Teaching Pastels at Laguna Gloria This Fall

"I've taken several classes before but S'zanne brings new info and insights. I'll take this very same course again." --Lizette, student

In my workshops, students will strengthen drawing and painting skills while discovering and/or fine-tuning their own painting style. I'll work with you one-on-one to facilitate establishing individual daily painting practices or rituals, to increase productivity and instill more confidence and freedom.
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FALL 2011 CLASS SCHEDULE

"1303 Pastels 1"
At The Laguna Gloria Art School, Austin, TX

September 20 - October 18, 2011 (No class on Oct 4)
Tuesday 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, 4 sessions

A great place to start! No mixing, no drying. Use pastels to quickly move into the world of painting. Learn the principles of value, color, form and space and see how light affects each. Explore many pastel techniques, experiment with different surfaces. Work from still life and photographs. Enjoy weekly demonstrations and gentle critiques. Surprise yourself.
You can paint!

To register/more info, click HERE.

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"1321 Sharpen Your Color Sense"
At The Laguna Gloria Art School, Austin, TX

October 25, 2011 - November 15, 2011
Tuesday 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm; 4 sessions

Pastels help you develop a strong sense of color to create paintings where viewers say "I love the color," no matter what your preferred medium. It's incredible: no mixing, no drying. Learn from demos on making "color work" in your paintings. Enjoy exercises to discover new color palettes instead of those tried-and-true solutions. Then translates this new freedom to your favorite medium. Painting experience in other mediums required.

To register/more info, click HERE.


Frankie's Fall Foliage, 12x12" pastel --SOLD

August Wall Paper

Right click to download for your desktop...Mac users, option click.

Here's a version of Painted Desert for your computer...enjoy!

Sky Worship and the Artist's Soul

"Painted Desert" by S'zanne, 12x12" pastel

"I never get tired of the blue sky." ~Vincent van Gogh

"The sky is the soul of all scenery. It makes the earth lovely at sunrise and splendid at sunset. In the one it breathes over the earth a crystal-like ether, in the other a liquid gold." ~Thomas Cole

"The artist–painter or poet, singer or drummer–is a sky worshiper, for the sky's blue immensity mirrors her soul. The child artist looks up at the day sky or the night sky and sees her beautiful dreams reflected there. The adult artist, busy and unsettled, can herself find a moment's peace–and even whole-being rejuvenation–by quietly attuning to a red sky, a gray sky, a black sky, a blue sky. The human race has capital saved in that great vault above us."

"I will spend time with the sky, the sun, the moon, the mountains, the ocean waves. I know that I could scorn these loves and turn the sun and moon into nothing: but I find it more heartwarming to affirm them. I am inspired by the blue sky and will not forget where to look for inspiration."

~Eric Maisel, "Affirmations for Artists"

Perfect Moments

"Coppertoned", 8x6" pastel by S'zanne

Sometimes we are simply paralyzed by our own doubts, worries and fears. I had had it with worrying about having the perfect moment this summer to create the perfect piece or project. For many of us, this kind of perfectionism can be just an excuse not to be productive in the moments we have available to us between our busy schedules.

After starting my day at 7 a.m. running to miscellaneous appointments and errands, I had 30 minutes left to paint before I ran off to work, which then turned into about 15 minutes by the time I took one phone call and ignored the other, let the dogs out/in and packed my lunch.

While not a masterpiece, the quick sketch above is the beginnings of an important conquest. I simply took advantage of the time I had. Instead of taking 15 minutes to set up oils or acrylics, I grabbed the nearest pastels, regardless of color, the closest paper and the first photo I could locate in my box of references to paint from. And presto! A quick study for a future larger painting that I've been wanting to paint for years...but never quite had " the time to get to it"....sound familiar?

In line with this subject are some ideas by Ralph Marston that I found most inspiring:

"It is your ego that creates doubt. It is your ego that manufactures excuses. Your ego holds your imagination back, and prevents you from achieving the fulfillment you truly desire.

Stop weighing yourself down with judgments about what you think you need. You have a whole beautiful, limitless imagination with which you can envision and fulfill what you truly desire."

— Ralph Marston

To read the entire article, click here.

Kissing the Mailman

A new box of pastels...YUM!!! ...and colors I've been needing!

Much to my delight, a box of Terry Ludwig's "Mystery Box" of remnant pastels arrived today via the US mail. It's a good thing the postman didn't deliver it personally or he would have gotten a big kiss! There's nothing better than receiving an order of art supplies in the mail...and pastels are particularly sexy and delicious. If you've never tried them, or if you are an avid fan, you'll enjoy checking out Terry's Mystery Box sale that runs through the end of August. You never know what colors you'll receive, but then that may be just the jump start you need to finish that painting sitting on your easel!

The mailman also delivered a couple of Ray Mar linen boards that I'd ordered to sample with my oils...and next week my canvas roll and tiny boards should arrive from Jerry's Artarama...it's Christmas in August! Of course, this means I have to get busy and cover some canvas!

Art's Presence

Showing at Amplify on 607 Congress Ave

I hung three of my works at Amplify Federal Credit Union today in downtown Austin. They'll be up for a month with another artist's work. It was fun to see the paintings bring life and energy to this place of business.

Art creates a presence--a mood or feeling-- and impacts the lives of those found in its company. Moreover, art offers its viewers a companion for their love or a home for their hopes and dreams.

Saying Thank You, Artfully

Art is a service that can bring joy, comfort and even healing to others. When we focus on it as such, we think of ways to distribute our artwork more widely. I painted the above small acrylics as thank you cards for the attendees of my art reception last weekend...and one for the restaurant owner where my work hung. The cards brought a smile to my clients and showed appreciation of their time and attention. They were also great warm ups for me to get my creativity flowing in new directions. Plus, hopefully these cards will inspire more new collectors, as well as past clients, to want to attend my next shows and add to their small works collection.

SOMETHING NEW: I've decided to offer these kind of original art cards for new subscribers to my Studio Zanne newsletter...and I'll have drawings from time to time for current subscribers. So thank you in advance, for being a reader of my newsletter!