It was pure delight to teach this awesome bunch of artists in beautiful Boca Raton, Florida! Here are the fun details as well as participants' comments and critiques! If you’re curious about my workshops, here’s your chance to learn AND SEE more about them! Be sure to check out the great WORKSHOP PHOTOS at the bottom of the post! 

DAYS ONE AND TWO: We began our first two days by exploring how to use the qualities of each paint on our palette to create gorgeous, accurate color.  There were plenty of hands on mini-projects so everyone could immediately apply what they were learning.  The most exciting exercise on the second day was when everyone was successfully mixing very precise colors on a wide variety of paint swatches - simply by asking themselves four simple color quality questions.  Best of all, everyone learned that color mixing may SEEM intuitive, but actually knowing what each paint color can DO and using that knowledge is all it takes to mix accurate color!

DAYS THREE THROUGH FIVE: After two days of color, everyone was prepared to move on into three days of painting gorgeous flowers.  Participants learned a full set of drawing strategies to use as they drew and/or blocked in their assorted fresh flowers. Also, several stage-by-stage demos were provided, showing how to use specific brushwork and careful observation to paint rich, red roses, marigolds, daylilies and foliage. Guided practice followed, and it was incredibly rewarding to see everyone applying their new knowledge and skills!  At the end of the workshop, participants wrote their heartfelt comments and critiques. 

Here are just a few of them (published with permission):

"Delightful and informative, start to finish. I now have a new well of knowledge!" 

- Lisa Barton, South Jordan, Utah

"I have been a painter for several years and learned more in this workshop than I have in years of classes. Diane's approach to instruction, including visuals and handouts made color and painting techniques (and tricks!) easy to understand. She is always encouraging and kind, open to questions and ideas."

- Sally Painter, Delray Beach, Florida

"Diane's simple, organized and complete instructions helped me understand concepts I'd heard but hadn't been able to retain before.  I have stepped out of so many workshops in tears, frustrated with my inability to grasp the concepts. Not once in Diane's class did I get frustrated, yet I feel that I've truly grasped the knowledge she was sharing and will be able to recreate it at home, incorporating in in my own work."

- Lisa Duncan, Sandy Springs, Georgia

"Content was very thorough. Instruction was very clear. Favorite part was hands on help as we learned things."

- Cissie Jones,  Melbourne Beach, Florida

"Diane's 'Paint Beautiful Flowers' workshop was a revelation and an inspiration. With her sense of humor and encouragement, clear instruction, demonstrations and hands on exercises for students, we learned the basics plus benefitted from Diane's experiences and excellent tips for how to improve our paintings of flowers. The demos were fabulous, please let's do it again. Bravo!"

- Sue McQuillen, Boca Raton, Florida

"My favorite part was the demos, especially the brushstrokes and mixing color.  You gave so much information and instruction! You're happy to give away your secrets!"

- Dottie Poniatowski, Poquoson,Virginia

Sure hope you can join me this summer in either lovely Putney, Vermont or Hartford, Connecticut, as well as Rockland, Maine - right on the gorgeous coast!  For more information about these workshops, please visit my website by clicking here (then click on the Workshops tab):  www.dianereevesfineart.com 

In the meantime, here are some of the fun moments in Florida...at the beautiful Sheila Wolff Studio! 

...starting with lots of fresh flowers!!!

Nothing like hands on exercises with guided instruction to really own the concept!

So grateful for the Sheila Wolff Studio, which was so airy and beautiful! We had plenty of room!!

Seriously gorgeous! Everyone had plenty of fresh flowers for their set ups!

One of the demos was painting red roses!

We appreciate Gamblin Colors for their awesome sponsorship, and for providing beautiful oil colors as well as travel bottles of Gamsol and their Solvent Free Gel!! 

Some of us met for dinner - and enjoyed the balmy Florida weather!

Oh, the joy of learning to "nail" the exact color with simple logic, not guesswork!

Hope to see you soon! 

Diane

Wowza!! 2019 was certainly a very busy year full of fun workshops and several happy surprises!!

Pure Poetry and Tender Miracles of Splendor were among just ten fortunate finalists awarded by International Artist magazine in two different competitions! Pure Poetry was awarded in their annual Still Life Competition and Tender Miracles of Splendor was awarded in their annual Florals and Gardens Competition. I'm thrilled to have these two pieces selected from among so many entries submitted worldwide! 

Both paintings were also showcased in separate feature articles in the Feb/March and Oct/Nov issues of International Artist magazine!!

Pure Poetry was also chosen for a few other wonderful awards, including “Best Still Life” in the recent Fall 2019 International Exhibit through NOAPS (National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society) AND a Finalist Award at the Master Class level of the Art Muse contest!

….and earlier this year, Judge Warren Chang selected “Pure Poetry” for a Finalist Award in the April 2019 BoldBrush Painting Competition!  

Huge thanks to BoldBrush and Judge Warren Chang!! Here’s his incredibly generous critique- “Diane’s painting has the delicacy, close observation and elegant color harmony of a Fantin-Latour still life. But it’s much more than “still.” In composition and color, and shape-placement, the painting alternately booms and whispers across the canvas, in the artist’s sensitive and rhymical treatment of light and shade, and lost and found edges. Essential Beauty!”

Several New 2020 Workshops Now Open for Registration!!! Come join me in beautiful Florida, Vermont, Connecticut, and Maine!

It’s always exciting to learn new skills – especially while painting with new friends in new places!!  Here are my 2020 Workshops - hope you can join us!!

“Paint Beautiful Flowers with Luminescent Color”

February 27, 28,29 & March 1 – Boca Raton, Florida

This four-day color & floral workshop will be offered at the Sheila Wolff Studio in beautiful Boca Raton, Florida.

