Next Mural in the Works!!

This fall I've been researching and designing a 60 foot heritage mural for the new Peace-Health hospital here on San Juan Island. The subject will be the history of healthcare in the San Juan Islands. Our story parallels the story of modern medicine, in an island way. I am creating a timeline of the characters and innovations that are unique to these islands. From that I plan to design panels that tell our story.
Gayle Carter, Dr Heath and Roy Franklin loading a patient into the aircraft, The big three of San Juan Healthcare from the 1950's to the 1970's.

End of Summer Paintings

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End of Summer along the San Juan Shoreline, Sculpted Alive on Westcott Bay

Beautiful September Workshop, Day Two

Our second day we painted along the shore of Pear Point facing east on San Juan Island. I demonstrated one of my favorite plein air techniques of using black gesso and a colored transparent glaze as an under-painting, a great way to build up layered information quickly. Some people experimented with color palettes, others took the plunge and tried oil paints for the first time. Experienced painters took time to develop their compositions and try new ideas, tools or techniques.

Beautiful September Workshop, Day One

WE started this workshop on the Westside of San Juan Island, the setting was magnificent. We had a variety of supplies to experiment with: collage materials, sumi ink, acrylics, watercolors, pencils and paint. This day started in the spirit of PLAY. Each artist took their own approach to finding their voice. Some artists completely abstracted form, building up an idea with the use of collage. Most artists worked expressively with color and simplified shapes. Everyone tried something new. This kind of playful approach paid off when people started to develope their small canvases in the afternoon.

Summer Afternoon San Juan Island

Watching the tide at Cattle Pass through a stand of young alder trees.
Plein air, Lopez Island in the background and the incoming strong tide at Cattle Pass, San Juan Island.

Final Workshop of the Summer

September 9,10,and 11 will be the dates of our final workshop on San Juan Island. The focus of this weekend workshop will be abstracting the landscape. We will use views of San Juan Island to develop sketches and work to simplify forms. We will look at several artist, how they approach abstracting the landscape and discuss possibilities. We will review ideas how to create space and think about ways to break up those conventions.
In order to free up, we will look at creating an interesting surface by adding collage to our surfaces. We will also sketch in sumi ink, simplifying form.
Call 360 378 2638 for questions or sign up. Cost for the weekend, $225.

August's Painting Workshop, Fantastic Color!

The main aspect if this workshop was understanding color. Friday night we talked about the color wheel, we all made one using oil paints. We looked at work by Henri Matisse and saw how he used the color wheel beautifully in his paintings. We spent our morning just looking at color in the landscape. Our painting site was a riot of color at the gardens of Island Gardens on Guard Street.
Everyone made wonderful color comparisons and observations, matching color of the natural palette. By the afternoon everyone had found a painting spot that they liked and started in, for many it was their first painting experience.
Sunday we headed over to Jensen's Shipyard and started by looking at the new environment. Everyone felt more relaxed with the painting process. Congratulations to both of our mother daughter artist-teams, and to the newly converted oil painters.

Summer Morning on San Juan Island

Looking across Beaverton Valley on San Juan Island, plein air.

Coming in August, Painting Workshop...UNDERSTANDING COLOR!!!

The August workshop will concentrate on understanding color. We will dissect the color wheel, work on mixing color, all colors around the color wheel. Everyone will gain color control and deeper understanding of individual pigments. We will work with full strength colors, warm and cool of each primary and learn how to mix them down with compliments. We will learn to mix accurately on location. Artist will learn how to construct a color poster before beginning to paint.
For questions or sign ups, call 360 378 2638. Starts Friday night, 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday out on location on San Juan Island. Dates August 12,13,14 For more info and materials list click here
www.paintthesanjuans.blogspot.com/

Day Two of Our July Workshop

Mary McCulloch invited us down to paint in her garden on the south end of San Juan Island. We could barely get out of our cars before we all saw dozens of paintings to paint. The second day, everyone felt more comfortable with their materials and able to handle a complex situation by simplifying their viewpoint. We introduced a new technique of laying in the painting initially with black gesso, covering it with transparent glaze, and then working with regular opaque paints. Unfortunately it was a little too cold to for our glazes to dry quickly. We heard a nice talk from Mary about composition and movement in paintings. We introduced the Fauve painters.

