Why do you do it?!?

Why do we do what we do? This is a question that keeps coming up in the classes I have been at C4 (business classes for artists). I am amazed by how hard this question is to answer.

Easy answers:

I can.  I love it.  I'm curious.  Etc....

Why is this such a hard thing to answer? I have been making art most of my life. I have a degree in painting. I have been teaching painting classes for 14 years. But why do I do this? Well... I love making 3 dimensional space on a 2 dimensional plane, moving color back in forth within that 2D space. I love problem solving, and I just like to walk around and look and think about how so many things are possible on one little planet.

 I have been assigned to make my mission statement  as part of my class work, and after a lot of struggle, I think I have it.

Mission: Create expressive paintings that elevate the ordinary and encourage the viewer to appreciate the beauty of the day to day.

When it comes down to it, I always feel so lucky. I love my work and I can always learn and improve. I look forward to seeing what tomorrow brings. 

Paint on my friends,

Dawn

1 Day workshop Nov 22 , Sat 10 - 3:30 Color 2

1 Day workshop Nov 22 , Sat 10 - 3:30  Color 2 - Controlling  Your Mixtures
DawnArt Studios
180 11th St Ne, Atlanta GA
404 399 0853
dawn@dawnart.com
Color Confidence 2 -  Learn to control your mixtures
Now that you have mastered pure color and are comfortable moving color from one hue to another, learn how to manipulate your colors to make neutrals, and make colors recede back in space.  In this class you will learn the best way to get the most life out of your mixtures and how to keep your mixture clean and other store bought hues.
                                                                                                              DawnArt Studios LLC 
                                                                                                                        180 11th ST NE, 
                                                                                                                      Atlanta Ga 30309
                                                                                                                          404 399 0853
Click on the  photo link below to register online, by email dawn@dawnart.com

Click on the  photo link to register online
Happy painting!                             
Classes start back soon.


Dec 2, 9, 16  Mini Tues Painting Studio 6:30 - 9:30  DawnArtStudios
Dec 13 Capture the Light Spruill

Upcoming Classes - Happy painting!                           

Winter Schedule in the works


Jan 17 10 - 3  Palette Knife Workshop: Boats on the Water Spruill
Jan 28 - March 4  Wed 10:00 am - 12:45pm Joy of Paintng - painting techniques / beginning painting  DawnArt Studios
Feb 7  10 - 3 Color Confidence 1 Painting Workshop DawnArt Studios
Feb 20  2:00 - 5:00 Color confidence 2:00 - 5:00 AME
Feb 21 9:00 - 12:00am Palette Knife Workshop : Vibrant Sky AME
See more paintings at www.dawnart.com
My art now available to purchase online click here to go to my secure market.

Check out the class FB page Dawnart Classes




This Saturday - 1 Day Workshop Nov 1, Sat 10-3:00 Palette Knife: Landscape

1 Day Workshop Nov 1, Sat 10-3:00  Palette Knife: Landscape

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
404.872.5338 
980 Briarcliff Rd Atlanta GA
 $110
Course code 7592
Full Class Description

In this fun and quick-paced course, students explore techniques used to create expressive paintings with a palette knife. Working with a palette knife to create a broad range of textures, students learn the nuances of value working wet in wet and layering in order to keep colors rich and vibrant.  There will be an emphasis on color missing and keep you colors clean (no muddy colors). Also, as a landscape class, it will address how to make your colors recede to suggest distance. This course will begin with a demo to cover the basic approach.  Demonstrations will continue as well as working one on one with the students as you work on your paintings.  All levels welcome. Appropriate for beginners. The class will be taught using oils. Please contact instructor at dawn@dawnart.com with any questions.


 Winter Schedule in the works


Feb 28 Palette Knife Workshop : Vibrant Sky Callanwolde

See more paintings at www.dawnart.com
My art now available to purchase online click here to go to my secure market.


Check out the class FB page Dawnart Classes


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Weekend Plein air workshop Oct 10 - 12, Parker Ranch in Clayton GA

Weekend Plein air workshop Oct 10 - 12, Parker Ranch in Clayton GA   

This a a great painting event   - not to be missed
210.00 for the weekend
Lodging, breakfast, social hour included in price.
50.00 for the class and 80.00 a night for the lodge - you can't beat it!!  
Room arrangements must be made through Becky at Parker Lodge,
Becky Hoover   becky@parkersranch.com
404-373-0566
Becky is offering the painters a reduced rate of 80.00 a night. (Big thank you - it's peak time)
She is a wonderful host and will take great care of you. Make sure to let Becky know if you'd like to share the room with a friend.

