, and much more.

This workshop is for the Intermediate to Advanced Watercolor Artist.

$100
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 us via the Contact Page on our website and request a workshop information packet. https://www.sterlingedwards.com/contact

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

  • 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

  • October 24-28, 2022 Cheap Joe's, Boone, NC
This will be a five-day watercolor workshop on painting a wide variety of subjects and styles. There will be landscapes, old buildings, a lake scene, a stylized floral, and an watercolor abstract abstract expressionist piece.
Contact; Meghan@cheapjoes.com 800-227-2788 ext. 1129

2023 Workshops

  • January 9, 11, 13, 2023 LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP sponsored by Cheap Joe's.
This is a three-day watercolor virtual workshop on painting Expressive and Creative Watercolors (Stylized and Abstract)
Contact; edwina@cheapjoes.com
1-800-227-2788


  • March 9-12, 2023 Grifton, NC Watercolors From A to Z
This is a four-day watercolor workshop that will cover a wide variety of subjects and creative watercolor techniques. Contact; Judy Dye, 252-939-6121 ALL SKILL LEVELS
jadye@embarqmail.com

  • April 17-21, 2023 Santa Fe, New Mexico. Creative and Expressive Designs with watercolors.
This is a five-day watercolor workshop that will focus on expressive and creative designs with watercolors. ALL SKILL LEVELS.
Contact; https://madelineartschool.com/workshops

  • May 9-12, 2023 Lowell, Michigan...Creative and Expressive Designs with Watercolor. All SKILL LEVELS
This workshop will focus on using large brushes to create stylized and abstracted designs.
Contact; Kathy Bechtel, kbechtel@lifeprocesscenter.org

  • June 12, 14, 16, 2023 Big Brush and Bold Color Watercolors LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP hosted by Cheap Joe's.
This Live Zoom Workshop will focus on using big brushes to paint the majority of your painting and on creating different and exciting colors that make your work unique. A lot of creative techniques will be covered in the workshop.
Contact Edwina My, edwina@cheapjoes.com 1-800-227-2788

  • July 10-13, 2023 Rockland, Maine. Creative and Expressive Watercolors.
This four-day workshop will focus on creative expressive and dynamic abstracted watercolor paintings. ALL SKILL LEVELS.
Contact; Lyn Donnavon at cmartworkshops@gmail.com
www.cmaworkshops.com

  • 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.
Contact Janice Jones, theartscenterofmontross@gmail.com

  • September 13-16, 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

  • 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


  • Oct. 30, Nov 1&3, 2023...Big Brush Watercolor Landscapes, LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP

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
"Remembering the Battery"

15" x 22"

Stylized Watercolor
"Rusty Nails"

22" x 30"


This is a demonstration painting for a Live Zoom Class on painting a stylized watercolor.



"Shades of Lavender"

15" x 22" Watercolor

This is a relatively quick afternoon demo piece that I recently painted for a group of students in Morgantown, WV. It was an exercise in laying in color without a preliminary sketch and then building a painting from imagination using negative painting techniques for the majority of the design.
Yes, even when painting something as bright and colorful as a floral, I added Umber to some of the colors to produce beautiful grayed tones.

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:

"Life is the art of drawing without an eraser."

John W. Gardner

(Scroll to the very bottom for one more painting)

"The Opening"

15" x 11" monochromatic graphite value study using Liquid Pencil by Derivan.

These small studies are where I work out my composition and values before I dive into a larger painting. They're fast and fun. I don't always do one before I began a painting but every time that I do it works to my advantage. I should also add that once you have completed a study such as this you really do not need the photograph you used as a reference. Everything has been worked out except for the colors. In fact, I will often do not even refer to the photograph while painting the finished piece.

In doing this I can be much more creative with my colors than I might be if I am trying to copy the colors in the photograph. The freedom of having total artistic license with my color selection for the painting rather that merely trying to copy the colors in the photograph is refreshing. Sometimes I will paint these monochromatic studies using Sepia.




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


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