The other day I got up and started checking a somewhat neglected and far too long queue of email when I noticed a new one from my friend, Holly, whom I'd seen a few days before at lunch. "There's a painting workshop in Boyne City on Monday. Interested?" Well, yeah!
So, off I went for a day that included not only a delightful workshop but -- in the hours after -- a walk through this charming northern Michigan city, about 45 minutes from the cottage.
It might be overstating it to call Boyne City a "city." It's more like a charming town than a small city and that's what makes it so nice. It's located right on Lake Charlevoix, one of northern Michigan's loveliest lakes.
Like many up-north towns, there is plenty of sprawl but the downtown is small and charming with some cute shops. And, there were more than a few scarecrows decorating the streets.
But more on that later. First, we gathered at a retreat center on a bluff above the lake with areas for camping and several outbuildings. This looks like it might have been a small church with its cute windows.
The workshop focused on painting values (meaning the gradation between light and dark). Our instructor, Dawn, started by showing us how to mix black from burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. (This seemed to work better in oil than watercolor but it did work!)
Then we were given this lovely color handout of an autumn scene. We were told how to create a grid to help us with perspective. Here's a good tip if you are using the grid plan. Use a sharpie and a page protector to make a permanent grid. Then you can just slide the image you want to sketch into the grid. When done, just take it out and add your new project!
Our first task, after making a value chart for our newly mixed "black" was to draw a sketch of the project picture. After we got it right, we labeled the darkest bits 5, the lightest 1 and all in between.
Then, painting it! Let me tell you, it's hard to paint black and white when you are looking at a beautiful color image! But that was the whole point -- learning how to value the colors for your shading. I was pretty pleased with how mine worked out.
After, Holly and I walked down to the beach.
It was a gorgeous day, finally kind of warm. And the water was so blue!
I think we were both sorry we had on jackets! It was so good to see Holly twice in one week after about two years of not seeing her at all! I'm so glad she let me know about the class!
After we parted, I went into town, noticing lots of cute scarecrows.
I think this display was by the garden club. You can always count on a garden club to do a great display!
At a consignment store I scored a first edition of E.B. White's "Stuart Little," which seems fitting this summer. I also got a great working blender for $7.50. This means I can make pesto before my basil dies off in what was an unseasonably cold week last week.
After a couple more purchases here and there (a bottle of wine and cheese crisps, new socks!) it was home to enjoy a good book.
And, to plan out my next painting project! But, it will probably be in color!
Sharing with: Pink Saturday / Love Your Creativity
51 comments:
Sounds like you had fun.
I think you need to come kidnap me and take me to one of these retreat. I lack artistic abilty. You are so talented!
You draw so well, whether it is in black and white or color. I think you did a great job with values, too. I'd also be pleased. Heck, I'd be pleased if I could draw a tree!
Loved the scarecrows, especially the little M and M one. Sounds like you had a very fulfilling day. BTW, I tried to make pesto in a blender and I found I needed something stronger. I wish you luck, dear.
Looks like u enjoyed the workshop.
Love the wonderful displays
Sounds like you had a great day and learned a little too, Jeanie. It doesn't get much better than that. A bottle of wine to help you end off the day seems perfect to me.
Sounds like a great day!!
Looks like it was a lovely fall day up north!
Painting in black and white is a great lesson in values. You did really well...no surprise there.
What a cute little town. Thanks for sharing your visit. I love it.
How lovely to go to an art course - the piece you made is great, and it looks like a pretty, little town there. Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie
great job on the black and white study painting. did a project once as yours and I loved it. enjoyed your tour of the little city! Fall is my fav time of year.
Now that's a whole post of fun!
Looks like you had a grand day and learned a lot!
Your painting took me into the world of meditation.
What a fun day! I bet it was frustrating to stick to black and white when you can plainly see those fabulous colors.
How fun Jeanie! I enjoy visiting B one Falls, they always have some creative seasonal displays. Your art project did turn out well. I can well imagine how challenging it was to convert a color image to b/w. We do live in a rocky state don’t we! That image of Lake Charlevoix with all the rocks is a reminder. Whenever we dig to plant something we almost always find at least one rock! Looks like you had a great day!
I can imagine how difficult it was to paint a colorful scene in black and white, but you did very well. Holly looks like a nice friend, and I am glad that you and she had such a great time together.
You did a great job with the shadings! Love the "Cousin It" ~
Your value painting turned out great! That looks like a charming town.
What a wonderful day! It's great that you found a new painting challenge -- your resulting grey-tone landscape is beautiful, and I hope you do more.
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Learning never ends. As long as we live, we add to our knowledge of things. We try, we experience, we improve.
What a marvelous day!
What a fun adventure with a friend. I love grid idea for your painting and also getting to see the sights. I sometime think these smaller towns in the mid-west celebrate seasons more than a big city and I love it. It's one thing I am looking forward to when traveling this month.
