March 2015 – Hudson River Valley Art Workshops

An Interview with Elizabeth Barton, Art Quilt Designer and Instructor

March 26, 2015

Elizabeth Barton creates exciting contemporary art quilts, using abstract art principles for inspiration. She returns to the Hudson River Valley Fiber Art Workshops to teach a five day class, Abstract Art for Quiltmakers, August 16 to 22, 2015.

ElizabethBarton 2015

How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?

Since 1986…started because I wanted to learn more myself and teaching is a very good way to do that!

What is your favorite part about teaching?

It’s extremely rewarding when somebody has been stuck at a certain stage sometimes for years and suddenly you can help them see the way through!

What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop?

Useful information that you can take home and apply to many different quilts.

Individual personal critique – immediate feedback.

The shared enthusiasm of working alongside kindred spirits.

What are you currently working on in your own art?

I’m revisiting some older ideas with new subjects.

Where is your art currently being exhibited?

A couple of galleries in the South East, the touring Quilt National 2013, Atlanta airport: Gate 27 Concourse E.

Is your work represented in galleries, and if so, what hints would you give to artists looking for gallery representation?

That they look for a gallery that specializes in similar work.

Do you sell your work in any online gallery?

From my website: www.elizabethbarton.com and from my blog: www.elizabethbarton.blogspot.com. Not from any of the commercial online galleries – I’ve heard very mixed reports.

What is your favorite art quote?

Sergei Eisenstein the great Russian filmmaker said: “Careful planning and brilliant improvisation.”

Describe your studio.

I have different rooms for different activities. A large walk out basement with sinks etc., and large print tables for dyeing and printing. A command center with design wall, computer and sewing machine. And an art library and sketching area.

Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products.

Pencil and paper, rotary cutter, T-square, protractor, camera, computer, sewing machine, and unlimited cups of tea!

Read more of our recent Instructor interviews:

An Interview with Tony van Hasselt, Watercolor Artist

An interview with Lorenzo Chavez: Prominent Landscape Painter in Pastels and Oils

An Interview with Leah Lopez, Award-Winning Artist and Instructor

An Interview with Frank Francese, Watercolor Artist

An Interview with David Daniels: Artist in Watercolor + more

An interview with Judy Coates Perez, mixed media textile artist.

Interview with Liz Kenyon, Pastel Painting Instructor

Patti Mollica discusses creating her art, and teaching

An Interview with Kim English, Oil Painter

An Interview with Barbara Nechis, Watercolor Artist

An interview with Hollis Chatelain: Fiber Artist

An Interview with Natalya Aikens: Computer + Stitch = Art Quilt

Ruth Powers: Designing and Sewing for Picture Piecing

Still Life to Landscapes with Leah Lopez

March 23, 2015

The 2015 season of workshops at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops has begun. The first workshop was a wonderful 5-day workshop taught by Leah Lopez, “Still Life to Landscapes.”

Below is an unfinished painting that was part of a demo presented by Leah on the first day.

Everyone set up their workspace and got right to work.

This class really enjoyed the dinner cuisine and showed up early and eager for dinner each night. Charles N., who had come along to while his wife took the workshop, said, “My wife will want to come back for a workshop, but I’ll want to come back for the food. You really should tell people about the wonderful food.”

One of the starters for this year is a Xiaolong Bao, a Shanghai-style soup dumpling! Yum.

On one of the next days, Leah challenged the group with 15 minute exercise painting landscape impressions.

Jayne was seriously intent on her still life painting!

Below is another of the dishes, Red Cooked Chicken, another Shanghai-style dish. The chicken was so tender and flavorful, and just fell off the bones.

Here is chef Mark, dishing up a helping of Yongchow Fried Rice with Roasted Pork, Shrimp, Peas, that is then topped with tender slices of skirt steak.

One of my favorites of this year are the Cha Siu Bao, Pork Buns. They are made fresh in our kitchen the day that they are served. I could make a meal of just these!

Saturday was check out day, but some of the folks stuck around to enjoy the annual St Patrick’s Day parade that marches right past the front of the inn. It had snowed a couple of inches the night before, but with a little delay in the start time of the parade, by the time it did start most of the new snow had already melted!

An Interview with Tony van Hasselt, Watercolor Artist

March 21, 2015

This summer Tony van Hasselt, A.W.S. teaches an exciting plein air watercolor workshop at inspiring locations in the beautiful Hudson River Valley. Tony’s 5-day class, Watercolor in Nature’s Studio will be held August 9 to 15, 2015 at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops in Greenville, NY.

How long have you been teaching and what got you started?

To earn a living while attending art school in New York, I became one of the first workshop organizers and studied under painters who taught on those workshops I organized. In that way, my watercolor heros, Rex Brandt, Tom Hill, John Pike, Edgar Whitney and Robert E. Wood, became my mentors and friends.

Based on that education, watercolor became my primary painting medium and I started teaching my own plein air workshops in the 70’s after being elected to full membership in the American Watercolor Society.

What is your favorite part about teaching? Meeting all the wonderful participants over those many years. Despite different ages and backgrounds, we all have one thing in common: we all strive to improve. This makes for warm camaraderie and friendships which carry on long after a workshop is over. Many such friends become “groupies” whose familiar faces show up at different workshop locations I teach.

ME BB REG AD Treasure Island

What would you tell students are the best reasons for taking a workshop? A workshop is a short, concentrated study time where you have the opportunity to fully focus on art, without the usual distractions and obligations. It offers the opportunity to see how a pro approaches a subject and brings it to completion. When students paint, they benefit from the instructor’s personal guidance and during group critiques have the opportunity to observe how their own work as well as that of the group, can be improved upon.

ME After the Rain

What are you currently working on in your own art? I have gypsy blood, love to travel and painting on location, so new surroundings offer the inspiration I need to explore excitingly different subject material.

FB Maeve 72

Where is your art exhibited? Here in Maine, there are three galleries which show my work.

I also show in a gallery in Charleston, South Carolina.

MA Reflections

What is your favorite art quote? I quote my fellow Dutchman Henry van Dyke: “Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”

My own quotes? “There are no failures. They are deposits in the bank named Future Success.” And: “You can’t learn from timidity.”

ME MAG FULL

Describe your studio. Nature is my studio without walls. 80 percent of the work is done on location while finishing touches are added in my studio.

ME Liberty Farm 300

Name your “can’t do without” tools/products.

A sturdy outdoor easel. I prefer the Jullian half box French easel and when flying, the Winsor & Newton Bristol watercolor easel since it is lightweight and fits into a suitcase or duffel bag.
A heavy weight such as a gallon of water and long bungee cord to steady my easel during windy conditions.
Professional grade cold press watercolor paper
A variety of inexpensive brushes, including a large hog hair fan brush, plus of course, van Hasselt’s Magic Muslin, with which I keep painting until getting to the little details.
A palette with a large, unobstructed mixing area. The Anderson folding palette fits inside my Jullian easel.
Professional grade watercolors with a fresh squeeze added each time before starting to paint.
A folding cart to carry these items.