This will be a relaxed painting event in the mountain during the beautiful fall color.  We will meet after breakfast, around nine and go to our first painting  location.  Take a break for lunch and the paint  some more.There will be demos on how to set up your work space and how to get started, along with individual  instruction during the day.  This is your painting experience, so get in as much as you'd like. you can also set up at the lodge to paint. It's up to you. We will me back at the lodge around 5 for a 6:00 wine social before dinner.
Click on the  photo link below to register For the class.





































Happy painting!                             
Classes start back soon.
Oct 1   Wed Painting Studio 6:30 - 9:30 - 6 Weeks

See more paintings at www.dawnart.com
My art now available to purchase online click here to go to my secure market.


Check out the class FB page Dawnart Classes


Sign up for my newsletter

Join me for the opening reception of Natural Beauty March 13th.


Natural Beauty Opening Reception


March 13, 7-9pm

Defoor Art Center

1710 Defoor Ave,NW
Atlanta GA
404.591.3809
The show will be up March 9-May 4
The even is fee and open to the public

Join me if you can and see the new painting I have been working on this winter.

See you there,

Dawn



Happy painting!                           


My art now available to purchase online click here to go to my secure market.




A Few of my favorites from the 30 Day Painting Challenge


This has really pushed me in the studio. I enjoy the challenge, but happy to slow down and explore ideas that take more time than a day. I really think this is a great way to improve your paintings.

Happy painting!                           


March 18 Tues Painting Studio
May 3 Color Confidence 1 10 - 3:00
May 10 Palette Knife workshop; Reflections on water

My art now available to purchase online click here to go to my secure market.





Painting Day 30!

I did it - with 20 minutes to spare - Yay! I decided to have a lot of fun with my last painting in the challenge. "Big Sky" 12 x 12 oil on panel palette knife painting,
Happy painting!                           


Mark you calendar for spring classes

March 18 Tues Painting Studio
May 3 Color Confidence 1 10 - 3:00
May 10 Palette Knife workshop; Reflections on water


My art now available to purchase online click here to go to my secure market.




Painting Day 28!

"Away From it All" 30x48 oil on canvas
WooHoo, finished a big one. That always makes for a happy day in the studio.

In other news, this pretty much sums up Atlanta the day after our big storm.

Until tomorrow!


Happy painting!                           







Painting Day 24


 Brrrr. My coldest day out painting this year! I can't believe it's sleeting in Florida

Remember the fontain I painted yesterday?
This is what I could get done before I just got too cold. I didn't bring warm enough clothes. Who knew?!? I don't know how northern plein air artists do it!

The inspiration, I just love this house. Reminds me of New Orleans

PLEIN AIR PAINT OUT AND WET PAINT ART SHOW

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. 

RECEPTION, 5:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M., LAKESIDE BUILDING, 1290 CIRCLE DRIVE.  FREE & OPEN TO PUBLIC.

LakeYard, Circle Drive
Plein Air Paint Out - Professional artists will be dotting the Lake Yard landscape to paint their individual conception of activities, buildings, people and whatever else they envision going on in this area.  Observe the artists at work.  Individual finished works of art will be on display in the Hall of Brotherhood as they dry and will be available for purchase. 
Find out more about the Event  Chautauqua DeFuniak
Happy painting!                           










My art now available to purchase online click here to go to my secure market.

Painting Day 17

"Lazy Day on the River" 16x20 oil on canvas, palette knife painting.

Yay, another one for the finished rack. 

I am teaching a workshop in the morning, so now I had better get my supplies together and finish my demos. 

Happy Friday!








Painting Day 16

"Sunset Sail" 12 x 16 oil on canvas, palette knife painting.

Click here to Purchase

After spending all day woking on the computer, it was a relief to get out to the studio and paint.
An important part of my job is photographing my work and then editing the photos to get them ready to jury into shows, print ads, website, etc... Today was the day to make a dent in that task. After a couple failed attempts, decided to hire someone to edit my booth shot.  That's always a tough one, but so important for getting into outdoor shows. 

For any of you looking to apply to out door art shows you should check out Larry Berman, he does a great job and his site has a lot of great tips on how to take your own photo.


