Andy Evansen Workshop

Last week, I spent a few days in central Michigan at a workshop given by Andy Evansen [pronounced even-son].   I can't say enough good things about the experience.

There were 14 of us in the class, all skill levels.  Andy demonstrated at least 6 paintings and we had a chance to do dozens of practice blurbs, as well as paint 3 or 4 pieces like these to take home. 

Andy was prepared, dynamic, funny, open, kind, and happy to be there.   It was one of the best workshops I've ever attended.

Here is some of the work I did during the class.  These first two pieces below were first demo-ed by Andy, then we went back and tried them ourselves.




Our focus was on really understanding and practicing the use of value studies as we prepare to do a piece.  The object of these activities was to do a value study first, then paint the color study on the same page.

This barn scene was a reference photo of Andy's.











This Puerto Rico street scene was one of Andy's reference photos, too.   We spent a lot of time practicing cars, people and wires. 

I'm loving that line of cars.

Finally, we worked on one of our own reference photos.  It was a totally different experience to have to choose the shapes, do the value study, then add the color on our own.

One of the things I liked best about the workshop was the very realistic and kind mindset Andy brought to the group. 

We were there to experiment and learn, not produce masterpieces.   There was no pressure to do something fabulous and no public critique.  Andy was there to answer questions and to offer suggestions.

This was really one of the best learning experiences I've ever had.

Upcoming Classes

Here are a few of my upcoming classes for August.   Email me with questions.   Click on the titles of the classes to go to the registration page and find out more.

 Watercolor for Relaxation

August 4, 2018.    9:00 am - noon

So often we sit down to creative work with the heavy expectation of creating a masterpiece...or at least something that will bring compliments from viewers.  The purpose of this class is to let go of the expectation of creating something perfect and finished and replace it with the calm of simply observing what the paint and water do together.   No expectations, just fun.  

We will play with color, learn how different pigments react with water, experiment with salt and plastic wrap effects, play with abstract compositions and a few other surprises.  

This class is appropriate for all levels of skill, including people who have never touched watercolor before.  [It will probably be hardest for people who are used to trying to paint 'something' instead of just playing].     Click on the title of the class above to register.

Color Mixing Bootcamp

August 4, 2018.   1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

For all creatives working in color!  You will learn how to mix any color you want using only 2 sets of primary colors.  

Appropriate for all mediums.   I will demonstrate with transparent dyes, but you are welcome to bring paint, colored pencils, fiber, ink, etc.  It will be useful for you to see how different mediums mix. Contact me ahead of time to make sure you bring appropriate primary colors. Click on the title of the class above to register.

The Artist's Way:  Getting Started

August 18, 2018.  1:00 PM  4:30 PM

Julia Cameron wrote The Artist's Way as a method for helping creatives identify their blocks and release their creative flow.   In this one-time class, we will start the process together and get you on your way to a happier and more productive creative life.   

If there is enough interest, we will schedule regular meetings to go through the entire Artist's Way or Vein of Gold books.  Click on the title of the class above to register.

Support is an important part of the process.   If you're an artist looking for better balance between your art, professional and personal lives, please feel free to check out and join my facebook group - 'The Well Balanced Artist'.  We are there to support each other in the journey.  

Loosening Up: A Class with Dale Popovich

© Robin Edmundson (with Dale Popovich), 'North Woods', watercolor, 12 x 16 inches

April 28th, I attended a class with Dale Popovich in Bloomington, Indiana. He did two demonstrations in the morning and we did a paint-along in the afternoon, one layer at a time. I learned a lot from him and was reasonably happy with the finished piece. 

His style of teaching is very fluid. He is able to talk as he works and as a group of experienced painters, we had a lot of questions about his process and thinking. He is very generous with information and it was a pleasure to learn with him. As we were painting, he would walk around and give feedback - the most valuable to me was, 'STOP painting now. Let it dry before you work it more.' I was happy to see that he would pick up a brush and actually show me what he was talking about on my piece. It was great to see exactly how he uses the tools. 

The composition was from a reference photo he provided and we all painted with the same colors in roughly the same way. Since the purpose of the activity was to be loose, I didn't worry about making it look just like his, I worried about making it look right given how the paint moved for me. I added more bold color in areas and focused on finding shapes and volumes that appeared for me. Yes, it was intense and I came home pretty wired. I jiggled things a bit more the next day and then STOPPED. It's in a frame now, safe from over-working.