The next workshop will be August 12,13,14. The main topic will be color control, understanding color, how to mix it, and how to use color effectively. We will work with our limited palette to mix any color we want. Sign up at Funk & Junk or call 360 378 2638.































Thank you to Marie Di Christina for her great photos of artists holding their fresh paintings.

Photos from our Workshop, Day One

Damp weather didn't wet our spirits, a great day experiencing weather and capturing it in paint. We talked about materials first, what to paint on and what to paint with. We talked about some ideas for travel. Our main focus was to create space and incorporate those ideas into our paintings. We developed compositions, established an idea, did several versions until the idea was simplified into a good painting composition. Many people created a color poster, establishing a color palette. Before we began, we made a lot of decisions, it helped to free us up.

First Summer Workshop just around the Corner

Good weather has finally arrived and the island is looking good for our summer painting workshop. With this year's late spring, the farmers are just now getting their hay baled. Hopefully we can paint them during the workshop. We are also invited to visit and paint in a gorgeous flower garden of a master gardener and artist here on San Juan for one of our painting days. Call if you would like to join us for this July's summer outdoor painting workshop, Paint the San Juans! 360 378 2638. Starts Friday evening, all day Sat. and Sunday.

Ready for the 4th of July

The Salmon is ready for the Friday Harbor 4th of Parade.
Check us out in Fremont Solstice Parade

3 Abstracts in New York City! Love It

Just received this photo of my 3 abstracts hanging in Jeff and Lora's loft apartment above Union Square. They are part of "paper doll series", working abstractly from the figure. What does that mean? Working with the model at the Arts Student League, using the model to see abstractly and energetically to create this series. Using the fastest paint possible, black and white gesso, acrylic and pencil. The 3 paintings on the left are Lora's own beautiful paintings.

2011 Summer Workshop, Paint the San Juans

Join us this summer,
Paint the San Juan Islands!



Experience the beauty of San Juan Island while
Expanding painting skills.



Annie's Summer Plein Air painting workshops will cover the basics and nuances of working on location. Friday evening will be devoted to a demonstration and time for questions about materials and techniques. On Saturday and Sunday, artists will set up at different locations each day on San Juan Island.
Artists will sketch, thumbnail, and work to finish a small painting each day. Annie will go from easel to easel giving each artist personalized instruction on their particular view. Endless possibilities abound with San Juan Island's maritime and pastoral views. Workshop sites are one day by the sea, and another at old island farms.
Years of teaching drawing and painting combined with her love of painting her island home, makes Annie's workshops the perfect creative island experience.
Scroll down for online painting demonstration and material list here.
Dates for this year's 3 workshops.
July 15, 16, 17
August 12, 13 14
September 9, 10, 11
Cost $225 per workshop

Overnights available at Nichols Street Suites


Sign up at Funk and Junk Antiques in Friday Harbor, email at anniehowelladams@gmail, or phone at 360 378 2638 in Friday Harbor.

Draw the Portrait March 27th...... In Person or Online

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New Class !!! beginning March 27th, 6 weeks of drawing the portrait from the beginning.
Class will cover the basic steps to render a convincing portrait. Class will help any artist, even if not ultimately interested in portraiture....
"If you can draw a portrait, you can draw anything......."
Each week will cover small incremental step for portrait drawing, we will demystify drawing the portrait by learning these steps:

The Envelope, tilt, the block- in
Setting the Features
Measuring
lights, darks, & edges
Specifics of side, 3/4 and frontal views
anatomy of head,
specifics of eyes, nose and mouth
Emphasis and Composition

Available for online learners. Artists not in Friday Harbor can sign up for this class. I will teach and critique online via gmail. Islanders will meet Sunday morning, 10 am at the Islands Arts League, on Mullis Street. ONline students will receive lessons each week. Cost $72. Sign up in person, Funk & Junk or contact me at anniehowelladams at gmail.com, or first day of class.
Class open to artists of any level.

Video on Youtube, Making of the Mural

A short video about the making of the mural, from start to finish.