I still have room in my Color Confidence Workshop this weekend. This is a great class to help you control you color mixing.
Until tomorrow,

Dawn

Evening with the artist - Nov 21

Meet the Artist 
Wine & Cheese Reception for Dawn KinneyMartin
November 21, 2013 at 5:30pm
Savor Wine Boutique
@Kirkwood Station
1963 Hosea L. Williams Drive #R-103
Atlanta, GA 30317
Phone: 404.254.5044
Web: www.SavorWineBoutique.com

You're Invited to Sip & Savor!

Each quarter, the walls of Savor Wine Boutique features the works of a local artist which are available for viewing and purchase. Currently showing are the vibrant oil paintings of Dawn Martin. Her work can also be found in the permanent collection at the Harris Arts Center, in regional galleries and in juried fine art festivals across the country. Martin shares her talents with other budding arts as a faculty member at the Savannah College of Art & Design, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center and the Spruill Center for the Arts. Her collection is inspired by photographs of landscapes from her travels, with many of the pieces at Savor Wine Boutique coming from her recent trip to the Italian countryside and vineyards. The public is invited to meet Martin during a special “Evening with the Artist” which will be held in the store on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 5:30-7:30. Space is limited and only open to guests 21 years of age and older. Please confirm your attendance by sending an email to RSVP@SavorWineBoutique.com.



Kyla Cox, Proprietor

Savor Wine Boutique
@Kirkwood Station
1963 Hosea L. Williams Drive #R-103
Atlanta, GA 30317
Phone: 404.254.5044
Web:www.SavorWineBoutique.com
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Happy Fall - time to settle into the studio!



                                        
Happy Fall! 
I have had a fantastic summer. Enjoyed a lot of traveling, painted in really cool places and  got to hang out with  great friends. Now, with just a few art shows left in the year, I am looking forward to settling into the studio and creating new work for 2014.  

I have been thinking a lot about color lately and my new painting ( I hope ) will reflect this. It all started with  a color confidence workshop I taught over the summer.  I have been trying to really simplify color theory for my students and put it in easy to understand language. How do make it practical for how people really paint? I think this turned out to be one of the best classes I have taught about color, so I am now in the process of creating a second level, Color Confidence 11.  I'm really excited about this class, but haven't gotten it boiled down to the nuts and bolts just yet.

 I really look forward to the time in the studio over the winter. the pressure of sales is off  and I can focus on creating and understanding color.

Happy fall ya'll!
Dawn













Painting 16 - Mixing work and teaching

Today I needed to work on a commission and I also have to get ready for painting workshop  I'm teaching this Sat. I decided to combine the two and try break down my studio process and see if I could share it with my class. It is so easy to work on automatic pilot and not pay attention to what you are really doing

First composition sketch

 I think this is helpful to set up the space on your canvas. Get control of your composition right off the bat. Make sure you don't have center of focus going in the wrong direction.
Starting to work out a value sketch


 Before you jump right on you canvas, do a little value study. Go ahead and start thinking about your light source. What is your compositional design? What's great about this is that you can make quick decisions, change your mind, and make adjustments.
Making adjustments and feeling better with the values
After looking the my sketch, I decided to pull the tree on the right a little more forward, push the one on the left farther back, and add more shadows in the front. Added a few hills in the back and pushed the mountains back a bit. A little more light in the sky.

This is going to give me a good plan to work on my commission. I need to touch on the elements that are important to them. Now I will have a lot of freedom to create the painting, because I won't be fighting the composition and I can just paint.

Until tomorrow, Dawn

Painting 15 - I've made it to the halfway point!

12x12 Daisies
Today I tried something a little different. If you have followed my work, you know that subtlety is not my strong point. So today, I worked in washes. I wanted to see if I could get a little color and mystery going on in the shadows and not over define everything. It was tough to leave it with out a little contrast, so I splashed a little orange at the end. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Until tomorrow!!

Commission Finished Just in Time

 Just in the nick of time. This commission is for an  anniversary and I had to deliver it today to make the deadline. Good thing I finished last night! I am happy to say the client loved the painting - see below...

The finished painting 20"x20" Tierra. The happy couple had their engagement party here. What a thoughtful gift. I hope she will love it!
The photo I worked from
People are often amazed at how I can get a painting you may want to look at out of such bad photos! I just image what the scene would look like at a time with interesting light and try to capture that moment. For this one, I was thinking about what it would be like to walk up to this cozy place just as the sun was setting. I am with good friends and were are going to have a great evening.
I also try to add color and texture to the surface of the building to give the viewer something interesting to look at. ( when I've finished my great dinner )
That is the fun of these paintings. 

Now on to Indianapolis for another art show. Hope it goes as well as last weekend.

Cheers,

Dawn