May 2022 Newsletter

Click on the images for a larger view

"The Swell", 22" x 15" watercolor


Suggesting movement creates drama

Anyone who has ever taken one of my workshops has heard me talk about the importance of creating drama in your paintings. It is what often gets a piece noticed from across a room and attracts the imagination of the viewer. One of the most effective ways that I have found to create drama is with shapes that suggest movement. Several years ago I was gifted with a book of paintings by Winslow Homer, one of my all time favorite watercolor artists. Several paintings in the book were scenes that he painted while in the Bahamas. I was immediately inspired by the way that he suggested the wind blowing palm trees in some of the paintings. You could almost feel the warm breeze. Not only was I attracted to the beautiful colors and scenery of his paintings but I was actually taken to that spot in my mind and found a sense of place that I might not have felt had he merely painted a typical palm tree. He was also very skilled at painting the rolling waves which also gave his paintings a sense of movement and created a dramatic sense of place.

In the painting above, 'The Swell", I was using the same philosophy as Homer in that I wanted to put the viewer in the painting rather than merely looking at the painting. Just about everything in this painting has a sense of movement. Typically, like most artists, I paint a sky using horizontal brushstrokes as a graded wash of color. If I am painting a blue sky without clouds I essentially paint a clean slate of blue color where I will intentionally avoid any brushstrokes that might interfere with my smooth washes of color. In this painting, however; I deliberately painted the sky with oblique (angular) brushstrokes to create a sense of movement in the sky. It might be interpreted as shafts of sunlight or possible wind. Whichever the viewer chooses does not matter as long as they see that it is a definite application of color and movement by the artist. The sails on the boats are also suggesting movement and are painted at the same approximate angle of the brushstrokes in the sky. This creates a dramatic statement. The water was also painted to suggest movement. In fact, I used some of the same processes to paint the water in my piece that I learned in the book of paintings by Winslow Homer. By cranking up the dark values in the water and around the bottom of the sails, the painting quickly came together. All that was left at that point was to introduce some bright colors on the sails. This too was done with brushstrokes that curved with the wind filled sails creating even more movement and drama.

I also use movement in many of my shapes and background washes when I paint a floral. Quite often I will add a sense of movement to the stems and leaves that almost suggest that they are waving in the breeze. I have found that this makes the shapes a little more dramatic than merely painting rigid and static shapes. And without saying, I use this concept a lot in my stylized and abstracted paintings. As always, this is all just my opinion but it's based on years of experience. I hope that you found this editorial somewhat moving.

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.




"Painting a Stylized Floral"

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


This is a four watercolor class on painting a colorful semi-abstracted floral similar to this painting. 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
"Lake Living"
May 24,....Noon til 4:00 PM Eastern Time


This is a four-hour watercolor class on painting a stylized watercolor of a cluster of homes on the shore of a lake similar to this painting. A lot of negative shapes, expressive colors, and exciting techniques will be taught in this creative 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 similar to this 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 values and much more.

This class is for all skill levels. $100.00

ARTIST WORKSHOPS
***Please Read***

Now booking In-person and Zoom Workshops 

We are currently booking 2023 and 2024 workshops. If you would like to schedule an IN-PERSON or LIVE ZOOM 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

  • 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 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.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 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 Nipoma, 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

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

"Myra's"

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

This is an abstract expressionist watercolor and graphite painting that is painted in a very quick, fresh, and spontaneous manner. All of the paintings that I do in this style are totally unique and impossible to replicate exactly. They're all about color, textures, and dramatic brushwork.
"Brazos""

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

"Lilies"

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 Diane and me in Iceland a few years ago. We were getting ready to drive to a popular site where we drove a snowmobile to the top of a glacier.





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:

"A good artist has less time than ideas"
Martin Kippenberger

(Scroll to the bottom for one more painting)

"Free Falling"
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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