In this episode:
Updates on family and learning opportunities
Lessons learned from an art teacher
Right values adds value
Updates: Continuing the busy theme of last year. The month of March brought another two families together. My daughter Amanda married her college sweetheart Trey and the two are now living happily in Southern California.
More proud moments for this mom and dad. We couldn't be happier for these two. Marking three down. Triple Phew!!!
A proud papa and his beautiful daughter.
Wedding Day - Trey and Amanda
On Learning: As a faculty member at the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art. I'm helping students find enjoyable ways improving their creative eye and hand. If you are local to Chicago, I'd love to have you join our class. Sign up at the Palette and Chisel Website.
Chicago Botanic Garden will be our setting for learning the Art of Plein Air painting starting July 19. For more information and to reserve your spot, click here: http://www.steveputtrich.com/watercolor-workshops/plein-air
And for learning watercolor at the Barrington Library in August, click here:
http://www.steveputtrich.com/watercolor-workshops/4b5mop7cwoi07eupt7y1aywrqowz5s
On Painting: This past June brought what will be an annual event for Bobbie and me - The Cedarburg Plein Air event in Cedarburg Wisconsin. This magic historic town brought out some of the best painters in the area.
I was honored to have my watercolor selected as Best in Show and purchased by the Cedarburg Art Museum for their permanent art collection.
On Location "A River Runs Through Cedarburg" Watercolor 13 x 20
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
— Pablo Picasso
"It is not enough to know your craft - you have to have feeling. Science is all very well, but for us imagination is worth far more." — Édouard Manet
"Life beats down and crushes your soul, art reminds you that you have one." — Stella Adler
Lessons learned from an art teacher
Don't just look for the good subjects to paint, look for the good in your subjects to paint. Your art's story is important, not because it is yours, but because, if you paint it right, the chances are others will recognize, that in many ways, it is their story too.
In Business, the same is true. Don't just see your Brand as good, But really look for the good IN your Brand. Your Brand is your promise of service or performance of your product to meet your customers need or to relieve their "pain". Your Brand's story is important, not because it is yours, but because if you tell it right, the chances are others will recognize, that in many ways, it is their story too.
On Values: They say if you get your values right any color will work to make your painting work. I've also heard value does the work while color get the glory.
Both these lessons were reaffirmed the other day when Bobbie was describing a scene to me and the play of light shapes and dark shapes were astonishing. All she said was "Remember Steve, the light parts in the shade and shadows are still darker than the dark parts in light. Don't mix them up!" She had to say it three times to get it to sunk in. Wise words from my beautiful bride.
Or in other words...Right value adds value.
As in business, the same is true for art.
Title: Lilacs in a Glass
In the final days of Édouard Manet's life, he was homebound with illness. Friends would bring him fresh flowers as gifts. He would in turn paint these flowers in various still life's in glass vases This is my ode to Édouard Manet's and his flowers.
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 12" x 16"
Status: Dry and ready for your frame.