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At last, spring! Time to get serious about getting outdoors and building up our art-inspiration banks. Check out this month’s newsletter for an update on what we’ve been up to and what’s coming next!


Here are this month's tasty treats:

  • See Diana’s art this month in two shows!

  • Put some colour in your life: register for our April workshop

  • Coming in May: Yep, we’re offering another great workshop!

  • You might enjoy: Why cleaning your brushes is a waste of time

  • Our favourite thing this month: Mahl stick

 


See Diana’s art this month in two shows!

This spring is special, with a chance to see Diana’s art in two great shows:

  • In Osoyoos, Diana is holding a solo show in Jojo’s Café. The show runs until April 29 and features several of Diana’s landscapes and some surrealist interpretations of the South Okanagan environment. There’s something for everyone to love! Jojo’s Café — known for its yummy coffee and treats — is located at 8316 Main Street in Osoyoos and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday.


  • In Penticton, Diana is part of The Beauty of it All, a show put on by the Penticton and District Community Arts Council’s artists in residence. Stop into the show at the Leir House Cultural Centre at 220 Manor Park Avenue in Penticton to see some of Diana’s most colourful works, including the big, beautiful Candy Bear. The show is open to the public from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays until April 30.


See you at one or both shows!

 


Put some colour in your life: register for our April workshop

Have you signed up for our next workshop?


On April 9 and 10 we’re presenting a workshop titled Exploring the Wonderful World of Colour. The workshop will be led by experienced artist Lynne Marand and held at the Leir House Cultural Centre in Penticton.


Both beginning and intermediate artists will learn how colour can add excitement to a painting. Participants will explore both theory and techniques for applying and using colour. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a completed painting and a much deeper understanding of the colour wheel and colour schemes.


Registration is nearly complete, but you still have a few days to sign up! To register and for more information, visit our website.

 


Coming in May: Yep, we’re offering another great workshop!

Earlier this year Diana led a workshop in which participants incorporated little treasures, such as pebbles, shells, pieces of bark or leaves, into beautiful works of mixed media art. The workshop was so popular we’re offering it again in May!

Titled Show Off Your Treasures in an Abstract Painting, the workshop will be held May 28-29 at the Leir House Cultural Centre in Penticton (220 Manor Park Avenue). Participants will learn how to incorporate their treasures into a piece of abstract art they can enjoy at home, at work or anywhere else they choose. They’ll learn the entire process of laying down paint, adding treasures, playing with colours and using a variety of mediums to create textures and bring out the natural beauty in their treasures.

We already have a few folks registered, so don’t delay! To register and for more information, visit our website.

 


You might enjoy: Why cleaning your brushes is a waste of time

Well that’s a headline to make you sit up and take notice! And while in fairness it just pertains to oil painting, this short video from Mark Carder of the Draw Mix Paint YouTube channel makes some great points.

One of the best is his insistence that there’s no such thing as a dirty brush: “You shouldn’t think about brushes as being dirty — they just have the wrong colour in them,” he says.

Mark points out that cleaning your brushes with solvent, mineral spirits or soap and water removes the oils from your bristles…and your brushes won’t perform as well or last as long. Instead, he proposes simply wiping off your brush, then moving on to the next colour knowing there’s a little of the last colour still on your brush.

But what if you’re painting with pure colour, like bright yellow or black? Mark covers that as well, offering some good suggestions for ensuring the residual paint in your brush doesn’t torpedo your work. Finally, he tells us how make sure your brushes don’t dry and harden overnight when they haven’t been “cleaned.”

Yes, his approach is somewhat controversial, as the comments below the video illustrate. And we’re not saying he’s right…just that what he says is interesting.

Check out the video here on Youtube! And let us know what you think: is cleaning paint brushes a waste of time?)

 


Our favourite thing this month: Mahl stick

Sometimes when we’re painting we need a little support. I mean yes, we paint so much we have an impressive set of guns, but after a while even our arms can get tired.

The solution is a mahl stick — a wooden or metal stick with a soft leather, rubber or padded head that painters use to support their painting hand. The name is from the German and Dutch words “malstock” or “maalstok,” which means “painter’s stick.” Just to confuse us some people spell it “mahlstick,” some spell it “maul stick” and some spell it “maulstick.” Whichever spelling you choose, it’s the same thing and it’s incredibly useful.

To use a mahl stick, rest the ball end on the edge of your canvas or your easel. Hold the other end of the stick with your non-painting hand and rest your painting hand or wrist on the stick. Doing so gives you a stable, steady platform that is great for doing detail work and for keeping your hands off wet paint.

You can pick up a mahl stick at most art retailers, like Opus or your local art store or online at Amazon.

Have you tried using a mahl stick? Let us know how it went!

 

Thanks for reading our newsletter! Get in touch if you have questions, feedback or want to talk.

If you know anyone who would enjoy or benefit from the content in this newsletter please forward it to them. And be sure to visit online hangouts:

Diana and Paul Timid Turtle Creative

Not sure about you, but we’re pretty happy the weather is warming up. Yes, the world has gone crazy but we’re still taking time for the things we love best: art, photography, workshops and more. Read this month’s newsletter for an update on what we’re up to…and how you can get involved.


