As a painter starting a new piece, staring at a blank piece of paper can be very intimidating. So we often do a detailed drawing to feel more confident.

Trouble is that this method can often produce a very tight painting. Thus, our solution creates yet another problem. Similarly, at the end of a painting we are often afraid of going too far for fear that we will mess up what we have worked so hard to accomplish. This often produces an okay painting without that special something that is hard to define. Where are the surprises? Where is the excitement? Learning new ways of approaching things will free us up to enjoy the process more. Isn’t that what painting should be about?

Shelly will teach you ways to start with free open strokes that act as your painting guide and she will teach you the finishes that keep that looseness alive. Let’s get back into a new way of approaching things and bring new tools to our toolboxes.