Mixing, Blending, and Burnishing: Colored Pencil Workshop

Photos my helper, Lynn Platow, took around and about the workshop day.

As in MY workshop! My very FIRST workshop.
And, MAN, was I nervous… it it all turned out to be wonderful. :)

The workshop was part of the MasterWorks Show here in NM, you can see from the pictures, it took place right in the show space—surround by gorgeous art to inspire us. I had 12 students, which was the perfect size class for the day. Of course, 3/4 of them were members of my colored pencil group, people whom I knew, and knew me, well. I knew they were all there just to learn how I do what I do, so that  helped ease my nerves I think.

Me and my table FULL of supplies and examples

Here's my class, hard at work!

MasterWorks of New Mexico: The Judge

Behind-the-scenes.

What an honor to be asked to judge a Show that I've been involved with almost every year since I've been in New Mexico. I had the pleasure of going in and seeing all the accepted miniature work yesterday—then had to the challenging task of handing out awards.
Don't let anyone tell you it's easy to judge other people's work, it's not. Although, that being said, I think I may have had it a little easier than the larger works judge. Miniatures have strict rules & regulations against which to be juried into the show—I was a juror back in 2011, that's also a tough job! But the jurors did a fabulous job selecting deserving works to be included in this year's display.
There are 7 categories: Oil, Acrylic, Water Media, Drawing/Printing, Mixed Media, Colored Pencil and  Three-dimensional—each of which I had to award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, plus 8 honorable mentions, one Best-In-Show, and several awards for excellence, detail, etc.
It was a daunting afternoon, but more than rewarding for the honored recipients—it was a rich and inspiring experience for me. I walked out of there brimming with ideas and motivation to push myself more in my own work, experiment, and perhaps even branch out into other media.

I'm looking forward to the reception next Friday, April 4th 5-8pm… and to the next year of ideas and experiments and new miniature work to come!

Signing documents while the show is hung.

p.s. I'm also teaching my first workshop during/at the show. It will focus on mixing colors, blending, and burnishing with colored pencil—specifically how these relate to working in miniature. I'm nervous and excited for it, wish me luck!

MasterWorks Interview

After a few scheduling snafoos, the MasterWorks of New Mexico team was finally able to make it over to interview me, on camera (eeeeek!), as this year's Judge of the MasterWorks Miniatures Division. This is my first opportunity to be a judge for a show and I'm so honored to have been asked by MasterWorks. I've been submitting to this show since I moved out to New Mexico, and I'm extremely humbled to have received multiple awards (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)  from them and served as a juror for the miniature division in 2012. 

I was quite nervous, I really don't like being the center of attention, but it went fast. I'm sure I'm not going to want to watch it… ever—but it was actually a pretty great experience, thanks to MasterWorks Mastermind, Barbara Lohbeck.

And, hey… New Mexico locals! I'm giving a colored pencil miniature workshop at the show in April. Check out the details here.

Update: Masterworks - Artwork Sold

As I hurt my drawing hand on Friday, I wanted to make sure I took some time to heal properly. When I found out the Masterworks show was looking for volunteer "sitters" yesterday, I figured it would be a good way to avoid working/over using my hand, and visit the show again (not to mention just getting out of the house!) -- there also happened to be a colored pencil workshop going on at the show - with renowned colored pencil artist Melissa Miller Nece - so I got the visit the attendees (many local CPSA group members) and listen in a bit as well -- Bonus!

When I arrived, I discovered my favorite, award winning, piece had sold. Of course, I'm glad it sold and someone loves it and wants to take it home and cherish it - it makes me happy I've made someone happy. At the same time, I'm sad. It's so hard to let go of my artwork - which is probably why I don't do much gallery work. But, I really should grow up a bit and get on with the business of art -- this is what I do, and I'm good at it. There's really no need to be a starving artist after all.

Update Masterworks: It's Official… Again!

On April 1, at the Masterworks Show reception, I was awarded 2nd place in the Colored Pencil Miniatures category. WooHoo! My piece, "Massive Sky, Sandias" was the winner… which just happens to be my own favorite of the three pieces I submitted. Here is a picture of me with all three of my entries hanging at the show:

It was a truly fun evening. Each year I go to this show, I recognize more and more faces and they recognize me, I'm really starting to feel like I "belong". Shocker! I know. LOL