December 2023, Newsletter
Click on the images for a larger view
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"A Canadian Rockies Jewel"
26" x 22" Watercolor
This was a demonstration painting for my Cheap Joe's Watercolor LIVE ZOOM WORKSHOP on "Big Brush Watercolor Floral and Landscapes" last month.
Wet into wet; watercolor at it's best
Anyone that has taken one of my watercolor workshops knows that most of my paintings began on wet paper and are blocked in with wet soupy paint. I was first attracted to watercolor because of the beautiful transitions and soft edges that were achieved while working on wet paper. At the time I was an oil painter. Since oil is a heavy bodied opaque paint, I could only produce soft transitions of color or value by manipulating the paint with a brush. I had never really paid a lot of attention to the soft transitions in watercolor paintings until I went to an art show in 1985 and watched an artist paint a sky on a large sheet of paper with no more than five or six brushstrokes. It was like a magic act as I watched the colors melt and blend into each other without even touching them with a brush. It would have taken me hours to paint a sky as soft and beautiful as the sky I had just witnessed evolve in less than five minutes. That was the day that I decided to learn more about painting with watercolors.
I was a photo-realist painter at the time and found it difficult to marry my new found love of working on wet paper with my exacting detail that I included in every painting. The two processes seemed to be almost like oil and water. In fact that's exactly what they were. Individually they worked fine. It took a long time for me to learn to lay in wet washes of color and allow them to dry before diving into my micro brushes and settling down for long periods of time and picking away at the details. I was really only using the wet into wet watercolor techniques to paint my sky as I had seen in the demonstration that inspired me. Everything else in the painting was meticulously drawn and painted with exacting detail.
Eventually after years of study and experimentation I realized that the entire painting could be blocked in with wet paint on wet paper. That resulted in a lot of beautiful soft edges and transitions from shape to shape and color to color. Then after the paint was dry I could work on dry paper and incorporate hard edges if they were necessary while leaving everything else in the painting predominately soft from the initial wet into wet washes. The results were astounding and I had just found a way to complete a painting in a couple of hours that previously would have taken weeks to paint in my old style. Furthermore, the paintings were fresh and had a beautiful looseness that I always admired but could never before achieve. I had just discovered what I needed to take my painting to much higher levels of artistic statement and visual appeal. Since I was merely blocking in my shapes on wet paper I was able to use large brushes that enabled me to apply the paint quickly before the paper began to dry. In most paintings, the initial block in set the foundation for the composition; by the time the paper dried, the painting was about 50% complete in 15 or so minutes. Then I could take as much time as I needed to use smaller brushes and add the hard edges where necessary.
Every painting in this newsletter was initially blocked in on wet paper using wet paint. That accounts for all of the soft edges that gives the paintings that classic watercolor look. You'll probably notice that most of the harder edges were used to define elements in the painting that strengthen the composition and pulls the eye to specific shapes and objects that are the main focus of the painting, usually around the center of interest. The biggest problem that I have had when working in this style was self control and not getting too over zealous when painting the hard edges. It's very easy to get carried way and lose all of the soft edges if one is not careful.
Every bit of this process took practice but so did learning to walk. We all fell down but we all got back up. Look at us go now.
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NEW
I have recently begun selling prints of some of my favorite digital photographs on my website. Unknown to most, I have been a photographer for several years and decided to put some of my pieces "out there" as they say. I love photography almost as much as I love painting. The new Print on Demand service offered by FASO has made it possible for me to offer my photographs as well as prints of some of my paintings; they are available as open edition prints. You can order them in different sizes, on canvas or paper, and even framed and matted if desired. To view the prints click the link below.
***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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Here's what I've been up to lately
November kept us hopping as I taught a three-day watercolor Live Zoom Workshop for Cheap Joe's workshop on "Big Brush Watercolor Landscapes and Floral" and a three-day watercolor Live Zoom Workshop on "Painting Stylized Buildings" that we hosted from our studio. I was also able to work in some much needed studio time.
My video series on Introduction into Watercolor Abstracts produced by The Artefacto School of Art was officially made available for purchase in August. with outstanding results. Here is a link to go directly to my Artefacto page;
I'm also pleased to announce that I have also produced a video series on how to create a "Painterly" acrylic landscape, floral, and still life. This NEW series is now available through the Artefacto School of Art and can be purchased at the following link. The painting below is an example of a "Painterly" piece of art.
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"The Art of Acrylics"
New video series available through the Artefacto School of Art.
This is a "Painterly" acrylic on gessoed watercolor paper. Painterly works of art generally exhibit strong brushwork and little detail. They capture the essence of a subject in an artistic and expressive presentation while leaving a little room for interpretation.
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Upcoming Live Zoom Classes 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 and photographs for future study.
