Betsy's Blog
I am always looking for opportunities to expand. I can teach classes for clubs, church groups, home school programs, birthday parties etc. I am happy to do demonstrations for nursing homes, schools, or any other venue that would be interested. Also, I often donate paintings for charities, auctions, nursing homes or any other good cause - just ask!
MONTHLY CLASSES
This is the "usual" monthly schedule - refer to my calendar page for dates. Always wait for the email reminder or call to confirm the date & your attendance.
AUGUSTA GA - 1ST FRIDAY
AIKEN - 1ST SATURDAY
ARDEN NC - 1ST TUESDAY
SPARTANBURG - 2ND TUESDAY & 4TH SATURDAY
GREENWOOD - 2ND THURSDAY
N. MYRTLE BEACH - 2ND SATURDAY
FLORENCE - 3RD SATURDAY
EASLEY - 4TH THURSDAY
COLUMBIA - 4TH FRIDAY
SPARTANBURG - 4TH SATURDAY
TBA - 5TH SATURDAY
IF YOU REGISTER FOR A CLASS, PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND. I REALIZE PAINTING IS A HOBBY & NOT A NECESSITY TO MOST OF YOU, HOWEVER IT IS MY ONLY JOB. I SOMETIMES DRIVE 4 HOURS ONE WAY FOR A CLASS - PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THAT. IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP. IF THE TRAVEL & CLASS TIME WILL NOT BE SOMEWHAT PROFITABLE TO ME, I RESERVE THE OPTION OF CANCELING THE CLASS. I KNOW EMERGENCIES DO HAPPEN, BUT PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO SHOW UP OR AT LEAST CANCEL. THANKS!
BLENDING CORRECTLY
One of the biggest problems I see in teaching classes is overblending colors, both on the palette & on the canvas. When putting in a basic blue sky - particularly when you don't want to put in clouds - don't overblend your paint until the sky is one solid, flat, even color! Starting at the TOP of the canvas, quickly "criss-cross" in your paint across the top & then work it down. Your sky should get much lighter as the paint mixes with the liquid white (if you're using it) & as you run out of paint. If you must reload your brush, start back at the top of the canvas & work it down so that you do get much lighter as you near the horizon. It doesn't hurt to lighten up the pressure as you near the horizon too. This should take 30 seconds at most! Then you will blend - first wipe out your brush on a paper towel, or use a clean brush, & using very little pressure, starting at the BOTTOM of your sky, work from the lighter area up to the darker top of the canvas. USE THE HANDLE OF THE BRUSH WHEN BLENDING! The farther back on the handle that you hold the brush, the lighter your pressure will be. Ideally, the top of your sky will be darker than near the horizon, & you will have lighter & darker areas throughout your sky.
Bob often says to "marble" paint. This means to simply take the colors & "smoosh" them together - you should see areas of each pure color as well as areas where some of the colors are more blended. When you are instructed to "marble" your paint, DO NOT BLEND IT TOGETHER INTO ONE SOLID COLOR! This technique is often used when highlighting mountains, pathways, rocks, structures etc. Another important point here - you MUST use a very light touch with the knife when "grazing" on the highlights or you can overblend here by accident!
If you can avoid overblending on the palette & when applying the paint to the canvas, I think you will be much happier with your results!
NEW STUDENT TIPS
CHOOSING A CANVAS
We always use a stretched canvas for our paintings, as opposed to a canvas board. I use and highly recommend the Bob Ross brand canvases - they are the BEST you can get for this type of painting. You can now get the 16 x 20 canvas at all Hobby Lobby stores or you can order directly from the Bob Ross Co. - www.bobross.com. Do NOT attempt to use a canvas with a smooth finish - you WILL have all kinds of problems! I have seen the disastrous results firsthand - don't do it - you'll be sorry!:) The 2-pack economy canvases from ANY store seems to be better than any other single canvas brand - the cheaper canvases have a rougher surface which takes the paint better.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN MY CLASS
You are always expected to provide your own canvas (see above info), paper towels and a script liner brush. Any other landscape brushes, paint, easels, palette paper and anything else we need (unless otherwise noted) will be provided. You will be given a piece of freezer paper as a palette, a piece of tape with which to tape down the paper - shiny side up. You will also have a small trash bag which you can tape down for your personal use. Since I don't know whether a student is left or right-handed, I leave taping down the paper & trash bag to each student - please do not impose on the student beside you.
Listen; pay attention; don't go ahead of me; don't talk over me.
When you finish your painting, please wipe excess paint out of all brushes & wipe off the handles & leave on a paper towel at your table. Roll up your paper with the paint on the inside & put in your trash bag along with any other trash you may have. You may leave your trash bag on your table. Do not throw away any containers you may have been given for paint thinner. Just leave your easel standing on the table.
BETSY'S (& Jade's) BIGGEST COMPLAINT!
BRUSHES WITH PAINT ALL OVER THE HANDLES OR ON THE BRISTLES UP NEAR THE HANDLE!
When cleaning brushes after a class, I often pick up brushes with paint all over the handles. I don't like getting paint all over my hands because I have to wash my hands each time I pick up a dirty brush to keep from spreading it to other brushes, my clothes, my car etc. PLEASE wipe the handles at the end of the class so we (Jade & I) don't have to deal with this. Better yet, try to keep the paint on the palette or the canvas:) When I come around to help, sometimes I must use your brush - if we've mixed paint, my brush may be a different color. When your handles are covered with paint, there is another hand wash! With a big class that can be very time-consuming, & drying:( Also, please avoid laying your brush down in paint! This can push the paint way up into the bristles where it's nearly impossible to get the paint out, which can ruin the brush. Jade really fumes when she has to take one brush & brush it against another to get this paint out. Just felt I should warn you all........:)
LOOKING FORWARD.......
I am always looking for ideas for new paintings. If you have an idea or a request for something particular, please email it to me.
GIFT CERTIFICATES are always available when you'd like to share "The Joy of Painting"!