Dragonfly days

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art classes, botanical art, colored pencil, nature drawing, Val Webb

I always think of my mom when I draw dragonflies — she loved them. She had dragonfly scarves, dragonfly jewelry, dragonfly garden art. A writer, she doodled tiny dragonflies in the margins of her notebooks. During the last week of her life, when she could no longer leave her bed, the biggest dragonfly I’ve ever seen landed on her windowsill and stayed for hours.

So, when I was looking for an insect subject to demonstrate drawing on earth-stained paper, I naturally thought of dragonflies. This fellow is drawn with just two colored pencils, a black and a white, but the warmth and complexity of the stained paper makes him so much more. He’s part of a demo video for my Botanical Sketchbook Painting class, which gets under way on Tuesday. I can’t wait!

Inspiration for a day of nature drawing

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Books, inspiration, nature drawing

A used bookstore is like a gem mine. Poke around for awhile, and you just might unearth an unexpected treasure — for example, a lovely 1887 edition of Burrough’s wise and luminous essays on the natural world. Tramping through his beloved Catskill Mountains, he pondered whether the rapid scientific advances of his day would diminish the grip of field and flower, woodlands and weather, on human imagination:

“Science does not mar nature… Study of nature deepens the mystery and the charm because it removes the horizon father off. We cease to fear, perhaps, but how can one cease to marvel and to love?”

And so begins a day in the studio.

Happy drawing, everyone!

Summer art classes at my studio

Tags

art, art classes, creativity, drawing, nature drawing, pottery, raku

Here are the classes and workshops I will be offering this summer.  All levels of art experience are welcome here – every class is taught in an atmosphere of relaxation, encouragement and discovery.  Classes taught at my studio are limited to eight people or less. To reserve a place or ask a question, you may call me anytime at 251-510-9615 or email studio@valwebb.com.

  

RAKU: HANDBUILT POTTERY & HANDMADE TILE    Mondays  6:30-8:30pm, 8 weeks,  starts 6/15/09

Learn to create handmade relief (carved) tile in the traditions of the Art Nouveau masters. Use slab construction to make raku cylinders and boxes. Fall in love with the magical firing process that combines earth, air, fire and water to dramatically transform your artwork.  All tools, clay, glazes and firing included.    $120      

 

DRAWING THE NATURAL WORLD             Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm, 8 weeks, starts 6/18/09

See plants and animals in a whole new way. Learn to use pencil, ink and watercolor to bring your nature drawings vividly to life. Explore scientific illustration techniques – absolutely no previous drawing experience necessary.  We will have at least one field drawing day at a location to be announced.  Bring a sketchbook – everything else is provided.       $120

DRAWING WITH INK & WATERCOLOR        Saturdays 9am to noon,   4 weeks, starts 7/11/09

Combine pen-and-ink techniques with colorful watercolor washes to create richly detailed drawings with a spontaneous touch.  Includes a lesson on color mixing… and one on making your own bamboo ink pen! There is a very small supply list (under $20) for this class.      $95