Take a class with Jennifer Balkan

Howdy! The great Jennifer Balkan...our guest artist for last month, just announced that she's putting together a new class. If you are interested, please read below! Thanks!

New class!!
We'll spend the first two classes sketching the figure in charcoal with our goals being (1) to see the figure as an abstract composite of dark and light shapes (values) in order to create a a strong value statement; (2) to get a proportionally accurate figure; both of which will contribute to a (3) compelling composition and statement of light and shadow.
The third and fourth classes, we'll paint using white and umber oil paint and create rich monochromatic figure compositions.

This class is designed for people who have some painting and drawing experience but are new to the figure.

Class meets Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 11/30-12/21.
Class size is limited to four.
Cost is $250 plus $45 model fee.
Class meets at my studio at 3109 Lafayette Avenue in East Austin.

Let me know if you're interested!

Cheers,
Jennifer




www.jenniferbalkan.net

How to MAKE COMMENTS on this blog

For those of you who might be new to blogging, we wanted to take some of the mystery out of how you can make comments about what you're reading here, so we thought some instructions might be a good idea. It's actually very easy, but there is one simple requirement; you need to be set up with any one of the six following types of accounts.

Google Gmail | LiveJournal | WordPress | TypePad | AIM | OpenID
If you already have one of these you're ready to start, just jump to the instructions below in "making your comment". If not, click on Google Gmail, LiveJournal, WordPress or OpenID above, (which are all free by the way), to either get an account or learn more about them. We suggest using Google Gmail because that's probably the easiest account to set up AND you won't have to enter another id and password when you want to make a comment. You don't have to use your Gmail account for your everyday email, you just need it to make comments on this (or any other) blog. (But it's always good to have a second email address anyway.) We also suggest that once you log into your new Google account, that you don't ever log out. It will automatically reopen whenever you start your computer and that way you will always be ready to comment here. And that's a good thing!

Making Your CommentOnce you have your account created, look for the word "comments" with a number in front of it near the bottom of the posting. The number is how many comments have already been made. If it's 0, that means you get to be first!

Just click on the "comments" link to open the box where you type your comment. When you've "had your say" look below for the place to choose your account type (the one of the six above that you created). If you're using a Google account it's probably already selected for you. Then click on "Post Comment" or "Preview"; either takes you to the next step.

If you want to change anything in your comment before you send it, click on "Edit" in the box, make your changes and "Preview" again.



When you're ready, look in "Word verification" for a group of letters that you will need to type into the little window right below them. (If this step gives you trouble, don't worry, there are unlimited "do overs" here.)

Click the "Post Comment" button AND YOU'RE DONE! :)

Now that didn't hurt much, did it? :)

Elements Art Reception

Please join me and wonderful artists at Austin Details Art + Photo on Saturday, October 22nd.  Space, design, color, and light unite in this exhibit.  1-3pm.  106 E 8th Street. Featured artists include Rebecca Bennett, Sharon Keshishian, Carol Lyon, Cheryl Rae, Thomas Jack Hilton, and Jann Alexander.  My 3D work will be on display and I would love to share it with the WCAG.

WCAG October Framer's Gallery Report

Wow, another one of our brand new members won the People's Choice Award. Congratulations goes to Kay Dimitri for her oil painting, "The Door." This painting and the art of other WCAG members will be on display at The Framer's Gallery, located at 610 S. Main in Georgetown, TX until November 2nd, 2011. So be sure to go by and take a look at the great art there!

Art Hop 2011

Howdy! I just wanted to remind everyone that Art Hop starts tonight with a reception from 6pm to 8 pm at the Georgetown Public Library. Make sure that you check out the exhibit. Have a great weekend!

Origin Magazine Party and Art Exhibit tonight!

Good morning!  Tonight is Origin Magazine's Party and Art Exhibit at Quattro Gallery (Audi Dealership on Pond Springs).  It's open to the public.  I would love for some WCAG members to come!  There will be food, drinks and various artists.  The event will go until late.  DJ Spooky will be spinning and signing his book at 11pm.  I hope it's a big hit!  This is one of my paintings featured in the show.  Off the Hook | 36 x 24 x 1.5 | 2011 | acrylic on canvas

Chadwick and Spector at Jerry's Artarama

Okay... I just got an email from Jerry's Artarama that they are having Chadwick and Spector talking about their art this Saturday, October 1st from 12-2pm. This should be great and I am sure that a lot of people are going to be there. Unfortunately, I won't be able to be... but go and tell me all about it!

George Brainard Photography

Howdy! Last year, we had the honor to have George Brainard come and speak to the Art Guild about his Race Fans pictures taken in the dragway... He was a great speaker and had so many great stories to tell. While working on this year's banner project, I found this little video. So, if you did not make it to that meeting, this is a great way to recap... or see actual film footage of George hard at work.

e-Suggestion Box

The WCAG has a new Suggestion Box!
Click here to check it out.

David Ball - Banner Project Participant

Postcards from the Unconscious- David Ball from Colin M Day on Vimeo.