Here's this month's lineup:

  • Congratulations to our February workshop participants!

  • Register now for our colourful April workshop

  • 5 Things You Can Make With Photos of Your Art

  • Show alert! Diana’s art coming to Osoyoos in late March

  • You might enjoy: How a professional artist actually makes paintings

  • Our favourite thing this month: Crackle

 

Congratulations to our February workshop participants!

In late February Diana led a workshop in Penticton titled Show Off Your Treasures in an Abstract Painting. As the name suggests, the course was all about using little treasures like shells, pebbles, buttons and even yarn in an abstract painting. Although not everyone who registered could attend due to illness (get well soon!) the participants were keen and created some wonderful works of art (see photo abe). They all said the workshop was great (one said “friggin’ awesome!!”…aw, we’re blushing) and at Diana’s teaching style was helpful, informative and friendly. Because not everyone who wanted to attend was able, we’re planning to hold another workshop like this on May 28-29. If you’re interested in being part of it, let us know so we can make sure you’re registered! More info here on our website.

 

Register now for our colourful April workshop

Speaking of workshops, our next one will be held April 9 and 10. Titled Exploring the Wonderful World of Colour, the workshop will be led by experienced artist Lynne Marand and held at the Leir House Cultural Centre in Penticton. Both beginning and intermediate artists will learn how colour can add excitement to a painting. Participants will explore both theory and techniques for applying and using colour. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a completed painting and a much deeper understanding of the colour wheel and colour schemes. We’ve already had a few folks register, so sign up soon to avoid disappointment! To register and for more information, visit our website.

 



5 Things You Can Make With Photos of Your Art

So you’ve invested in professional photos of your art. You have big, beautiful, sharp digital files just waiting to be put to use. But what can you do with them? In our most recent blog post we share five things you can make using photos of your art…and (sneak peek) one of them might might become part of your morning routine! Head over to our website to read the article here, on our blog.

 


Show alert! Diana’s art coming to Osoyoos in late March

If you happen to be in Osoyoos in the last week of March drop in to Jojo’s Cafe to check out Diana’s latest show. The show runs from March 25 to April 29 and will feature several of Diana’s landscapes and some surrealist interpretations of the South Okanagan environment. There’s something for everyone to love! Jojo’s Cafe — which (take it from us) has excellent coffee and treats — is located at 8316 Main Street in Osoyoos.

 


You might enjoy: How a professional artist actually makes paintings

Though many will deny it, one thing that unites artists of all kinds is an insatiable curiosity about how other artists work. In a short video titled How a Professional Artist ACTUALLY makes Paintings, YouTuber Alpay Efe reveals some of the secrets of how he works…and he does so with ample doses of bravado, sly wit and insight. Some of his confessions you may find shocking — one is the way he combines digital techniques with painting to work through the direction he wants to go…and the other is one that will have you gasping in disbelief. OK, maybe not gasping, but if you’ve ever wondered if a technique you use is “cheating” or “unprofessional” you’re going to want to hear Alpay’s take. Check out the video here, on YouTube. And let us know if you’ve used any of his “cheating” techniques! (If you have time, check out another recent video from Alpay Efe: I Roast My Followers’ Art. It’s hilarious and includes a great hot take on how artists sign their work.)

 


Our favourite thing this month: Crackle

Have you ever tried using crackle on your paintings? If not, you should — it’s our favourite thing this month. You can buy crackle in a semi-opaque gel form that’s pourable or a thick opaque paste that’s best applied with a palette knife. We like both, for different reasons. The best pourable crackle we’ve found is Kroma Crackle. It goes on canvas or board easily, can be manipulated while still wet and dries to form a fine crackle surface that can be further enhanced with paint. Maybe best of all, Kroma Crackle is made in Vancouver, B.C. making it one of our province’s best exports! You can read more about Kroma Crackle here. In paste form we like Golden Crackle Paste…and we’re not ashamed to say we buy it by the gallon bucket. It goes on thick, can be formed into peaks and dries into deep cracks that, like Kroma Crackle, can be further enhanced with paint. You can learn more about Golden Crackle Paste here. Both Kroma Crackle and Golden Crackle Paste are available at Opus and other retailers. Be sure to check it out and let us know what you think!

 

Thank you for reading our newsletter! Get in touch if you have questions, feedback or want to talk. If you know anyone who would enjoy or benefit from the content in this newsletter please forward it to them. And be sure to visit online hangouts:

Diana and Paul Timid Turtle Creative

Well, January was a blur…for us anyway. Workshops, painting, photography, writing…the time just slips past. Check out this month’s newsletter for a look at what we’ve got going on.


Here's what we're covering this month:


  • Our art 2022 workshops are filling up fast! Don’t miss out!

  • What are giclées? Let’s take a closer look

  • Save An Inexpensive Canvas With Canvas Keys and Gesso

  • You might enjoy: Five must-try tips for slaying your creative demons

  • Our favourite thing this month: Watercolour crayons

 

Our 2022 art workshops are filling up fast! Don’t miss out!