When I started studying art with Jelly Massee we did a class in gradiant values. It was one of the most valuable lessons i.m.h.o.
Certainly looks and sounds a great day.
I did enjoy seeing the scarecrows.
Enjoy the weekend.
All the best Jan
What a wonderful day! I really miss taking part in classes. How fortunate you were to be able to join in this one.
Jeanie,
what a great post filled with so many charming places and things! Those scarecrows are all so cute!! And love your painting! Thanks so much for sharing and thanks for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Debbie
What a fun town! Great black and white painting. I like to draw but hate painting, however you are great at it! Our small town does straw bale designs. You have to create something out of a straw bale and put it in front of your store. Some very clever folks out there let me say. Janice
Oh ... a day with a friend, time for painting and the beach and warm conversation.
Bliss!
What fun! I admire your spontaneity... and the style and enthusiasm with which you take on any artistic challenge. It's been a long time since I've been in Boyne City, and I enjoyed the opportunity to tag along on your own adventure. LOVE the painting!
A lovely day out with a friend, painting, and shopping.
Love the scarecrow displays, so cute :)
Love the scarecrow and the sign!
Clever idea with the grid. A grid on paper came with the dolls Ingo presented me with,, now, how does make sense? Yours does! "Mine"????
Interesting to see how you paint.
Aww, the water.
Two years. Oh, my. Shopping. A pain over here. Glad you can enjoy it!
Hello Jeanie,
Your outing to Boyne City and the art class sounds like a fun time. It was great you could meet up with your friend. Your art project looks beautiful, I always love a mountain scene. The scarecrows are cute, a nice variety of fall decorations. Take care, have a great weekend!
I am jealous you took an in person art class. I miss them. Its a great idea to practice lights and darks. They are so important to a piece, aren't they? I suppose some non-artists might not understand. And how fun to see your friend twice in a week (that happened to me this week also) and to visit Boyne. Those scarecrows are fun, especially Cousin It. Thanks for sharing Jeanie. I hope October has started well for you. Hugs-Erika
Jeanie, this looks like a wonderful day with your friend. How I would love to be able to paint, you are talented. The town looks perfectly charming!
I love the town and the scarecrows. Good work on the painting. I'm going to paint my pumpkins.
Hi, Jeanie. You have so many interesting small towns around you and the workshop looks as though it was fun. Sharing it with a friend is always the best. Enjoy October, I hope it moves along slowly.
What could be better? An outing to a cute town with a friend, to learn a new skill (your black and white painting was beautiful!). And, to end it with a bit of shopping? Perfection!
Your tonal painting turned out great Jeanie! What a lovely day...
Jenna
Personally I love black and white art. I grew up watching my father draw with pencils and I've even framed several. They are timeless. Love your rendition of the fall scene. It's stunning and the little town is charming.
I like your painting, it's beautiful and I like the fact that it is black and white as the focus is on shades/form/perspective and no colour distraction - what an interesting project. Lovely pictures of the beach too.
It sounds like you're in an area where anything you might want is within reach. Nice! It looks like a pleasant walk down to that beach. The town does look charming.
Hi Jeanie! ☺ I love your painting...and I can relate, it's very hard to paint black and white when you have colour in front of your eyes, you did a spectacular piece! The walk looks so lovely, that last photo made me smile!! ♥
Wonderful artwork and photos! :) I'd love to do a workshop sometime.
What a great day! I love your painting. I have no talent in that area at all so I really admire those like you that do.
I am so glad you enjoyed your visit with your friend.
This town looks so charming. I love cute Main Streets. The taproom would have called me in to sample local brews! The scarecrows are super fun. Your landscape piece is beautiful. That tip with the grid lines sounds so helpful. The beach walk sounds like a perfect way to end the visit.
What delightful scarecrows you saw in town, Jeanie. So festive, and they look all-American. Was that the theme going on? This sounds like a fun art class. The lake is always beautiful, and I went to a nearby lake recently too. It brings us a sense of peace and stability during this time. I'm glad you got to see your friend again, and so nice of her to mention the art class to you. And you even got a few goodies to take home with you. I hope you enjoyed the book!
~Sheri
You had a great day, Jeanie, with that an art retreat, seeing friend Holly(again), learning some new techniques, scoring some bargains (gotta love thrift stores and consignment shops) and then seeing those great scarecrows. Boyne City definitely sounds like a charming town and if you visit again, please share more images.
What fun you had Jeanie. Love the scarecrow. The artist retreats sounds interesting and fun. Your painting is lovely. so glad you had a nice visit with your friend. Happy week ahead.
That sketch is gorgeous! You are so talented, Jeanie! Truly! Sounds like a fun getaway after some lonely time at the cottage. I love little towns like that. They are so charming! Especially when located by water!
This looks like a fantastic day! Your sketch looks amazing.
Sounds like a fantastic road trip. Glad you spotted that eMail in time to go with Holly.
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