NEWS FROM THE STUDIO

July 2010    Vol # 5    No 4   130 subscribers

Summer News

Hello everyone,

Well summer is here...and so is my fall class schedule.  I look forward to another upcoming season of teaching at the Aquatic Centre; meeting new faces and seeing some of you again.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions.  Otherwise, I may see you out there somewhere hopefully enjoying the beach or the river!  

In this news:  Musicfest Painting, Filberg Festival, Blog and Facebook, Fall Classes, Prints and Cards, Books.

Quote:  "Do not try to be consistent, for what is true to you today may not be true at all tomorrow, because you see a better truth".  Brenda Ueland

 Image:  Where Home Is, acrylic on canvas, 16" x 16", 2010

Musicfest Painting

Many of you are now probably familiar with this year's Musicfest poster of the big raven.  I'm letting you know that 100% of the sale of the original painting (below) will go to support the Comox Valley Community Arts Council who (along with Comox Valley Art Gallery) really need our support right now (make sure you have your memberships!).  I thought the painting would be great for a local business; I would like to see go somewhere where many people may continue to enjoy it.  "Raven Act" is currently on display at the Broken Spoke Coffee House (4th & Fitzgerald) and will be displayed in the merchandise tent at Musicfest during the weekend.

Also, if you are going to be at Musicfest - July 9-11, I will have 8" x 10" prints for sale (signed and in an 11" x 14" matte) for $25 incl tax.  Prints and cards will be on sale in the merchandise/cd tent.

Image:  Raven Act, acrylic on canvas, 30" x 36"; $1550;  100% of proceeds go to CV Community Arts Council

Filberg Festival

No I don't have a tent here - maybe some day when I get tons of work together....BUT I will be sitting for one day painting at the Comox Valley Community Arts Council tent who will be raffling giant ART baskets!  If you are there, come by, say hi and buy a raffle ticket!  Find me on Facebook for last minute updates.

Blog and Facebook World

You may also find me in the blogosphere and on Facebook.  In my blog I am writing mostly personal insights about the creative process, as well as about exhibitions, workshops etc...  I'm having fun with both and it's great for me to be able to stay in touch so easily.  Please feel free to leave comments and give feedback - that's what this is all about:  learning from each other.

Fall 2010 - Classes

And here it is, the fall schedule for classes.  

TO REGISTER: Reply to this news (email: tracyk@tracykobus.com), phone 250-338-8205 or go to http://www.tracykobus.com/classes.php , fill out registration form (this will all be up to date on my website in a week or so)  and put in mail by September 20th at the latest. Your place will be reserved when I receive payment (cheque works well) for the class(es).  

I would appreciate a 2 weeks cancellation notice - if you withdraw within 2 weeks of the start of the course your tuition will be refunded minus a $40 cancellation fee.

If you register by Friday, September 17th you will be entered in a draw to win $20 worth of art supplies!

ART CLASS GIFT CERTIFICATES ARE AVAILABLE

RECENT STUDENT COMMENTS:   I so enjoyed the classes I took with you over the years and still use many things that I learned from you. Your classes restarted my passion for art, that I had left for many years.  Susan (recently enrolled in NIC Fine Arts Program)2010

 Thank-you Tracy! I've acquired some excellent, very helpful skills that I find have greatly improved my drawing. My frustration has been completely eliminated and now all I need to do is practice, practice, practice! Sherry, 2009

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain - beginner

This class, mostly based on exercises from the famous Betty Edwards book with the same title, is geared for total beginners, but is also an excellent refresher. It provides a solid basis of knowledge for the pursuit of any creative endeavor. I enjoy teaching this class so much because I love to see people's excitement with the steady progress they make in their drawing skills. It is recommended that you have a copy of the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards (any edition) for the class.

Dates: Thursdays, Sept 30th - Nov 25th, 2010 (no class Nov 11th) 7-9pm OR                                    Fridays, Oct 1 - Nov 26 (no class Nov 19th) 1:15 - 3:15pm (8 classes)                       Cost: $118; supplies provided in class                                                                           Maximum 14 participants

Colour Basics - beginner

Colour Basics is a beginner painting course in acrylics - a prerequisite for other painting classes with Tracy. In this class, painting your own colour wheel will give you an opportunity to learn some basics about colour; such as, colour mixing, colour terms and the relationships between colours. You will also paint small colour compositions and discover the interplay between hue, value and intensity. You will notice that colours that we think we are seeing may be different than what we are really seeing. This course (along with Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain) provides a strong foundation for creating art work in any media.

Dates: Fridays, Oct 1 - 22nd (4 classes) Time: 10am - 12:30pm                                           Cost: $134 (supplies provided in class) Maximum 10 participants

Painting with the Masters

During this popular class learn about art history while you paint.  Modern painters such as; Kandinsky, Picasso, Miro, Klee, Carr, O'Keefe, Chagall and Matisse can give us much inspiration for subject matter, techniques and colour choices.  A morning Painting with the Masters typically starts off with an introduction of the particular artist the instructor has chosen followed by a demo of a painting exercise before you do your own piece.   This is a fun opportunity to practise skills learned in Colour Basics (which is recommended as a prerequisite).  We will be looking at different artists than we did last session, winter 2010.

Dates:  Fridays, Oct 29th - Nov 26th (no class Nov 19) - 4 classes                                                Time: 10am - 12:45pm                                                                                                Cost:   $145 (supplies provided in class)                                                                               Maximum 10 participants

Image:  Tracy and Phebe in "Creative Portraits" at CVAG

Family Art Afternoon - all levels

Have you always secretly wanted to participate in your child's fun art projects at school; or found your kids interested in what you were bringing home from art class?  For the first time, Tracy is offering an art class for parents AND kids.  On this Sunday afternoon, you will enjoy 2 or 3 fun creativity exercises encompassing painting, drawing and collage, and possibly even making a piece together.  Within each family, one or two parents/grandparents/guardians are welcome with their child/children.  Come and enjoy sharing a creative moment with those closest to you.

Date:  Sunday, November 14  Time:  2 - 4:30  Cost:  $18 per participant (parent or child) - supplies included

Image:  "Our House" by Sinead

Prints and Cards

My prints and cards are conveniently available in the Comox Valley Art Gallery Gift Shop (adjacent to the Courtenay Library).  I also welcome studio visits (please call ahead 250-338-8205 to make sure I'll be there) in case you want to come by and stock up on prints and cards...(great wedding presents)  :)  My studio is at 3206 Rachel Rd., just outside Courtenay, off Powerhouse Rd.

Books

A book I recently picked up at the library surprised me with it's honesty and simple outlook on the creative process.   I also think it is very encouraging for a beginner (of any venture).  It's called, If You Want to Write:  A Book About Art, Independance and Spirit by Brenda Ueland, written in 1938 (before WWII even).  It's interesting to hear someone's thoughts from that perspective in time.  For example, the advice she gives to women is:  "The sense that you are always doing something for others, like a servant or a nurse, and never anything for yourself, you cannot do others any good.  You make them physically more comfortable.  But you cannot affect them spiritually in anyway at all."  She also writes:  "...you must freely and recklessly make new mistakes - in writing or in life - and do not fret about them but pass on and write more."  .  I love her lack of fear and open search for what is true.  May we all nurture these qualities inside ourselves (and be happy if the house isn't always clean)!