Value and Perception

Anytime you devalue an artist, or a piece of artwork - asking for it to be less, or free - expecting an artist, an illustrator, a designer, a painter to work for nothing - or close to it... 
Just take a moment and think what this world would be like without the artists and creatives that have devoted their time and lives to honing, developing and perfecting their skills, their art and their craft.
Imagine a world without any art museums
or if every children's book was just text
if there were no illustrations in comic books
if every book cover was blank except for a text title, identical to all other books
if every painting in your home was a blank canvas
if every pattern on your linens, dishes, home decor and clothing were just a Blank White Space.

And when you de-value the art teachers that are inspiring and instructing the next generations of creators to reach their potential and use their God-given talent.. what if they weren't there to do their part? 

Imagine what a colorless, dull, uninspiring world we would live in.
Just imagine.


If you would like to see my work that is full of color and life, emotion and feeling please visit ErinGoPaint
 

Spending time contemplating Time

 Spent a little quiet time with my coffee and sketchbook this morning, considering how many of us hurtle through every day in a race against the clock. A race that really can not be won.

"Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend."  Theophrastus

"As if you could kill time without injuring eternity." Henry David Thoreau

"Time flies over us, but leaves it shadow behind." Nathaniel Hawthorne

"We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right." Nelson Mandela

Sketch Course set for Jan Feb 2016

Regular/daily sketching is a challenge for professional artists, beginners and everyone in between - and yet it is the most recommended practice to: 

Improve your skills

Develop greater focus 

Sharpen observational skills

Experiment with new ideas/concepts.

The First Sketch course of 2016 has been scheduled for the following dates:
Tues Jan 12
Tues Jan 26
Tues Feb  9
Tues Feb 23

7:00 pm - 8:30pm

At Geralyn's Art Studio, 103 Baker Street, Maplewood NJ 07040.

Details:

All levels welcome as everyone will work at their own pace/level.

$50 per person for a total of 4 sessions over a period of 8 weeks

Sketch from life, objects, people at meetings with Drawing exercises at each meeting

Sketch ideas and drawing prompt emails will be emailed every 3 or 4 days to help keep you going.

Shared creative environment

Accountability to help keep you sketching

Encourages daily sketching from life and observation

We are working on securing a clothed model for for two sessions - there will be additional model fee of $5.

Sketchers acquire all their own supplies (small portable sketchbook, pencil, a permanent marker, and a small travel watercolor set if you are interested in watercolor sketches). Choose a sketchbook that is easy to keep with you daily.

Facebook group page for members to share their sketches in between meetings.

To register contact Geralyn's Art Studio at 973-275-1966
Payment will need to be made in advance to reserve your space.  

There is a maximum of 14 students for this course.

To view more of my work online visit my portfolio

and my online shop ErinGoPaint

Sketching Club Course

Regular/daily sketching is a challenge for professional artists, beginners and everyone in between - and yet it is the most recommended practice to: 

Improve your skills

Develop greater focus 

Sharpen observational skills

Experiment with new ideas/concepts.

The Sketch Group course will run on 3 Tuesday evenings (and 1 Wed evening), starting on Nov 3rd, 7-9pm, as follows: 
Tues Nov 3 
Wed Nov 18
Tues Dec 1 
Tues Dec 15
At Geralyn's Art Studio, 103 Baker Street, Maplewood NJ 07040.

Details:

All levels welcome as everyone will works at their own pace/level.

4 sessions over a period of 8 weeks

Sketch from life, objects, people at meetings with Drawings exercises at each meeting

Daily emails of sketch idea that will also serve as your sketch reminder. 

Shared creative environment, and accountability.

Encourages daily sketching from life and observation

$48 per person for a total of 4 sessions

Sketchers acquire all their own supplies (small portable sketchbook, pencil, a permanent marker, and a small travel watercolor set if you are interested in watercolor sketches)

Pinterest group page for members to post their sketches in between meetings, and for sketch idea prompts.

Any questions just let me know.

To register contact Geralyn's Art Studio at 973-275-1966
Payment will need to be made in advance to reserve your space.

Boot wearing season

Get Up
Dress Up
Show Up!

My thought - and mantra for the day!

The Dressmaker, a vignette

Enter the Dressmaker's charming cottage.  She leads you up the staircase to her studio,  the air heavy with the past.  With history.  With memories of all the dresses, and the women, and the stories that came before you. So many stories.  Some memories faded and receding. All held within the dress form.

What will she create and craft for you?  How will the fabric, the mannequin and your story guide her? How does she see you?  How do you imagine yourself?  Will she bring to life a commanding stiff brocade,  a shimmering iridescent taffeta,  or a soft, flowing and ethereal chiffon.  

She will be inspired by your story,  your essence,  your dreams.  So cozy up on her workroom sofa, sipping the hot tea and she will quietly, gently ask questions as you examine the fabrics. And she will learn your story. She will create a dream of a gown that is for you alone.

And your story will be held and cherished by the mannequin on which it was sculpted, adding to it's rich history.

Kitchen Nook illustration

A cozy kitchen breakfast nook, accented with red!
I was not finding the room templates I wanted to show my paintings and prints on the wall of a room... so I am creating my own.  Sketching and designing rooms that I love.