One of the things that I love about curating the Banner Project is all the art that I get to admire... all the things that I get to learn. It's an opportunity to make new connections and re-kindle some old ones. There's so much great art out there and not enough time to appreciate it. I met David Ball over 20 years ago back in my Boston Days. Our paths crossed again recently and when I saw his work, I had to invite him to participate in the banner project. In this video, he talks about "Postcards from the Unconscious", his latest body of work.

You can also check out his website

STINGER STUDIO "Studio Clean-Out" SALE

On Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th, Stinger Studio is sponsoring a  SALE for those of us who have too much art accumulating.    I'm bringing about 25 pieces so come one and come all if you would like a Sue Nosler Gray at 50 to 80% off.    I guess we should call if  "Help us make more space"  sale.   That would work!  Thanks Sonia!

Painting as sculpture

I thought that this was quite interesting... Margie Livingstone thinks out of the box, or shall we say out of the tube. I thought that it's very creative!

Meeting Reminder

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick reminder that the Williamson County Art Guild's monthly meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday, September 6th at the Windberg Art Center, 7100 N IH 35. Social time starts at 6:30 and the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. We are excited to have Robbie Ortiz as our guest speaker to kick off our 2011-2012 season.

Hope to see you there!

Cindy Tauer-Eckart

Publicity Chair

WCAG First Friday Report

September’s First Friday was a huge success despite the summer’s unrelenting heat. Several long standing members and several new members are displaying their art at the Framer’s Gallery located at 610 S. Main in Georgetown, TX. During the First Friday event, viewers cast votes for their favorite art piece. New member, Janelle Cox, won the People’s Choice Award with her oil painting, “This is the Life.” Congratulations, Janelle!

Participating member’s art will be on display at the Framer’s Gallery until October 5th, 2011.

Members who would like more information about showing their art at the Framer’s Gallery should click here to visit the Guild's website and then click on the “Info for Members” tab.

Membership Meeting - Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Greetings Fellow Artists and Art Aficionados:

Thankfully the end of the long, hot, memorable summer of 2011 is drawing to a close, and that means that the Williamson County Art Guild's monthly membership meetings will commence starting in September!

Nick, our Program Chair has put together a fabulous line up of guest speakers for the 2011/2012 season, so please mark your calendars for next Tuesday, September 6th when our guest speaker will be Robbie Ortiz. Robbie Ortiz is a cubist artist based in Austin, TX. Robbie participated in the 2009 edition of the banner project. For a preview you can check out his website.

The WCAG Board is very excited about the coming year in art, and we hope to see you at 6:30 p.m. on September 6th for social mingling and chit chat, and then the program and short business meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. The challenge for this meeting is "Tools."

Hope to see you there!

Cindy Tauer-Eckart

WCAG Publicity Chair

Personal Choices - A WCAG Members Exhibit

We are just about a week away from the start of the new year... Even before we start our monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 6th. the annual WCAG members exhibit at the Library opens next Friday, September 1st. We would like to remind everyone, that the drop off date is this upcoming Wednesday, August 31st. It should be a great show. Thanks Marianne for all of your hard work. I am attaching the poster art for the upcoming exhibit.

Finally!

Ok, I am finally posting! With all my health issues and busy schedule I just haven't had time or felt like getting on the computer. I finally figured out how to post so here it goes. These are two paintings that I put in the Central Texas Pastel Society's Annual Competition and Exhibit. I won the Merit Award for Still life's for "The Little Mexican Hats"

I also won People Choice Award for "Ponderin' CowPoke". They are both pastel. The cowboy was from a photo I took at Up the Chisholm Trail Drive. They had a chuck wagon cook off and this cowboy won about 8 awards. I took many pictures of him as he waited to see who would win the next award. I thought his face was very fascinating. Each time his name was called his grin got bigger and bigger. Each time in between awards he waited with anticipation.

Walt Whitman, pencil drawing by Kirk Witmer

Pencil portrait - 9x12" on 100lb Bristol
American poet Walt Whitman (1819–92) Author of "Leaves of Grass"
I posted last month that I'd taken up pencil drawing. I've done five portraits so far, with this being my fourth. If you'd like to see the others they're posted on my blog.
The source photo for this is known to be one of several taken of Whitman at the time, but he chose this pose as his favorite.

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Visit Kirk Witmer Fine Art

Email the artist at: khwitmer@juno.com

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Click here to see more comments about this work from artists world-wide.

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If you'd like to get advance notice of my upcoming works before
they're even listed at auction, click here to submit your email.

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May 2012 - Guest Speaker

Okay! So, we only have a couple of weeks before our 2011-2012 year stars. I am happy to announce that artist and printmaker Amy Guadagnoli will be our guest artist for our meeting for the month of may next year. Amy is an Austin based artist and currently serves on the board for Georgetown Art Works. May might seem like a long time from now, but this year we are making a bigger effort to be organized, so that our members can plan in advance for our meetings and invite others to attend. We want to make the guild more exciting and make it grow in 2011-2012. To check out Amy's work, you can visit her website.

Nan Brown and Sue Gray @ North Hills Gallery