Color in Winter

When the weather is February gray, and you feel like you need a splash of color, try cutting up small pieces of watercolor paper and playing with watercolors, making brush strokes that feel natural to your hand.

I began this piece by splashing in watercolors.  After that layer was dry, I added India ink touches to pop the contrast up.

These are great to prop in a place you will see them, so you can benefit from their bright colors.  I dropped this one into a letter to my best friend.

Happy art-making!
 

Still Life Watercolor with a Ball Jar

The best subject to draw or paint is one you find fascinating and beautiful.  I use this Ball jar in my studio to hold water for my brushes, and I use it because I find it beautiful.

I wanted to practice painting its transparent, glassy, colorful form.  I began with a light pencil sketch, and laid in wet-in-wet washes of a variety of blues:  Prussian, Pthalo, and Cerulean. 

 I added in the cast shadow, and after the watercolor had dried, I added linework details with Faber Castell permanent black pens, and a Uniball white pen.

The final result was that I got to spend some time exploring watercolors and the way light passed through this gorgeous old jar.  I was pleased with the painting, but mostly, I was grateful for the time I got to spend creating with no other purpose in mind.

I find this sort of project to be healing and restorative after a busy day at work.  Peace resides in my art studio, and it feels grounding and like prayer to sit still and play with my art supplies.

I hope you spend some time playing with your art supplies soon!

Poetic Inspiration Accordion Fold Book

My dear friend recently shared the poetry of Rupi Kaur from her book Home Body.  I wanted to make an artful copy of those lines to tuck into a gift basket for my friend, so she could turn to them for inspiration and self care.

I got the idea of creating a book of quotes from artist Joanne Sharpe's blog "Whimspirations."

I began with a 3" x 20" piece of 140# cold pressed watercolor paper. I folded it in half, then folded each half in half again, etc., until I had an accordion book of blank pages.  

I painted each page with contrasting or analogous colors, creating designs and patterns on the fly.  I did this to both sides of the paper.

When the watercolor paint was dry, I wrote the poetry quotes over the painted designs with a white Uniball pen and a black Micron pen.  

I found that slowly writing these wise words over the colorful pages was calming, and wonderful self care for me in the moment. 

Why not make your own accordion fold book of your favorite quotes?  You can keep it to meditate on, or make one for someone you care about.  A gift of your artwork is a unique and special treat!

Art for Self-Care: Celebrate Your Art

 

Yesterday morning, as the sun splashed color on the distant clouds, I painted a quick landscape in my daily planner.  Peachy and golden hues highlighted a lavender cloud bank and caught my eye.  The simple act of painting, observing, & finding those colors on my palette, lifted my spirits.  

This morning, before the sun rose, I had my morning tea with that watercolor sketch.

I have a habit of propping little sketches and paintings I've done where I can see them throughout the day.  I recommend this practice. You instantly connect with that moment of artistic meditation, when you were focused on something you found beautiful.  

We could all use more beauty in our lives.  

Celebrate yourself and your artwork by finding a space to display your latest artwork -- even sketches & doodles.  The more you take joy in your art, the more art you create, and pretty soon, you find yourself following your bliss to new discoveries.

New Classes for the New Year -- Welcome 2021!

I think we're all ready to turn the calendar page to January and say goodbye to 2020!  Why not add some creativity to your new year?  Join me for these online and in person classes offered through the Community College of Beaver County, in Monaca, PA.

You can read more about them online here: https://www.ccbc.edu/arts

Live Online Class:

New! Introduction to Drawing via Zoom

Start off the new year by learning a new skill and develop your ability to draw in this guided class. Instructor Betsy Bangley will lead you through a series of activities designed to help you learn how to capture the world around you with a pencil on paper.

Play with art materials to find out how to make a variety of shades and line types, move on to sketching everyday objects, and build up to exploring perspective and textures. Discover a new way to express yourself and embark on an art adventure! 

Upon registration you will receive a Zoom link and list of materials.  Your email address must be included upon registration. 

Date: Mondays, April 19th – May 10th, 2021

Cost: $64 + $10 Lab 

Sessions: 4/Hours: 12

Time: 6-9PM 

Room: Zoom Online

Code: ARTS01603

In-Person Classes at the Monaca CCBC Campus:

New! Pastel Landscapes
Capture the fresh drawings of spring through pastel painting with instructor Betsy Bangley. You will be surprised how quickly you can lay down the colors of spring on a small landscape painting. Learn how to mix, blend colors and practice laying out small landscapes. You will build up to creating vibrant landscapes outdoors, weather permitting.

There will be no class on April 3rd.

