Ladies Of Literature
Immediate Access
Regular Price $68.00
Great stories have been a source of inspiration for the theater, ballet, opera, art, film and music for centuries. Stories and characters created from pure imagination, told again, and again in so many creative ways. Stories like Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Anna Karenina, The Secret Garden, Alice In Wonderland, Madame Bovary, the list goes on and on.
Page after page, we wander along side of our favorite character and become a part of her experiences. Maybe we see parts of ourselves in them, the beauty, the broken parts, the passion, their strength and intelligence. This could be why we return to their stories over and over.
In this class we will look to our favorite stories and female characters for inspiration to create and tell new stories. You may feel inclined to reread an old favorite or a new book with fresh new characters.
I encourage you to watch the film and enjoy the visual beauty of the imagined world. Immerse yourself in the characters, the landscape, the time period, the costumes, the scene and set designs, and the musical score. Your imagination will be overflowing with ideas.
You will have complete artistic freedom to weave your own beautiful story and create inspired artwork that only you can create.
Lesson 1 | Gather Inspiration & Color
There are three parts to this first lesson: gathering images, books, words, colors, and music to spark our imaginations. We will then establish a beautiful color palette on a vintage book cover to bring cohesiveness to your work, Finishing up with a demonstration on how I deconstruct a vintage book.
Lesson 2 | Charcoal Portrait
When we read a beautiful book each one of us imagines how the main character and supporting characters may look. We conjure up their images as we walk alongside them and witness how their life, loves, and adventures unfold.
We will begin by toning watercolor paper with a light ink wash and clear gesso. I will share with you how I begin with soft charcoal to find the portrait's features and establish value and form. I will also share with you how I use powdered charcoal and acetone to create beautiful layers and dripping effects.
Lesson 3 | The Storyteller’s Dress
In this project, you will take photos of your drawings, paintings, and sketches to use in the collage. In addition, I will demonstrate how I use parts of the vintage book we deconstructed to create texture and layers by stitching and gluing with matte medium.
Lesson 4 | The Secret Garden
Inspired by the magic of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett we will create a series of express floral paintings. You will begin by creating a background in a color on cradle board or canvas, from the color palette you created earlier in the class.
Bonus Lesson | Mixed Media Portrait
Inspired by one of Shakespeare’s extraordinary characters, Juliet, we will create a rich, expressive portrait using many of the techniques we’ve explored throughout the class.
I will walk you through how to layout the portrait using a modern reference image in charcoal and then create movement with clear gesso. We will then build layer upon layer of charcoal to build form. By adding simple marks, touches of pastels, and quotes from the play, you will bring emotion and depth to your portrait.
Supply List
Please feel free to substitute any supplies on the list for what you have on hand.
Vintage Book
Vintage Ephemera
Copies of your favorite sketches
Liquitex Matte Medium
Substrate - Any of the following will work for the lessons: Watercolor paper, Art Journal, Mixed Media Paper
Acrylic Paints - Color you love. My favorites, are: Alizarin Crimson, Cad Red medium (mixed with white makes a warm pink, Brilliant Pink, Compose Rose Quinacridone Magenta, Olivie Green, Green Gold, Payne’s Gray, Raw Umber, Titanium White
Soft Pastels - to match your paint colors; I like Sennelier - Select single sticks to work within your palette.
Hard Pastels - Optional
Charcoal: Soft Charcoal, White Charcoal, Powdered Charcoal, Charcoal Pencils
Acetone - Optional (Acetone may be purchased at the hardware store. You will need a spray bottle to hold the solvent)
Light Molding Paste - Optional
An assortment of Paint Brushes - my favorites
Palette Knife - This is a great starter set or this
Schminke Fine Gold Dry Gouache - Optional Gold Marker
Wood panels or Canvas.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some or all of the links in this supply list are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission and we are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.