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"Painting Nature's Beauty" |
Only a few spots left
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
Each participant will also receive photographs of the various stages of Sterling's demonstration pieces and an unedited downloadable video of each day of the Workshop.
December 4, 6, 8, 2023
From noon to 4:00pm daily U.S. Eastern Time.
$300
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"Mixed Media Abstract Expressionism"
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This is a one-day class on painting a mixed media painting on watercolor paper. Join renowned watermedia master artist Sterling Edwards as he combines watercolor, acrylics and graphite to create a unique and thought provoking mixed media abstract expressionist painting. As always, Sterling will thoroughly explain his process for designing an abstract piece of art including his unique way of finding inspiring abstract designs.
There will be a multitude of watercolor and acrylic techniques taught in this very creative workshop.
THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS, HOWEVER; PREVIOUS WATERMEDIA EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS BENEFICIAL
Each participant will also receive photographs of the various stages of Sterling's demonstration piece and an unedited downloadable video of the class.
December 13, 2023 from Noon til 4:00pm U.S. Eastern Time
$100
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"Stylizing the Landscape"
Space is limited
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If you're tired of your landscapes looking like everyone else's landscapes then you will definitely benefit from this creative and expressive three-day Live Zoom Watercolor Workshop with renowned watermedia master artist Sterling Edwards.
Sterling will show his process for taking ordinary landscape elements and giving them movement and design to create something unique. Stylized works of art are Sterling's signature style of painting and in this workshop he will show and explain exactly how he designs them.
There will be a multitude of watercolor techniques taught in the workshop such as negative painting, saving white paper, building rich dark values, stylizing shapes, expressive color mixing, working with large brushes including stiff bristle brushes, charging and glazing colors, and much more.
Don't miss this exciting opportunity.
THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS, HOWEVER; PREVIOUS WATERCOLOR EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS BENEFICIAL
Each participant will also receive photographs of the various stages of Sterling's demonstration piece and an unedited downloadable video of each day of the workshop.
January 8, 10, 12, 2024 from noon til 4:00 Daily.
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"Stylized and Abstract Watercolors" |
This will be a three-day Live Zoom Watercolor Workshop that will focus on creating unique and expressive works of art that command attention. If you're ready to jump out of the ordinary and show the world your creative side then you will not want to miss this opportunity.
Renowned artist Sterling Edwards is well known for his abstract interpretations and is going to show you exactly how he designs and formulates his abstracted pieces. There will be a lot of techniques, discussions on composition, color theory, brushwork, and much much more.
THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS, HOWEVER; PREVIOUS WATERCOLOR EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS BENEFICIAL.
Jan. 29, 31, and Feb. 2, 2024 from noon til 4:00pm each day. (U.S. Eastern Time)
This workshop is hosted by Cheap Joe's. Registration begins on December 4, 2023
Contact: Edwina@cheapjoes.com for prices and more information.
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Diane and I have decided that 2024 will essentially be my last year of traveling and teaching on-location workshops. I have a couple of long term commitments that we will honor then we will primarily be doing LIVE ZOOM CLASSES from our studio.
2024 Workshops
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The Villages, FL February 26-27, 2024...Watercolor Landscapes and Floral
- The Villages, FL February 28 - March 1, 2024
Acrylic Abstracts
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.
- Grifton, NC March 20-March 24, 2024...
Watercolors From A to Z
Painting loose landscapes, flowers, and stylized watercolors
- Littleton, CO April 12-April 14., 2024 Painting Expressive 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.
- Littleton, CO April 16-April 18, 2024 Painting Expressive 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.
- Vilano Beach (St. Augustine), Florida May 20-23, 2024, Creative and Expressive Watercolors
This is a four-day watercolor workshop that will focus on tapping into your creative side and creating exciting and expressive watercolors that stand out in a crowd. This workshop is being hosted by Sterling and Diane Edwards.
- Boone, NC (Cheap Joe's) August 26-August 30, 2024
Creative and Expressive 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.
800-227-2788
- Sioux Falls, SD September 17-September 18, 2024
Painting a Stylized Watercolor
Contact; Janice Bartels
605-222-8033
- Sioux Falls, SD September 19-September 20, 2024
Watercolor Abstracts
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; Janice Bartels
605-222-8033
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"In Conception Bay South"
30" x 22" Watercolor
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"Sisters"
22" x 15" Watercolor
This was a quick study on painting a stylized floral with watercolors.
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"Froward"
(This IS NOT misspelled. It's a real word.)
24" x 30" Acrylic on canvas.
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This is a photo of Diane and me taken at Lake Louise in Alberta recently. We had the pleasure of spending a week exploring the Canadian Rocky's and were totally mesmerized by it's beauty.
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.
We wish all of you a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!
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
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
"Art is both creation and recreation."
Lin Yutang
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Sterling Edwards / Artist, LLC
230 Sunny Acres Drive
Lewisville, NC 27023
USA
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