The Joy of Watercolor Sketching NYC

                                  The Joy of Watercolor Workshop NYC   
 
                                                      June 6-8 , 2016      9:30-4 pm  

     I would love to have you join me if you happen to be in the NYC area. I am excited to teach and hopefully inspire others to give watercolor sketching a try . I will give you simple  instruction , using a minimal supplies to get you started in this new adventure and help you simplify the business of the city during the way. I will do demos and give personal instruction to help you on your own art journey . Please contact me for further information or check my website         Dianeklock.fineartstudioonline.com
   
  I hope you have  been painting and sketching as much as you can . I am finding I am doing more and more with my timer  and 30-45 minute windows  as life has been busy. It is amazing how much you can accomplish by weeks end. My sketchbook has become  my best friend during these busy days and during my travels and I am getting used to being watched while sketching on the bus but thrilled I am taking advantage of that smidgeon of time God had provided .
  In other news I am busy getting ready for a show in Tenants Harbor , Maine July 15 -16 if you are in the neighborhood please stop by.

Remember this sketch from my last post . It has found a new home .  I hope you enjoy this beautiful day the Lord has made and you are learning to take advantage of the short periods of free time you have to sketch or paint. Talk soon.
   
 

Plein Air Watercolor and Watercolor Sketching in NYC June 6-8, 2016

Where does the time go ?  It has been over a month since my last post and I have been busy as ever working with new students . It has been both a privilege and joy for me . I just love when I get to see students  having A HA ! moments succeeding where they thought otherwise.
    We covered both working in watercolor and sketching in ink and watercolor . Fun !
   I will be teaching a Plein Air Watercolor and Watercolor Sketching Workshop on June 6-8 from 9:30 - 4 pm   if you are interested. You can get more information on my website. dianeklock.fineartstudioonline.com Some of you may remember Steve Hall from the UK was doing this class but unfortunately he had to cancel so since I have the time already blocked out , I decided to do the class myself. I hope you will be able to join me .

Here is a lower Manhattan scene done with a sharpened stick and permanent ink with a wash of watercolor over it . I hope you can see the quick spontaneous sketch come through , so much fun to do.

Here is the same view , this one done with just a brush and watercolor .  I hope you enjoy seeing and comparing them , see you next time.

How I love gray days

    This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it  ; the verse I was thinking  of as I was walking to bible study this morning . This rather gloomy looking , misty , cool day on the streets of NYC , but how I love these days .
      Having just returned from sunny Florida and a workshop focusing on values ( tones of gray ) walking down the street was a delight . There were grays everywhere , warm ones , cool ones , light ones , dark ones and here is the part I love ,  pops of color , red lights, yellow taxi cabs, blue umbrellas  everywhere.
     I learned in Florida how little color you need to make a painting work , it is the values that hold the painting together . Here is a peek of a painting I did in class . Not planning on skipping color any time soon but sure did love the lesson I learned . Enjoy , and I hope you will take time to look closer at your surroundings on the next gray day that comes around.

I will be teaching a  Joy of Watercolor Workshop in Litchfield CT    March 22-23   if any of you would like to join us please let me know as I have a few spaces left.
 

My Workshop Teaching Schedule ....Ready For Spring

Hi there , I finally have all my workshops scheduled and confirmed so I wanted to share them with you all.  Please let me know if you are interested as I would love nothing more than to be able to inspire a new student or encourage my fellow artists to grow .

    The Joy of Watercolor Workshop    March 22 - 23 ,2016  Litchfield CT  Class will be held at the First Congregational Church of Litchfield  ...contact me if interested dianegklock@gmail.com  or look at my website www.dianeklock.fineartstudioonline.com

Come learn the joy of watercolor . We will paint with a simple palette , do lots of fun exercises while learning sound foundational principles of good painting and paint handling techniques. We will be painting from your photos and the exercises I will give you to do . We will also cover the importance of having and using a sketchbook . 

The Joy of Watercolor Workshop    April 13-14 , 2016  Litchfield CT  Class will be held at the First Congregational Church of Litchfield  ...contact me if interested dianegklock@gmail.com  or look at my website www.dianeklock.fineartstudioonline.com

Come learn the joy of watercolor . We will paint with a simple palette , do lots of fun exercises while learning sound foundational principles of good painting and paint handling techniques. We will be painting from your photos and the exercises I will give you to do . We will also cover the importance of having and using a sketchbook .

