Blog | Paula Brett

Joining the Art Everyday Month 2011!

November 3, 2011

Well, I’m a little late, but that doesn’t seem to matter according to Leah. The website for this challenge is http://creativeeveryday.com/art-every-day-month. I’m happy to be joining and doing this with 365 other creatives!

So, what did I make in my studio today? Well, I have these casein paints that I have been wanting to experiment with for a long time so I broke them out. The tube says not to use them impasto like on canvas, so I did a watered down little painting to start. I’m interested in how this paint will react to layers, to changing it, and finishing it. It says you can buff it to a polished glow. Maybe not on canvas, but we shall see.

So, here’s to being creative everyday for the month of November!

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Ken Kewley’s take on Color

July 21, 2011

I just read most of this article by Ken Kewley on COLOR, my favorite topic.

And that’s all I really have for now. More later. I’m back in the studio.

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Teach one, take one

May 24, 2011

And that’s what I did! This past weekend, I was fully immersed in ART. On Saturday, at the Life Enrichment Center, my life was enriched by teaching the Experimental Acrylics Workshop. Barbara, Colleen, Martha and Mark all showed up and were very brave with their respective canvases. We all got out of our comfort zones and really played. Here are some photos from the beginning and middle stages…

The end products are still in progress– ars longa, vita brevis!

And THEN, on SUNDAY, I had a ball learning how to paint on SILK with Elizabeth Mitchell! Here are some photos from that workshop–

If you are interested, contact her at resilk@tampabay.rr.com

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Back to the Vision Board!

May 20, 2011

Yes, we had fun.

We met new people, got crafty, thought and talked about what we want in our lives, and CREATED!

The next session will be “Personal Altars”, Thursday the 26th. Hope to see you there!

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Putting it out there

May 9, 2011

Over the past week, I’ve been working to put together a small list of classes that I will be offering in my local Tampa Bay area. It’s been an interesting process- creating a newsletter and a press release to mail out to contacts old and new- and then hitting SEND. I’m sure for a lot of people that’s just everyday marketing, but it’s been a while since I’ve sent out a big mailing. I’ve been receiving a lot of emails from old friends saying hello who are happy to see my latest work, and quite a few “unsubscribes”, with mailchimp’s funny little note- “maybe they’re just not that into you”. The fact is that it feels good to just be putting myself out there again. I’ve been a bit hesitant to begin teaching or holding classes again after a few years off, but I am finally feeling ready. Now, we’ll see if anyone shows up! I plan to be there regardless.

Comments (0) | Tags: art classes, PAULA BRETT, press release, publish, putting it out there, send, Tampa Bay

Fabrics.

March 15, 2011

I really don’t know how long I can stare at fabrics. I guess it’s a long time since I’ve been doing A LOT of it lately. I’ve gone through almost all of the online shop suggestions on this post (amazing!), to several of my local shops including Boca Bargoons and Calico Corners and finally to the shop in my mind- pretty good, I might add. So………… I think I have finally chosen a fabric for my latest DIY project, the upholstered headboard.

And….here….. it….. is…….(cymbal crash)…..

"'I'm just fab, Rick, thanks."

So, there it is. I think this is the one. I’m still thinking it’s a little more trendy than I wanted, but what the hell. It’s works with all the other elements, and passes the bagua test.

Kind of can’t believe that I’m blogging about this, but that’s the latest art for now. I guess I should embrace it. Feeling a little guilty for not being in the studio, but that’s an old story. Whew! Personal revelations whilst blogging! Guilt be gone. Designing is a guilty pleasure. Oh yeah, baby.

Oh yes, work WAS done- had an interview today to teach a workshop and hopefully a course at the Life Enrichment Center here in Tampa! And that will be very fun. I do miss teaching and am looking forward to putting together an exciting curriculum!

Ok, more to come….

wait- here is a pic of the headboard in current state of progress!~

who is that STUD?, he asks.

Comments (0) | Tags: boca bargoons, brett, calico corners, design sponge, fabrics, guilt, jobs, paula, revelations, silliness, teaching, workshop

Drawing from the Dance

March 8, 2011

The studio is painted! The space is clear! It’s a new place and I ‘christened’ it yesterday with a dance and a drawing.

I am working on ideas to weave into a series of workshops, and so I thought I would try some of them on myself first.

So, I went into the space – put on some of Gabrielle Roth’s music and then danced for about an hour to the different rhythms. FELT SO GOOD TO MOVE! Afterwards, I experimented with an idea I got from Laura Hollick she calls bodymapping. I have done work like this before- tracing your body on paper and artfully working with it as a tool for deeper insight and healing- but this time it was a little different.

Dancing Genie

I got onto the paper and found a pose to mirror what I was feeling. Goddess pose, where your feet are touching and legs are splayed out to the sides felt really good. I traced my body, but used only part (my legs) to focus on. With the paper tacked to the wall, I grabbed my oil pastels and made marks and turned the form into what looks to me like a genie of some sort. It felt soooo good to play with the pastels like a kid!! Then I painted over it to make a resist. This was such a freeing and good-buzzing exercise! I loved it! I’m sure some version of this will find it’s way into my workshops in the near future.

Looking forward to exploring more.. will keep you posted!

Comments (1) | Tags: dance, draw, Gabrielle Roth, genie, Laura Hollick, movement, oil pastel, PAULA BRETT, resist

On gray days the colors are brighter.

February 10, 2011

Yellow flower tree

For most all of today, the sky was gray. Living in Tampa, here in the Sunshine State, I can appreciate a gray day. I don’t think I could do it for very long stretches of time, though. I do feel affected by the weather- I do love the sun. But, the gray days can be an excuse to be more quiet, more introspective, and take naps. And that’s exactly what I did today.

On the walk I took, I spotted this tree abloom in yellow. It made me think of my foundations art prof- Dr. Howe at UGA- he used to read and talk to us as we painted. I always remember that he said you can see color better on a gray day. And you do. And I’m thankful for that.

Comments (0) | Tags: art, flowers, gray, PAULA BRETT, tree, yellow

Experimental Painting Workshop

February 9, 2011

Carolene smiling after painting

What a lovely morning we all had PAINTING and PLAYING! Barbara, Arlene, and Carolene came to the studio with all of their gear this morning ready to go. We had a wonderful time discussing and experimenting with various media, and then putting them on our canvases. So much fun.

I am going to get the schedule together very soon for creating more workshops like this. I’ll let you know when!

Barbara and her painting!

Arlene and her painting!

After we all had lunch at Noho Bistro, I came back to the studio to do some more work. I’ve started several new canvases- and this is the one I used to show how I like to start my paintings.

Painting started

This is it for today, folks! Much love.

Comments (2) | Tags: art, experimental painting, NoHo Bistro, painting, PAULA BRETT, workshop

After the Storm, maybe.

February 8, 2011

I think I’m a midnight poster. Or just a someone who tends to post at midnight. Either or.

Here is an image I took with my phone of the painting I completed today- are the colors correct? I don’t know. I don’t think I will ever truly understand the ever-changing nature of color. I think it’s near close though. Will photograph again tomorrow.