Charioteer I: ii

Watercolor and Swarovski crystals on paper

This is the newest painting in my new Arcadia series. I will use it for my upcoming 2016 solo exhibition at the Korean Cultural Arts Center of Chicago.

Drawn to Books

This is the first time the beginning drawing class had an opportunity to exhibit their one-of-a-kind artist's books at Milner Library here at Illinois State University.  That is thanks to Art Librarian Kathleen Lonbom who made a special presentation of the Special Collection of artists' books to my classes and who offered to exhibit the student work.  Here are three.

Memories of the Stunning Smokies

Who wouldn't want to paint such magnificence?

We used our full palettes outdoors.

Great fellow artists to share with.  Great scenery and weater.  

Great food at Arrowmont's legendary dining room. 

What a wonderful week at Arrowmont and my "Power of Color" watercolor workshop.  The artists who attended really made it special.  What a great group.  every day we worked outside on site, we had great sunshine and moderate temperatures.  The day by the river was best.  No one wanted to leave.  The sounds of the rushing water, ever-changing images of rocks, sunlight on water, ripples and deep underwater shadows all made for a stunning day of painting.  The week whizzed by and now we are all home, on diets.

What lush scenery to paint.

The Power of Color

Art Friends: Join me at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, at acclaimed Arrowmont, nestled into the landscape by Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a week of wonderful watercolor painting. If you have never taken a class at Arrowmont, treat yourself to this wonderful experience.  The camaraderie, inspiring location, fantastic facilities and total immersion in learning and having fun is what Arrowmont is about. Contact me if you have any questions!
Put the “COLOR” in Your Watercolors
http://www.arrowmont.org/component/redevent/details/515?xref=514
This class helps you define or refine your own color sensibility. You will use your existing colors and discover which colors in your palette work well together. No tricky colors
to buy that you only use once! Every day we use new watercolor techniques — from better wash techniques to learning the best way to use frisket to mixed media additions — a touch of crayon or gouache, and so on. We begin in the classroom with still lifes, and then find color in nature as we explore the environment around Arrowmont and in the Smoky Mountains. All days will close with an in-depth critique of the work done that day. All levels.
COURSE FEE: $515
Cynthia M. Kukla is a studio artist who teaches watercolors at her university and in workshops throughout the United States, in Europe and Asia. Her paintings have been exhibited on four continents.
http://www.arrowmont.org

ArrOWMONT SChOOL OF ArTS ANd CrAFTS is a place for people who
seek meaningful and energizing art experiences. It is a place for people of all ability levels, ages and backgrounds. It is a place where ideas and skills, seeing and creating come together in amazing ways.

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is a national art education center. The School offers weekend, one- and two-week workshops for the beginner to advanced artist, taught by national and international practicing studio artists and university faculty. Students work and learn in professionally equipped studios on a 14-acre residential campus in Gatlinburg, TN. A series of weekly classes are also offered for residents of the local community. Workshops and classes are offered in ceramics, fiber, metals/jewelry, painting, drawing, photography, warm glass, woodturning, woodworking, mixed media, books and paper.

Early registration deadline 10% OFF Workshop FEE February 1, 2014

Educational Assistance program Application deadline
March 1, 2014

Scholarship Application deadline

March 1, 2014 for most; some have a rolling deadline

This demo shows a finished watercolor on the left and the 

color layering techniques in-progress for the rose on the right.

Summer Rose

"Summer Rose" is currently on view on my solo exhibition "Near, Far and Farther" at the Danville Art League. The exhibition is featuring my travel watercolors I paint on-site.  "Summer Rose" began as a painting of a real rose which I began at the Southern Illinois Art Workshop.  Carol Garver of the Danville Art League was in attendance at the workshop and she invited me to have a solo exhibition at Danville.

I always have 'in-progress' paintings so students can see how I develop a painting. It is important for students to see the stages of a painting, that you don't finish a detailed, layered painting in one frantic session. Mostly, it is important to let a watercolor wash dry completely before adding another layer of paint.  Working on a second painting while the first one dries is a great strategy for getting more done and not picking away at a painting you should let rest!

You can see that in the August 'Watercolor Explorers' Club' workshop at the Ewing Manor in Bloomington, "Summer Rose" was not quite finished. After the workshop, in my own studio, I finished the painting.  Primarily, I emphasized the background, darkening and defining the leaves that surrounded the rose.  I also brought some of the pink tones (permanent rose) into all the petals to create optical harmony.