Check out the latest Gordon Harris Newsletter!

Check out the lastest Gordon Harris Newsletter !

http://email.shoutpoint.co.nz/t/ViewEmail/r/67252825D8FF02E3/EBDABE5A99F7550EF1E87EB810D8F10A

Art tip of the week- Gesso…

My Art Tip of the Week

What is and why would you use Gesso ?

Gesso is an acrylic undercoat / primer and comes in  White or Black

Using Gesso – gives a ground to your surface, thus allowing a layer between the paint and substrate surface. ( which means you ultimately use less paint)

- Gesso is Very Opaque so covers up painting errors very well.

-Gesso needs to be used on any Wooden Board before painting and acts as a undercoat which protects the boards surface from any dampness that could be effected from applying straight paint.

Just a reminder to check out my Creative Blog … :)

Hi everyone just a little reminder that if you are interested in checking out my creative blog you can see it by clicking here :)

 http://donnasteelsblog.wordpress.com/

“Transform “Playing around with transfering My Painting and Photography images to create…..

Transform - By Donna Steel

Playing around some of my Artwork Images and my own photography came up with this Image – Transform

cheers Donna

Check out my new Weekly – Art tip of the Week! Tip 1.

Donna’s Art Tip of the Week – Titanium Vs Zinc White ?

My Art Tip of the Week - Sunday 8th January 2012

Tip 1. Titanium Vs Zinc White ?

Make sure when mixing White to a colour you use the right one for what you are wanting!

Titanium White is more opaque and when added to a colour changes that colour giving it more of a Pastel Tone.

Zinc White is more Translucent and when added to a colour just slightly tones down that original colour rather than changing the overall tone of it.

See Below

Titanium Vs Zinc White!

Taylors Mistake – Mixed Media 4 Sale

Taylors Mistake - Mixed Media

 Below is some close up photos of the rocks and houses in original artwork above.

close up rocks and houses

close up of houses

1020mm x 510mm

4 Sale

$5500.00

Taylors Mistake is one of my all time favourite places in Canterbury and love the lovely old iconic baches that are nestled into the side of the hill.

This artwork has been created using my own photography for inspiration and likeness, the beautiful Golden Mediums and Paints.  This artwork comes with a Certificate of authenticity with the Artworks number and products used to create it.

For more information please contact Donna at donnasteel1@xtra.co.nz

Art Workshops Coming Soon !

I can’t believe how fast 2011 has gone by, especially down here in Christchurch!  I must admit it has been a year I really would not want to repeat in a hurray!!

2012 will be hear before we know it!   I am  currently busy preparing next years Art Workshop and Classes !

Because of the Earthquakes this year the venue I was hiring has been used by Civil Defence and the Council while their buildings have been repaired.

So it looks like as from March 2012 this venue will be back in action. Yay!!  So I am busy working preparing some up coming Art Workshops!

Workshops will be held on Saturdays, there will be a minimum and maximum number of places in these workshops and bookings will  be essential.

Just to give you a little heads up on what some of the up coming workshops will be on ….

Exploring Colour and Colour Mixing- Looking at the different pigments Organic vs In-Organic, Metalic and Reflective Pigments, including Interference Colours

Types of Acrylic Paint – Fluid, Air Brush, Heavy Body and Open Acrylic

Mediums -  (Gel) Creating Texture using a wide variety of  Gel Mediums

Mediums – (Paste) Creating Texture using a wide variety of Pastes

Transfers – We will look at different techniques for transfering images into artworks.

Skins – Explore what acrylic skins are and what you can do with them, including looking at digital transfers onto skins.

Collage- Mixed media collage

Substractive techniques -  engraving, Layering, sanding back acrylic surfaces and using different ways to work back into your artworks giving great layering effects.

Pours- Using different Mediums

Acrylic Ancaustic

Drawing, and resists with acrylic

Drawing Surfaces and what to use on your artworks to allow you to draw,  Grounds, Additives

Working with Open Acrylics

Learning different Painting Techniques

Preparing your canvas to paint- supports, priming surfaces, and looking at different tools you can work with to create effects.

Acrylic Painting – using mixed media

Abstracts – using mixed media

Landscapes – using mixed media

Planning Artworks and looking at Perspective

Art and Music …. !

After being introduced to this theory of how the condition of Water changes its form when it is exposed to various types of environments, moods and emotions  music and energy…  check out some of the amazing photos taken … http://www.our-drinking-water.com/water-crystals-hiroshima.html

So I thought I would create this artwork as a present for a good friend of mine who is an energy healer !

I thought that I would see what would happen if I put on some lovely peaceful Meditation music  added some  mediums and colour to a canvas and let it flow!

This is what I got ….

Flow - An artwork created and shaped by music

Flow could also go this way....

Sorry this Artwork is Not For Sale

If you would like your own Artwork created to music, a wide choice of colours.

Please note that these artworks are totally spontanious, original, unique and cannot be duplicated!

Contact Donna for more details :) donnasteel1@xtra.co.nz

Basilica – Sold

 

Basilica - Sold

Miniature

Acrylic

Sold

 

I was just driving past this beautiful Church this morning… Heart Breaking to see it lying in pieces :(

 

Finally ! Art Classes for young teens!

I believe that art is a great way for Children  and Young people to express themselves!

I am really pleased to announce some EXCITING NEWS !!

Young Teen Art Classes at Papanui High 6-8pm Thursday nights  2012!! 

Term 1 2012 Papanui High School

Art –The Next Step- Painting and Mixed Media for your Teens

Learning how to create your own works of Art while experimenting and playing with Acrylic Paints and Mediums.

This class will provide an opportunity to discover your own creativity by exploring some exciting and unique forms of acrylic paints and mediums.  You will grow in confidence as you learn product knowledge and different techniques to create your own unique works of art!

This Class would be great for Teens that love art at school, that enjoy art but maybe bored and need some challenges, teens that would like to  expand their knowledge and explore different forms of paints and  mediums.

.1) Learn the differences between acrylic paints and mediums such as Paints, Gels, Pastes, Grounds and Additives

2) -Explore Colour: Modern vs Mineral pigments and experiment with colour mixing.

3) – Look at different forms of textures such as  fibre glass, papers, ribbons, textures, pastes, gels, and additives .

4) – Experiment with different painting techniques such as painting, washes and impasto painting .

5) – Ideas and Composition – Working on how to come up with ideas and then how to translate them into your own  unique works of art.

For more information of starting dates and prices etc… please contact Papanui High Schools, continuing education department!

http://intranet.papanui.school.nz/course/view.php?id=127