Click here for more details.

“Paint Beautiful Flowers with Luminescent Color”

May 4-8 – Putney, Vermont

This five-day color and floral workshop will be offered at the Village Arts of Putney, aka “The Barn” where the amazing and inspiring artists Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik get together to paint with the Putney Painters.                        

Click here for more details.

“Color Mixing Made Simple”

June 3-4 – Wethersfield, Connecticut

Wethersfield Academy for the Arts is just minutes away from Hartford, CT. 

Note: This two-day workshop is conveniently offered just prior to my “Paint Beautiful Flowers” workshop, held the following three days (June 5-7).              

Click here for more details

“Paint Beautiful Flowers”

June 5-7 – Wethersfield, Connecticut

Wethersfield Academy for the Arts is just minutes away from Hartford, CT.

(Note: This three-day workshop can be taken separately OR just after taking my  two-day “Color Mixing Made Simple” workshop. It is conveniently offered two days earlier than my floral workshop because it teaches how to mix luminescent color, which is very helpful when we are painting those beautiful flowers a few days later!)                                                

Click here for more details.

“Paint Beautiful Flowers with Luminescent Color”

July 20-24 – Rockland, Maine (on the coast!)

This five-day workshop will be offered at Coastal Maine Art Workshops, located on the gorgeous coast of Maine. Note: I plan to stay an extra day or two for some exploring as well as plein air painting along the beautiful coast –  and you’re certainly welcome to join me.

Click here for more details.

Well, that's all the news for now!  Hope you are having a wonderful start to 2020 and the new decade!

Wishing you countless blessing of joy, peace, fun and laughter - and of course lots of time to enjoy painting!!

Greetings!

This is a quick announcement about two more workshops being offered in July! I'm excited to be invited to the Kansas City, Missouri area!  Although these workshops haven't been publicly announced until now, five spots have already filled due to word of mouth!  For  more information and to secure your spot, simply click on this link www.dianereevesfineart.com and you'll be taken to my website - then click on the "Workshops" tab. Here are the dates:

Paint Beautiful Flowers - July 12-14

Color Mixing Made Simple - July 11

Hope to see you there!

Exciting Workshop News!
I'm delighted to be offering FOUR workshops two this winter and two this summer! The 2018 Winter Workshops will be held at the Boca Raton Museum Art School – and the 2019 Summer Workshops will be held at the Village Arts of Putney, home of the Putney Painters and in Kansas City, Missouri!! (Click on the workshops tab for complete information!)

Come “Paint Gorgeous, Believable Flowers”! (ONE spot left)

Boca Raton, Florida - January 20-21

AND

Putney, Vermont - June 28-30

In one day discover “Color Mixing Made Simple” so painting is even more fun!

ALL MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED FOR THIS WORKSHOP!

Boca Raton, Florida - February 18

AND

Putney, Vermont – June 27

In each workshop, I will cover many valuable concepts and skills, demonstrate the application of those concepts and skills with assorted demos, and provide plenty of time for guided practice.  Detailed information about each workshop, is posted on my “Workshops Page”!  Simply click on each workshops to see more details and to sign up!

NOTE: This summer, there is a $25 discount for anyone taking my workshops back to back.

Based on O'Henry's "Gift of the Maji," ten years later:  Here is Della's beautiful hair comb, given to her by Jim on their first Christmas together.  It rests in a jewelry box that has been placed near a cobalt perfume atomizer and an etched crystal vase filled with creamy yellow roses.

I'm delighted to be offering two workshops this summer, just outside Dallas, Texas! My “Mixing Beautiful, Accurate Color” and “Painting Gorgeous, Believable Flowers” workshops will be held back to back, July 19-22. During the one-day color workshop, you will learn four specific steps to follow in order to more easily and successfully mix accurate color. During the three-day flower workshop, you will learn to use luminous color and lively, intentional brushwork to make flowers appear fresh and believable. In each workshop, I will cover many valuable concepts and skills, demonstrate with specific demos, and provide plenty of time for guided practice. The location/school, supply list, fee, etc. for each workshop, will be posted by mid-May on my Workshops Page! (Simply click on each of the Texas workshops to see more details and to sign up for one or both workshops.)

What a week! My friend, Elaine, and I enjoyed three of those days with Kathy Anderson!  Her "Plein Air in the Garden" workshop was a whole lot of fun and very valuable!  The biggest blessing was having bad weather the first day, lots of fog and drizzle, so we stayed inside - and got to watch Kathy for a full day create an amazing painting.  She explains every step and decision taken, and loves answering questions.  It was an incredible opportunity to learn from someone so happy to share all she can! We had a blast!  On day two, we did a "practice studio painting" of peonies. Mine can be viewed on Facebook (Diane Reeves) or Instagram (dianereevesart). The last day, we painted outdoors! My very first plein air painting (posted here) was of day lilies painted on location in Tilda's vast and wonderful garden in Chatham!  Thank you to Creative Arts Center for arranging to have Kathy Anderson offer her workshop last week, to Tilda for her gracious welcome and willingness to let us wander and paint, and of course to Kathy, for being so fun and generous in her teaching!

"Choosing Joy" has won Third Place in the American Women Artists Spring Show!  AWA supports representational artists from the United States, Canada and Mexico who work in the disciplines of drawing, painting and sculpture.  The link to the AWA article and the Instagram announcement made by AWA are:  https://americanwomenartists.org/blog/item/245-2017-spring-show-awards.html#prettyPhoto   and https://www.instagram.com/p/BS1N6LnBmA9/?taken-by=amwomenartists