Don’t delay if you’re interested in taking one of our art workshops! Our January workshop went really well (and was a lot of fun!) and our February workshop is already filling up. Not to mention we just announced an April workshop. Whew!


Here are the details on our coming workshops and how you can take part:


  • February 26-27, 2022 — Show Off Your Treasures in an Abstract Painting! Do you like to pick up treasures when you walk, hike or go on vacation? Pebbles, shells, pieces of bark or leaves? Are those treasures just taking up space in a drawer somewhere? Let’s do something beautiful with them! In this weekend workshop led by Diana Skelhorne, you will learn how to incorporate your treasures into a piece of abstract art you can enjoy in your home or at work. You’ll learn the entire process of laying down paint, adding your treasures, playing with colours and using a variety of mediums to create textures and bring out the natural beauty in your treasures. To register and for more information, visit our website.

  • April 9-10, 2022 — Exploring the Wonderful World of Colour. In this workshop, led by experienced artist Lynne Marand, beginning and intermediate artists will learn how colour can add excitement to a painting. Participants will explore both theory and techniques for applying and using colour. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a completed painting and a much deeper understanding of the colour wheel and colour schemes. To register and for more information, visit our website.

Both workshops will be held at the Leir House Cultural Centre at 220 Manor Park Avenue in Penticton. We’d love to see you there!

 

What are giclées? Let’s take a closer look

If you’ve been around the art world for any length of time you’ve likely run into the term “giclée” or “giclée print.” Often the words are spoken in hushed, reverent tones, as though describing something rare and exotic. So what are these mysterious giclées?


Simply put, a giclée (pronounced zhee-clay or jee-clay) is a high-quality inkjet print of an image. And while the name connotes some arcane, old-world art process, the term has only been around for about 30 years.


The term “giclée” was coined by California printmaker Jack Duganne in 1991. He was looking for a name to describe a new process for creating high-quality fine-art prints and chose giclée from the French noun “gicleur” (a jet or a nozzle) and the French verb “gicler” (to squirt out). The name stuck and is used to this day to describe fine-art prints made using special inks and papers on advanced inkjet printers.


The words “special” and “advanced” are important, because while all giclées are inkjet prints, not all inkjet prints are giclées. You and I may have inkjet printers in our houses or studios, but that doesn’t mean they’re capable of producing giclées. There are no giclée police (yet), but a number of criteria must be met for a print to be considered a giclée…


Want to learn more? Read the full article here on our blog. And when you’re finished, let us know if you have any questions or would like help making your own giclées!

 

Save An Inexpensive Canvas With Canvas Keys and Gesso

So you bought an inexpensive canvas and when you took off the shrink wrap you discovered the canvas was a little floppy and the primer was a little thin. What to do?


In a video we posted in January, Diana shows you how to save an inexpensive canvas and get it ready for painting. She solves the mystery of canvas keys — those little pieces of wood you’ve probably seen stapled to the back of some canvases — and shows how to gesso the canvas properly to ensure it’s a good base for your creative efforts. As a bonus, she goes over the importance of painting the sides of your canvas before beginning your main painting, especially if you plan to paint in oil.


Check out the video here on our Make Art With Diana YouTube channel and get ready to learn and make better use of those inexpensive canvases!

 

You might enjoy: Five must-try tips for slaying your creative demons

Do you ever suffer from “creative demons” like procrastination, doubt about the value of your work, fear of criticism and more? If so, you might be interested in Creative Demons and How To Slay Them, a book by Richard Holman due to be published later this year.


Until then, check out this short article from Creative Boom, which offers five tips from the author on how to slay creative demons.


One great example in the article is the Demon of Convention, which would always prefer you to walk the road more travelled, limiting your creativity and forcing you to repeat yourself. The article offers one interesting antidote that, honestly, we had to read a couple of times to wrap our heads around but then found quite insightful. His advice on making deals with demons is also one we’ll try.


Check it out, and let us know if you find any of Holman’s suggestions useful!

 

Our favourite thing this month: Watercolour crayons

It’s a watercolour! No, it’s a crayon! Wait…it’s better! It’s a watercolour crayon!


We just love these watercolour crayons. You can use them to draw on paper or canvas using a wide variety of colours, then add water using a brush or a rag or your finger to create effects you just can’t get with paint or pastels. Diana used them recently for an interesting memoir project in which she painted scenes from her life around a giant painting of her head (you can see it above). The watercolour crayons were perfect for this project, allowing a level of control difficult to duplicate with a brush and providing the ability to blend and shape colours easily.


You can find the crayons in a number of online locations, but sticking a little closer to home they’re available here at Opus (though they don’t include the price, oddly…they’re about $23 for a set of 24 if we recall correctly).

 

Thank you for reading our newsletter! Get in touch if you have questions, feedback or want to talk.


If you know anyone who would enjoy or benefit from the content in this newsletter please forward it to them. And be sure to visit us in our homes online:

Diana and Paul Timid Turtle Creative


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