Here is What Has Been Happening in My World...

The last few months have been very busy with demonstrations and workshops, I have had the privilege and pleasure of traveling and meeting so many talented watercolorists. Every workshop and demonstration is a learning experience for me, I pick up some fun new tips from my students, and see the beautiful results of all my students after each workshop. At the end of workshop it is always a bitter-sweet, saying good-bye to my new friends is a sad moment, coming home is always so nice.

Here are some photos of my past few weeks -

MORRO BAY ART ASSOCIATION

September 19, 2009 Demonstration for Morro Bay Art Association, Morro Bay California. They have a beautiful 2-story gallery along with an awesome workroom, an instructors dream for a workshop.

I will be teaching a 2- day workshop for this Association in March 2010, and am so looking forward to returning and getting to know this group of artists.

FILOLI 3-DAY WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP

September 24-26 2009 - A three day workshop at Filoli Estates in Woodside, California.

Here are some of the students paintings on day 2 - believe me they worked very hard to get to this point, I so appreciated all their hard work. And such beautiful results for all!

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

5-DAY WORKSHOP WITH NEW MEXICO WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

Here is Guy Magallanes, all dressed up for my demonstration before the NMWS, doesn't he look great with his nifty vest?

During my 5-day workshop I demonstrated before the group, they have this fabulous set-up with a camera that projects my image onto the wall so that all can see, even the oops moments were recorded!! What a great evening - just loved this group.
Here are my students stretching their watercolor paper onto stretchers bars, staples were flying on this project.
Outside my hotel window I would wake up each morning to see the balloon festival afloat. Just a beautiful sight.
October 5-9, 2009, The workshop room, all my students getting ready for the beginning of what was to be a wonderful workshop. There is Lulu in the front row, she came all the way from Australia!
Here is a ballon trying to land in the parking lot of the Expo Fairgrounds, right next to our classroom.

ON TO PASADENA

LEARNING PRODUCTS EXPO

October 14, 2009 we drove to Pasadena CA, in the pouring rain for the Learning Products Expo. We were all given a beautiful classroom to set-up Guy and I shared a classroom.

Here is Guy trying to get our projector set up for the showing of Art 2 Art, yes we take our art very seriously...And below is the beautiful classroom we shared.
That is it for now -

Art 2 Art Teaser

Art2Art Watercolor show from Matt Chapman on Vimeo.

Untitled Varnished Watercolor

Finished!! This piece is 24" x 30" I must say I love this piece, not ready to put a price tag on it just yet. It will do a little traveling before it goes up for sale. First stop Pasadena Expo. Also a portion of this piece will be a lesson I am teaching in New Mexico, Filoli and Pasadena. Hope I will see some of you at one of these events.

Art 2 Art Filming

Three cameras, lots of lights one director, one tech assistant, hours of set-up, tons of make-up and lots laughs and the filming of Episode 4 for Art 2 Art is complete.

Look at all the palettes! What were we thinking?
Here we are before our the filming, getting our microphones hooked up. It was amazing seeing Gallery 2611 transformed into a studio for filming.

Here we are at the end of filming "Art 2 Art", Guy and I had a little paint fight at the end. Check out the paint on the shirt.

Norris Canyon Workshop

On day three, Guy Magallanes came along with me to visit the ranch and to take photos. No such thing as a free ride, buddy. I asked Guy to paint the sky, using the Guy method! What a treat getting two perspectives in one workshop. The students got a little insight of the Asilomar Workshop, April 2010.

Thanks Guy it was so fun having you teach too, looks like we both will be signing the painting. For more photos of the ranch and Guy's adventures check out his blog at guymagallanes.blogspot.com
My fabulous students are working hard. Learning how to paint the crinkles of the Icelandic Poppies' pedals.
Day three we were finishing up the painting, here I am demonstrating how to paint the white poppy. Yes I know, can't paint without the tongue sticking out.
Here we are painting the Icelandic Poppy, dark to light learning the Joyce method.

Last weekend I taught a three day workshop in Castro Valley, coordinated by Cynthia, Donna and Michelle from the Pleasanton Art Group. Cynthia and her partner Susan and their son Vincent, were so sweet to open their home to the group. The photo above is the beautiful setting of the backyard of their ranch, which is 56 acres of breath taking rolling hills for our back drop. Along with this wonderful setting, we were accompanied by a rooster named "Sunny" crowing and strutting, along with the many beautiful, hens. On day 2 of the workshops two baby chicks were born. Congratulations to the mother hen and Sunny.

We also had Jessie James, the Jack Russell, so sweet and friendly, taking turns to sit on our laps, as well as Sabastian the cat was also in competition for our attention, owning the his space, both pets making us feel right at home. I could not stop smiling throughout the workshop, love being in the country.

Just want to acknowledge Cynthia, Susan and Vincent for the use of the home and letting us come and be a part of their family for the past three days, this workshop will be one of the most memorable, thank you.

Work in Progress

Here is my latest painting, it is watercolor, size 30"w x 24" h. I have a little bit of time in between workshops, I am hoping to finish this before the end of this week. This still life has my favorite piece of glass in it, the big piece in the middle was purchased in Murano, Italy. Just a little more to go, I will post the final photo once it is finished.

Chicago Learning Products Expo Workshop

Here is the North Light booth again, during our lunch hour Laurie and I would attend the booth and sign a few books. For more information on the Pasadena Expo, check out their website at www.learningproductexpo.com. If you can attend this event it is so well worth the time to come meet the instructors take a 3 or 6 hour workshop and shop for fabulous bargains and the vendors booth.
Here is a close-up of the poster for North Light's booth, I got the opportunity to meet Laurie Humble. It was wonderful meeting another artist, Laurie humble that has an interest in painting the same subject of realism and Laurie has a wit that made me laugh throughout the 3-days of teaching. Thank you Laurie it was great having our classrooms so close, I look forward to seeing you in Pasadena
Here is my classroom set-up and ready for the next three crazy fun days to follow. My day started at 9:00 and ended at 4:00. We had 45 minutes to grab a bite for lunch and then directly back to painting.
Here are a few photos from The Chicago Learning Products Expo - North Light's booth this is just prior to the doors opening for the visitors to the Expo. Unfortunately all of my photos are at the beginning of the expo, once classes started it was on, and I forgot to take the time to pull out the camera. thank you to all the wonderful artists I had in my workshops, you all are truly great taking the time to trust my method and apply it to your own paintings, you all are just the best, I am still smiling thinking of the past few days.