Silk Dyeing Class

CLASS:  Dyeing Silk Fabrics 

March 24, 2018
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm

If you've ever wanted to make your own hand-painted silk scarves this is your chance! Hand-dyed silk scarves are a sure winner for gifts of all kinds. You'll have time to dye 6-8 scarves and they will be ready to wear home.

Using safe dyes, I will walk you through the entire process from prepping, to dyeing, overdyeing, rinsing and pressing.  This is a small class taught at my home studio of no more than four people.  Plenty of individual attention.

There are just a couple of spots left, so register soon!  For all the details and registration, go HERE.

You can see all of my classes HERE.

Color Workshop at MoonTree Studios

I've gotten requests lately about what classes I might be teaching this year.  I'm excited to announce that I'll be doing a Color Experience at MoonTree Studios in Plymouth, Indiana.  Friday-Sunday, April 21-23, 2017; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT    [Note:  The facebook announcement reads CDT, because fb insists that Plymouth is in the central time zone. They're wrong.  Erg.]

If you've been waiting for a chance to learn some color theory, and then have the time really run with it, this is your chance.   We'll do a half day class on Color to jump start you, then you'll have 2 1/2 days to explore color in your own direction.   I'll be there to cheer you on, help with more color theory, brainstorm, bounce ideas off of, etc.   It'll be a small-ish group between 6-8 folks in any area of art or fiber art. $320 for the three days [$290 if you're a member of MoonTree Studios]

Here's the link to the class:  Color Experience at MoonTree

Here's the plan for the class:

Participants will enjoy the luxury of time: three days to explore color, color harmonies, and color interactions in their medium of choice--all disciplines of fiber and visual arts are encouraged to attend.The diversity of participants and media will provide inspiration to others’ color explorations.Beginning with a formal presentation of Color Theory and Color Harmonies, we’ll subsequently split off to begin our own explorations of color in our medium of focus. Robin will provide knowledge and support all along the way. We conclude each day with a show and tell to look at what others are doing with other media, share progress, ask questions, share frustrations, and brainstorm. You’ll be encouraged to experiment and explore things you haven’t tried before, and explorations will be flexible enough to allow for change in direction if desired. Our emphasis is on the color exploration, not on completing a set of products by the end of the experience. (For example explorations and materials list, see their website - link above.)

I am really excited.  This is a class I've wanted to do for a long time, but the timing was never right.  When MoonTree approached me last year to talk about possibilities, I realized this was my chance to do this class.  

Here are some examples of things you might do:

• Weaver: Explore color by weaving a color gamp, then weaving a set of multicolored towels, each with a different weft. 
• Spinner: Explore color by playing with carded batts and singles, then explore color and plying.
• Dyer: Explore color by dyeing warps or skeins in different color harmonies.
• Painter: Explore color by doing a set of sample cards mixing your favorite pigments [for example a series of Greens cards each with a single blue and a line for each of your yellows].   OR  Paint the same simple scene in different lights or with different palettes.
• Knitter: Explore color in intarsia.  Do a simple motif in different colors
• Jewelry maker: Explore the same designs with different color harmonies.
• Scrapbooker/Papercrafter: Explore color by doing a series of layouts or greeting cards in different color harmonies.
• Quilter: Explore color by using the same color harmony in Light, Medium and Dark in different pieced motifs for a quilt top.
• General color exploration: 
• Explore color by making a color notebook with clippings of colors/magazines/fibers or samples [painted, knitted, etc.] organized into color harmonies in a dedicated notebook.   
• Get to know your color wheel.  
• Complete the Munsell Student Color Set pages - this alone will teach you more about color than 10 classes.

Email me if you  have questions - I'm happy to talk you through your plan for the weekend.  robin at morenna dot com.

Please come join us!   It's going to be So. Much. Fun.

Learn to Spin!

I'll be teaching a 3-day workshop on Spinning on a Spinning Wheel during the Fiber Frolic at White Violet Center in Terre Haute, Indiana on January 27-29th.

White Violet is located on the gorgeous grounds of St. Mary of the Woods College, just west of Terre Haute.  It's a lovely place to come for a weekend retreat.    I hope you can join us!

Jan. 27-29, 2012: Fiber Frolic

Cost:  $200
Includes: Materials and meals

Beginning levels of spinning, weaving and felting instruction. Classes occur simultaneously, so participants choose one area of concentration. No prior experience needed. Supplies and equipment furnished. Walk away with a finished project. 6:30 p.m. EST Friday to 11 a.m. Sunday. Cost: $200 (materials and meals included). Housing at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is available, so please inquire. Registration deadline is Jan. 13.

Sooner than you think, you'll be spinning yarn like this!