Sketching With Ink and Watercolor    April 15, 2016

Come explore the excitement of watercolor sketching . Watercolor sketching is a wonderful way to record your day or your travels . We will start in the classroom and then venture out after lunch to sketch in and around the Green in Litchfield   

IContact me if interested dianegklock@gmail.com or look at my website www.dianeklock.fineartstudioonline.com

The Joy of Watercolor Workshop   Old Forge , New York   August 30 ,2016

I will be teaching this one day workshop sponsored by the Central New York Watercolor Society . We will work with a limited palette while learning about shapes , values and foundational principles ,to make better paintings and  help you to grow as an artist. Please contact the View Arts Center , Old Forge, New York 315-369-6411

 Steve Hall  Workshop   Steve  is a  UK watercolor artist who will be conducting a plein air watercolor  workshop in  New York City  June 6-10 2016  If you are interested in attending please look at my website www.dianeklock.fineartstudioonline.com for additional information or email me directly at  dianegklock@gmail.com 

My New Timer and Workshop Announcements

Hi, hope you are sketching and painting away but if you still haven't gotten back into a routine I thought I would share one of my Christmas presents with you , a brand new timer.
      I know so many of us have trouble finding time to paint . I can only share what works for me and that is planning ahead . We all have time to do what we love or need to get done ,  to watch our favorite tv show , get a haircut , go to the dentist ,you know what I mean but when it comes to painting and sketching we tend to do it after all the other stuff is done and many times don't get to it at all. I am guilty of this all the time.
      I have found that planning to paint, sketch or have an artist date with myself  two to three times a week works pretty well most weeks and when it doesn't I don't beat myself up about it , life happens so I just know  God had a different plan for me that day.

I keep my sketching stuff handy and my easel always set up in the corner of my apartment as well as a  working sketchbook I can grab to try something out that comes to mind. On days when I have decided to paint . I do a few quick sketches to plan my composition, a value sketch and set my timer for say 30 or 60 minutes  when I am ready to paint and go for it.  ( This is doable for 1/8 to 1/4 sheet paintings ) With your painting planned ahead in your sketchbook you will know the clock is ticking so stick to your value sketch and get in and get out. The results will be fresher paintings with little fussing because you don't have time to fuss. Lol !  I hope this has encouraged you to set up a working area if you don't have one , get a sketchbook to keep near by .

Workshops ....

Steve Hall    He is a  UK watercolor artist who will be conducting a plein air watercolor  workshop in New York City  June 6-10 2016  If you are interested in attending please look at my website Dianeklock.fineartstudioonline.com for additional information or email me directly at  dianegklock@gmail.com 

Diane Klock     The Joy of Watercolor Workshop    March 22 - 23 2016  Litchfield CT  Class will be held at the First Congregational Church of Litchfield  ...contact me if interested dianegklock@gmail.com  or look at my website Dianeklock.fineartstudioonline.com

Come learn the joy of watercolor . We will paint with a simple palette , do lots of fun exercises while learning sound foundational principles of good painting and paint handling techniques. We will be painting from your photos and the exercises I will give you to do . We will also cover the importance of having and using a sketchbook . 

Diane Klock     Sketching on Location  Date to be announced...... Enjoy this wonderful day. See you next time.

Getting Back to it !

     Hi there,, I hope you have been keeping your brush wet and doing better job at that than I have lately.
     What am I doing today ?  Getting back into it , I actually started yesterday  starring at a blank sheet of paper wondering how to get back to it .

    I want to share what works for me when I have been away from my easel and  or
sketchbook for a while . We all have our own ways to restart but I thought I would share what works for me.
   First       I set my priorities  :  Mine are God , Family and Painting  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

   Second    I go back to what I know,  a review of sorts.  A few favorite brushes, simple palette auerolin yellow, permanent rose , cobalt blue  and lots of paper .

    Third     I take out some of my favorite art books looking for inspiration and then I begin with Bob's Blobs . Those of you who have taken classes from me know I love Robert Wade's Bob's Blobs as a great practice and exercise . Where you just put paint on little squares with no idea where you will end up . I did two sheets before lunch , I  guess I was thinking water , trees, and landscape when I did these , Lol !

    This afternoon I continued using my books doing little lessons and exercises that are in them and then finally went for two of my own from my recent photos of Maine . I hope you enjoy seeing them  and that you are inspired to open your sketchbook and stand at your easel and get back into it . No excuses on why you couldn't paint over the holidays  ( I didn't either )  but now it is time to get back to practicing and painting what you love .

I hope you enjoy seeing these and that they encourage you to get back to it . 

Merry Christmas

                         Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year

Isaiah 9:6
  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given : and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be Wonderful Counselor , Mighty God , Everlasting Father , Prince of Peace.