Online Learning

Not sure if you all remember or know that I have a blog I started with a friend when we were doing "The Artists' Way" and when that ended (read: petered out) we changed it to offer creative help during the down times. It is still there, but not terribly active. Once in awhile something comes up and I share it there. Recent posts have been about online learning or website tutorials.

I saw (too late) that Ken Auster is going to have an online course offered through Tuscon Art Academy. There are various sites that offer classes and I know some artists who offer them direct. There is a list I've started on the right column on the other blog.

I'd love to hear from any of you who have taken online art classes What is your experience? Were you motivated? Did you learn something new?

If you've read this far, you can now pop on over to The Creative Block - AND you can enter for a chance to win a free class offered on Caftsy.com. Check them out - they have a lot to offer. Second post down on the page. ;-)

p.s. - I have another idea to make the Creative Block more exciting...but I'm a little nervous about approaching other artists for help.

Travel Palette

I found this little wooden box and art kit at hobby lobby and thought it would make a nice small travel palette. 

It's about 8x10 and only an inch or so tall. I find that I don't want or need a large  elaborate set up to paint on location. 

I removed the watercolor and plastic palette and brushes that came attached to the box with what i thought was more than enough glue. 

And had to work a little to remove that adhesive. Actually, my oms worked pretty well. 

Then I used some of the sludge from my jars where I let my old oms settle to sort of prime the new palette. 

Voila! A handy palette to carry in a small bag with some walnut oil and a few brushes. I can hold a panel in my hand while I paint. No need for a panel holder and its certainly much more subtle and convenient for working in a coffee shop, for example.

  

Thanks to V....Vaughan for the inspiration. Her father in law made her some similar palettes which I have long envied. 

Some folks are offering similar designs to hers now too I see. But this was a really affordable solution. $20 for the art kit and maybe I will put those watercolors to use one day too.