Date: Saturdays, March 27th - April 17th, 2021

Time: 10am-1pm
Cost: $59+ $15 Lab
Sessions: 3 Hours: 9
Room: VFC, 3007
Code: ARTS03401

NEW! Making Hand Stitched Books
Craft your own personalized journal or a book to give to someone special. Join instructor Betsy Bangley for a morning of unleashing your creativity.

Date: Monday, April 12th, 2021

Time: 10am-1pm
Cost: $33 + $13 Lab
Sessions: 1 Hours: 3
Room: VFC, 3007
Code: ARTS03301

Creating Calm Through Art Explorations
All human beings are artists. Discover your natural creativity to help create calm in your lives. No previous art experience is necessary! Play with watercolor paints, create vision boards, and give yourself permission to try new art explorations to see where it leads you. All materials provided.

Date: Saturdays, May 1st - 15th, 2021 

Time: 10am-1pm
Cost: $59 + $36 Lab
Sessions: 3 Hours: 9
Room: VFC, 3007
Code: ARTS03202

How to Register:

To Register, call CCBC at 724-480-3575.

OR

Copy and print the above registration form and mail it to:

CCBC Admissions & Registration

1 Campus Drive

Monaca, PA 15061

OR

 Register online here: https://my.ccbc.edu/ICS/Continuing_Education/

Happy, Healthy, Artful New Year!  

I hope to see you in one of these classes in 2021!

A Visit to My Studio

Join me for a quick landscape sketch using watercolors as I look out the window of my barn loft art studio.

 

New Classes for Fall!

Join me for these in-person classes at the Community College of Beaver County in Monaca, PA.  Explore your own creativity this fall with an art class!  CCBC requires all students to wear a mask while in classes and campus buildings, and has reduced class sizes to make sure that there is space for students to practice physical distancing.

To register for these classes, visit ccbc.edu/conedregistration or call the school at 724-480-3575.

You can see the entire Continuing Education catalog here: https://ccbc.edu/community-education  Select from the subject headings in the gray box on the right side labeled "Community Education." These classes are under the "Art" heading.

NEW! Creating Calm Through Art Explorations

All human beings are artists. Discover your natural creativity to help create calm in your lives. No previous art experience is necessary! Play with watercolor paints, create vision boards, and give yourself permission to try new art explorations to see where it leads you. All that is required is a willingness to play with art supplies with the intention of self-care. All materials provided. 

Date: S. 9/19-10/3                              Cost: $59 + $30 Lab                         Sessions: 3/Hours: 9

Time: 10AM-1PM                                 Room: VFC, 3007                     Code: ARTS03201


Drawing People

Have you ever wished you could draw life-like people? All that is required is practice, a little instruction, and more practice! In each class, you will draw from real people who will hold poses from everyday life. No experience necessary!

Date: M. 9/14- 10/5                      Cost: $62 + $49 Lab                      Sessions: 4/Hours: 12

Time: 6-9PM                                  Room: VFC, 3007                          Code: ARTS01601


Inktober:

Capture a natural scene with watercolor & colored pencil, and make it pop with pen & ink touches. Experience creating outdoors and take inspiration from the brilliant autumn colors. Join us for a relaxing immersion into nature and your own creativity! Beginners are welcome!

Date: S. 10/10 – 10/24                 Cost: $49 - $10 Lab                      Sessions: 3/Hours: 9

Time: 9AM-12PM                         Room: VFC, 3007                         Code: ARTS01602


New! Pen & Ink

Learn to capture natural scenes with the simple, sharp lines of pen and ink. Learn a technique to minimize the stress of inking, and allow your creativity to flow. You will draw natural scenes and subjects using reference photos or natural objects brought into the art studio.

Date: R. 10/8 -10/22                   Cost: $49 + $10 Lab                      Sessions: 3/Hours: 9

Time: 6-9PM                                 Room: VFC, 3007                      Code: ARTS02901


Recycled Papermaking

Create your own artsy & unique papers out of a variety of upcycled materials in the first class. You will craft your paper into a journal, stationery or other creation. All materials are provided, though you can bring dried flowers, glitter, a favorite essential oil, or other items to include in your paper.

Date: W. 10/7-10/14                            Cost: $39 + $10 Lab                  Sessions: 2/Hours: 6

Time: 6-9PM                              Room: VFC, 3007                  Code: ARTS02801

Creating Calm Through Watercolor Explorations: Seashell Painting

In class on Wednesday, I asked my students to pick out a shell or other natural object that they were drawn to.  We made thumbnail sketches, selected an angle to paint it from, and then mixed paint colors and began capturing our shells on watercolor paper.  Here's my painting step-by-step.

The shell and the first washes of color:

Adding in the first shadows and some details:

More details added:

Gouache highlights:

The finished work: