Friday, July 4, 2014

ONLINE COURSE + HAPPY FOURTH

Hope all the U.S. folks have a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend!  
And hope the neighbors up north had a wonderful Canada Day July 1st :)



On the recommendation of a painting friend (Laura Starrett), who loves birds as much as I do, I signed up for and am currently taking Val Webb's online course called
Birds in Watercolor and Beyond.
Val teaches watercolor, colored pencil, birds, fairies, plants and flowers, etc. , through various online courses.  You can find out more information on her webpage here.


Here are some quick sketches to just get down on paper the "essential bird shape" (as Val calls it - this is also what the artist, Charley Harper, called his paintings of birds that became more and more about line and design elements).

I won't share a lot about the course, but I can tell you it's not just for beginners - I have already learned 2 very good things to add to my knowledge base about birds and colors.  Plus Val uses some colors I never use - which will open up my palette a bit as I learn more about them.     

10 comments:

Barb Sailor said...

This course should be just "up your alley" considering your love of crows! :)
I think you first sketches are wonderful...every artist could benefit from taking this course.

Autumn Leaves said...

I love that you always share your knowledge, Rhonda. Thank you for another wonderful tool that hopefully some day I can actually afford and enjoy myself! Your drawings already look spectacular!

RH Carpenter said...

I'm enjoying it so far, Barb. Just began last Monday. I wonder if she'll have us do crows - or maybe I'll just focus on them instead of the others, but I enjoy all birds of all kinds.
Sherry, you are welcome and her online courses are very reasonable; she offers them throughout the year so check her webpage sometime when you think you might have the time and $ for it :) Have a Happy 4th Weekend.

http://carolking.wordpress.com said...

your bird drawings are fab!

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks so much, Carol. If you like birds, Val has a colored pencil class and a watercolor class she teaches throughout the year and I am getting excited about birds again. In fact, I sat in my sunroom this morning, the windows open and the sun shining; breeze blowing and birds at the feeders giving me a great show. Time to get out the camera and get some shots of all of them coming for breakfast!

Debbie Nolan said...

Dear Rhonda - sounds like a delightful course. Going to check out your links - you know I love those birds. Have a great day.

Unknown said...

That's a really lovely poem. I like Emily Dickenson, as my mother used to read her poems often. The course sounds like a fun thing to do! I hope to see another of your special bird paintings soon!

laura said...

Great drawings, Rhonda. And the fireworks photo is really spectacular!
ps Love the new (?) blog header!!

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

both your beach sketches and your bird sketches are 'my cup of tea'. I love how you simplify the beach people, something that I have trouble with.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks so much for your comments, Debbie, Katherine, Laura and Mary!