Teaching Colored Pencil Drawing

My first Life Long Learning students at Washtenaw Comunity College

I have a great time introducing people to colored pencil drawing. We start with excercises to acquire skills in developing values. We then move to tonal layering.  My students are just great and it is so much fun to watch them develop their skills and talents.

 Above is local graphic designer Karen Moeller. Check out her website at www.moedesign.com.  She has won awards for her work and her talent is evident in her colored pencil art here. I will be posting more pictures of my students work on my webpage at www.BarbaraGoodsittStudio.com

Artists Young Cho (with maple leaf drawing) and Alice McKeown (with pumpkin still life) display some really nice work too!

Juried Exhibit in Lansing- Michigan Women’s Historical Center & Hall of Fame

Marlena in Sedonaⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

Woman of Colorⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

I am pleased to have two pieces accepted into this show. One colored pencil portrait/landscape and a handcut stained glass mosaic.

Come join us November 7th from 2pm-4pm for an Artist Reception at Michigan Women’s Historical Center & Hall of Fame 213 W Main St., Lansing, MI 48933-2315 

“Celebrating Women”, an AAWA juried exhibit features artists interpretations of Women, their roles, relationships and importance as leaders. This exhibit is being held in conjunction with The Historical Center’s exhibit, “Petticoat Patriots”: Women’s Suffrage Movement (Michigan was the second state to put this issue on their ballot.)   The exhibit runs November 7th through January 31, 2011. Museum hours: Wednesday - Saturday 12-4 p.m. and Sunday 2-4 p.m.

Balance Exhibit moves to Finlandia University

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

From Finlandia's University Website:

Collaborative Art Exhibition at Reflection Gallery October 6 to 31

HANCOCK, MI - The Finlandia University Reflection Gallery will host a collaborative exhibit of work by Michigan women artists October 6 to October 31, 2010. Titled, "Balance: An Artist's Collaborative Game," the exhibit was organized by the Michigan chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art.

An opening reception for the exhibit will take place Thursday, October 7, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., at the Reflection Gallery. Refreshments will be served.

A public lecture, titled "Connectivity and Feminism," will be presented by Brenda Oelbaum, president of the Michigan chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art, Wednesday, October 6, 7:00 p.m., at Finlandia's Jutila Center campus. Balance: An Artist's Collaborative Game is now on display at the Reflection Gallery at Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan.

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

Red Tower Ginger

ⓒ Barbara Goodsitt

This is what is on my drawing board now: a colored pencil piece of a Red Tower Ginger plant. It is 18" x 25" colored pencil on U-Art pastel paper.

My husband and I saw this beauty on vacation in San Diego, CA. at Balboa Park.   It is such a special place full of museums, gardens and more.  I encourage you to visit it if you are in the area.

Great Lakes Small Works Juried Exhibit

The Great Lakes Small Works Juried Exhibit runs from Sept 2-25 at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanit Michigan. The Artist Reception is Sept 11, from 5-7 pm. There are 70 artists from five of the eight Great Lakes States in this show. It promises to be a visual treat!

Riverside Arts Center is located at 76 North Huron Street in Ypsilanti.  This vital arts center has many exhibits as well as theater and classes.
I was very honored to have two pieces juried into  this show. My still life of Pears and Grapes is included on the postcard. Read a  Review of this show at Ann Arbor.com

Fall Colored Pencil Classes

Fall is approaching and the temperatures will be more comfortable very soon.

I will be teaching two Colored Pencil classes.  One during the day with Ann Arbor Community Education, and an evening class with Washtenaw Community College's Life Long Learning Department.  These classes are geared toward being fun, relaxing and informative. All skill levels are welcome.  We will cover drawing techniques including tonal layering, transferring images, burnishing, using solvents and more!  Some mixed media work too.  Supply lists are available online.  To register see these webpages:

Washtenaw Community College Life Long Learning Classes
Wednesdays starting Oct 6 from 7:00- 8:55PM
THIS CLASS IS NOW FILLED

Ann Arbor Community Education
Tuesdays starting Oct 12 from 1:30 - 3:30 Oct 12 - Nov. 16 THIS CLASS IS NOW FILLED

New Work

Every colored pencil artist knows this feeling: A fist bursting full of colored pencils!  

CP artists  are usually detail oriented, organized and a bit uptight.  I love using colored pencils, but tend to not be as organized as my fellow cp artists.  My pencils get all mixed up, and I only organize them according to color when I have to teach a class, or if things have gotten so out of hand (pun intended) that I cannot locate the colors I need to use!  The piece featured in today's post started out as a symbolic self portrait but I am calling it The Mighty Colored Pencil!

Here are some images of this picture as it developed.

22" x 15" Fabriano Artistico Paper, Prismacolor Pencils

Summer Art

Summer means freedom to have fun! I finished my teaching duties, and I am spending the rest of the summer working on art projects of my choice! I taught a wonderful group of students who were new to colored pencil in a 2 day workshop sponsored by Ann Arbor Community Education. This fall I will be teaching a day class with Ann Arbor Community Education and an evening class at Washtenaw Community College. Stay tuned for dates and times. Continuing on my series of produce centered still lifes, I tried a more whimsical approach to fruit here. This colored pencil piece is still in progress. I love to play with my imagination and create a reality all my own.