Virginia Cobb's, "Acrylic Abstract Image" on Sale

Abstract Acrylic Painting: The Evolving Image with Virginia Cobb from Creative Catalyst on Vimeo.


This week's sale is Virginia Cobb's art instructional workshop, "Acrylic Abstract Image: The Evolving Image."

Virginia Cobb's DVD is a bit different from most of Creative Catalyst's workshops. Instead of focusing on technique, it explores the discovery process that goes on inside our heads. Virginia creates three paintings from the same inspiration but emphasizes a different element of design in each painting: shape, line and texture. The results are amazingly different. She layers, covers, and re-discovers shapes and colors. Her process creates a sense of history and permanence. Watch as she adds layers but, more importantly, listen to how she thinks about what she is doing.

Virginia's artistic process relies on problem solving. She challenges herself by constantly creating problems, which forces her to discover solutions. It keeps her art fresh and original.

I had never really thought about this approach. Normally I look at problems in my work and think, "$%&! Oh look. Another failure." But Virginia actually propels off of problems to keep her paintings fresh and original. That is SUCH a better way to look at it. (Also more kid friendly.)

Conversations with Nicholas Simmons Part 3

Here's another clip from Conversations with Nicholas Simmons. In this segment he talks about why it's good for beginning artists to use their imagination as their source material.

Love

You can get some cool effects when you use cheap paper and cheap paint. You can also get your arms covered in purple and have to do a quick but thorough interrogation of your kitchen and make sure you're not leaving droplets of purple water behind with your never-to-be-seen-again deposit.

Nicholas Simmons Countdown Begins!

We have begun the countdown for Nicholas Simmons's DVD workshop, "Innovative Water Media." We just approved the check disc, which means the DVDs will arrive in our warehouse in about 3 weeks!

"Innovative Water Media" is going to be a great learning tool for water media artists of all stripes. Nick takes aspects of the medium that people usually try to avoid and incorporates them into his own style. Water media artists usually think of blooms, crawl-backs and puddling as signs of a ruined painting but Nick takes them and makes incredible textures.

We are also working on some Nick web extras so more info to come soon.

Virginia Cobb Pre Sale

Work is abuzz today with excitement. Virginia Cobb's DVD, "Acrylic Abstract Painting: The Evolving Image" is being produced as I type. We're announcing the pre-sale and will have it shipped to us in just a few weeks!

Mary Todd Beam

I have spent the last few weeks reediting one of the first DVD workshops CCP ever did. It's like opening a time capsule. It's so fun to spend some time with Mary Todd Beam whose energy and creativity jump off the screen and beckon you to join her. But it is one of the first DVDs CCP ever did and we've come a long way in how we shoot.

Also, some of the older tapes went bad somehow and I'm working between the old finished video (which has perfect video but some editing problems) and the original footage which has damage in random places. It's been the ultimate juggling match but the result I think is a much stronger workshop. The added plus of this is that I got to go back into a second DVD Mary filmed when she was here but we never edited. Both projects will be on the new DVD and I can't wait.

Jacqueline Sullivan Pre-Sale Ending Soon!

Have I mentioned I'm excited for Jacqueline Sullivan's DVD to come out? I am completely. We filmed Jacqueline at last year's Art and Soul Retreat in Portland, OR. The event itself is amazing. Amazing instructors. Amazing students. I can't say enough good things about it.

We at Creative Catalyst Productions were lucky enough to spend a day with Jacqueline watching her paint and listening to how she thinks about her art. The way she explains the different Golden products made so much sense. She's clear, concise and absolutely inspiring.

Jacqueline Sullivan's "Acrylics: Textures, Layers, and Metallics"

Jacqueline Sullivan's video is on its way!

Textures, Layers and Metallics Oh My!

Mark your calendars! Jacqueline Sullivan's DVD, "ACRYLICS: Textures, Layers and Metallics" (just as cool as it sounds) will hit the CCP store in 4-6 weeks. Almost seems like too long. In her first Creative Catalyst Productions video, Jacqueline teaches everything you wanted to know about gels and mediums. She explains the different effect possibilities various Golden gels, mediums and GACs will bring to your work. She uses Golden products with tissue, aluminum foil and cheese cloth to create amazing textures, layers and metallics. The only thing I loved more than editing Jacqueline's DVD workshop was filming it.

Check back for pre-order sales!

Virginia: Day 3

In movies they always have the artist characters covered in paint. (The current show Heroes has this for example.) This always sort of annoyed me because all the artists I know are really tidy. Artists don't want random color on their hands because those random colors might get into their palettes or onto their paintings and create mud. Who *are* these artists the movies portray? Then I met Virginia. She moves paint with everything from razors to squeegees to her own hands. (As seen in the picture). Not only is it fun to watch, it has beautiful outcomes.




Virginia left yesterday early and we were sad to see her go. Lynn is already planning on attending one of her workshops in September. How fun will that be?!?

Update: Virginia's DVD Acrylic Abstract Painting: The Evolving Image, is now available at Creative Catalyst Productions.

Viriginia Cobb: Day 2

I was out the first half of the day at drawing class but when I came back, WOW some of her paintings had really transformed! Virginia is not afraid of that paint. Unfortunately my camera is having close up problems but above is a shot of one of her three.

Update: Virginia's DVD workshop, Acrylic Abstract Painting: The Evolving Image is now available at Creative Catalyst Productions.

Virginia Cobb: Day 1

Virginia* arrived last night and we got the cameras rolling this morning. I'm sitting in on the filming and while they don't need me this afternoon, I'm learning so much I hope they let me stay!

Virginia is an acrylic non objective painter. She uses everything from her brushes to squeegees to her hands to move color and create texture. There was one point where we watched through the cameras as she squeezed out a giant gob of cadmium red light and we all sort of held out breaths in fear. But it looks amazing. She's fearless!

Below are close ups from some of the paintings she's working on this morning. She does amazing work with texture (visual and physical)

*Update: Virginia's DVD, Acrylic Abstract Painting: The Evolving Image, is now available at Creative Catalyst Productions.