Paul George, a popular New England watercolor artist, will be back again at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops, May 31 – June 6, 2009. There is still room in this workshop, so won’t you join this enjoyable and inspiring workshop. Check out our website for more details and enrollment rates.

Paul has a BS from Northeastern University, Boston, MA. He studied at the MFA school in Boston. Paul is signature member of the National Watercolor Society. He is also an active member of the New England Watercolor Society,Cape Cod AA, North Shore AA and former Vice President of the Rockport Art Association.

Paul’s painting “Winterblues” was accepted by the American Watercolor Society for their 133rd exhibition at the Salmagudi Club in NY City.

He has also won the Winsor & Newton Award for Excellence in Watercolor at the National Watercolor Society. He has won many awards including the Gold Medal from the New England Watercolor Society. His work is in collections throughout the United States and Europe. Now a professional artist, Paul resides in Ipswich, MA. He has been teaching oil and watercolor workshops in Cape Ann Ma, Monhegan Is. ME, and Florida since 1996. His work can be seen at The George Gallery in Gloucester, MA.

Paul was teaching a 3-day workshop at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops in 2007. Here he is working with Lorraine and Karen in our studio. Lorraine and Karen thought that 3-days was too short a time with Paul George in 2007, so they will both be back this year for his 5-day workshop!

Laura Cater-Woods will be returning once again to teach here at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops – May 11 – 17, 2009. This is right after Mother’s Day. What a great way for a mother or any woman to spend a week! You deserve it, so come on and join us.

We always look forward to seeing Laura and so do her students. She has been nominated for Professional Quilter’s Teacher of the Year in 2004, 2006, and 2009.

Here are some pics from her workshops here in 2006 and 2007.

In 2006, everyone spent so much time laughing around the dinner table, it’s a wonder that they were able to eat anything!

In this picture, they are learning about gel printing. Laura teaches a number of different techniques.

This is Mary B from Canda and the piece she started in the 2006 workshop.

This is Pat D. working on her project in the 2006 workshop.

As an added bonus in Laura’s workshop, she leads evening discussions on topics such as nurturing the creative self, getting around an “artist’s block” and building a series.

Laura is a working studio artist with an extensive international exhibition record and numerous awards. Her mixed media and fiber art work is held in international public, private and corporate collections.
After completing an M.F.A. in Painting (Ohio University, 1990) she began to integrate her love of fabric and thread with her approach to drawing and painting. Her images explore the textures and rhythms of details from the landscape, often interwoven with eccentric grids.

In addition to Public Art Projects, Percent For Art Commissions, and gallery exhibitions, Laura teaches Internationally for conferences, guilds, shops and private groups. She juries and judges for fiber exhibits, all media shows and quilt shows. In 2008 she was honored to be one of the Juror/Judges for the International Bead Museum’s first juried show.

Nominated for Professional Quilter’s Teacher of the Year, 2004, 2006, and 2009, she is known as a nurturing and inspiring facilitator who offers highly personalized instruction. She is also a Creativity Coach and works with private clients: writers, musicians and visual artists.

In 1998-99 she was honored with a Montana Arts Council Fellowship in Visual Arts, Mixed Media.

This is the last day of this 3-day workshop and everyone is wishing it were longer!

This is one of the practice exercises created by Jean M. Great colors!

This piece was created by Judy S. Wonderful texture and movement.

Here is one by Karen A.

Another of the leaf exercise. Sorry, I don’t know who did this one!

The workshop had a little mascot – Dante, who came with Jody P. He is a sweet little Yorkie.

When Jody arrived, Delores, our office assistant, told her that her “roommate” must have already arrived because she didn’t see the check-in packette for the person listed on Jody’s form as her roommate. Jody said, “What, I’m not suppose to have a roommate!” So Delores found me and said, “I think there is a problem here. Jody says that she is not suppose to have a roommate.” I took a look at the check-in form and saw the name “Dante” as roommate. I had to laugh and explain to Delores that Dante was Jody’s dog! She had not mentioned the roommate’s name to Jody.

We do have several pet friendly rooms at the inn and so sometimes people will bring their dog. Dogs are not allowed in the studio during a workshop, unless there unanimous approval by teacher and students and, of course the dog must be an angel in behavior!

Carol’s class began today and already everyone is getting into the hang of thread painting. They stated out with learning to do color gradations.

Next they painted a rough image or design on canvas and then covered the image with thread, using various shades and colors for the gradations. Very cool looking work!

This is the image that Jenny was working on.

If you’ve gone to our website or to Carol’s website to see Carol’s work, well, I can tell you that as amazing as it looks in pictures, it is even more amazing in person.

Carol’s new book by Interweave Press will be coming out soon. Put in your order now! I’ll certainly be getting a copy for our library.

Another workshop comes to a close. Esterita Austin lead this wonderful group in creating some amazing portraits.

This piece was created by Susan K. A great likeness of her friend!

Here is one by Sandy C., who came with her sister from India. She did a fantastic job capturing the expression and mood of her original photo.

This is a self-portrait of Carol D. I love the colors in the her hair in the portrait!

Alison C. is well on her way to one incredible portrait. I can’t wait to see it when it is finished.

No one in the group had done any portraits or drawing in the past. So these results were Esterita’s teaching and techniques added to the creativity and willingness of each student.

I took this picture of Susan taking a picture of her piece.

Teri provided invaluable individual assistance to anyone who needed it. With so many years experience as an art teacher, she knows just how to approach each student and offer advice and/or encouragement along the way.

I surely wish I had been able to attend this workshop! Maybe next time – Teri will be back in 2011 in the summer.

We have a small but spirited group here for Esterita (Teri) Austin’s workshop. They are working on portraits also, but in this workshop the focus is on creating dramatic portraits by emphasizing the dark and light values. The portraits are also all in fabric rather than drawn in ink on fabric. Two techniques, two very different results, but both wonderful to learn.

Teri is the type of teacher we love to have here. She is enthusiastic and knows her stuff!

This is Alison, who is working on a portrait of her husband on his made-from-the-ground-up Triumph motorcycle. A very ambitious project, but already it is looking great.

Here are another couple examples of a portraits in progress.

The group found some wonderful batik fabrics to work with from their shopping expeditions to Woodstock Quilt Supply and Log Cabin Fabrics.