Chris Henry's Fine Art Blog

From my experience here are the top 5 benefits from taking an art workshop :

1. Boost creativity
2. Freed up to play (No longer stuck)
3. Inspires you to develop and schedule your art practice
4. Quality of work improves
5.  Productivity goes up

Another benefit is widening your social network.  It’s not uncommon for people who meet each other in a workshop to find other ways to paint together. I’m curious what benefits you think are available from taking a workshop? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

For those interested, here is my studio workshop schedule thru May :

Introductory Mixed Media Workshop
This fun, concentrated workshop will have you exploring and practicing ideas and techniques used in creating mixed media abstract art. I will be sharing methods to approach composition, color and texture, while discussing intuition, and letting go. All paint and materials are provided. You may bring any water-soluble paints or favorite brushes you like to work with, but not needed.
All skill levels welcomed-No artistic experience necessary. All that is needed is a positive attitude and a willingness to play.
Hours: 1 – 4:30 pm
Cost for each workshop – 75.00 (15% discount for signing up for two or more workshops in advance.)

All Day Saturday Mixed Media Workshop
In this fun, exploratory workshop you’ll have all day to express your creativity as I share my approach to creating mixed media abstract art. All paint and materials provided.
You may bring any water-soluble paints or brushes you like to work with, but not needed.
This workshop has an option to bring something you are working on.
Note: If you want to bring large work, you’ll need to let me know the size to make sure there is enough room in the studio. Also if you want to work vertical, you will need to bring your own easel, and possibly larger brushes.
All skill levels welcomed-No artistic experience necessary.
All that is needed is a positive attitude and a willingness to play.
Hours: 10 – 5 pm
Light lunches provided with non-vegan and vegan options.
Cost for each workshop – 195.00 (15% discount for signing up for two or more workshops in advance.)

New Schedule thru May of 2016

March 12 All Day Saturday Workshop / Saturday 10–5 
March 13 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30
March 20 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30

April 9 All Day Saturday Workshop / Saturday 10–5 
April 10 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30
April 17 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30

May 7 All Day Saturday Workshop / Saturday 10–5 
May 8 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30
May 15 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30

Interested? Please reply by email chenry@sonic.net or call (707) 478-8150
Space is limited. Please sign up early to reserve a space.

After slowing down with my creative output over the holidays. I have started to create a new series of paintings that are organic and very textural. Meaning many layers of paint, earthy colors and other materials.

I believe my wanting to get back to something earthy is due to the fact that lately I have spent a good amount of time looking at a computer screen. Recently I re-built and updated my wife’s salon website. (thepomegranatesalon.com). This was an enjoyable challenge as it is the first site I built from a WordPress platform. I have to give a shout out to my friend Bob, without his expertise and guidance I’d still be struggling to finish the site.

When comparing designing a website, to making a painting, there is a similarity. For both of these creative endeavors, the elements of good design apply. After that for me it couldn’t be more different. One is sedentary and has you spending lots of time sitting in front of a computer screen. The other involves physical movement, with the freedom to be more spontaneous, with only the  boundary of the canvas and materials being the limit. In the end both offer a creative satisfaction of doing something new. I’ll be sharing images of my new work in future newsletters.

Lance Pierson (www.piersonfas.com) located in Healdsburg. has created a clever new way to frame your artwork. He has designed and patented a frame that you can easily remove and replace a painting into. So if you get tired of looking at a painting, you can easily change it out for a different work of art. You can contact Lance for pricing, sizes and more info at (707) 540-5892. I’ll have a sample frame at my upcoming workshops.

There’s still time to sign up for a workshop this month. Here are the upcoming workshops for the month of February.

February 13 All Day Saturday Workshop / Saturday 10–5 
February 14 Introductory Mixed Media Painting Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30
February 21 Introductory Mixed Media Painting Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30

Visit my website here for more information about workshops at my studio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After spending the last couple of weeks evaluating progress made in 2015. It’s time to start again. Northern California is getting much needed rain. The cool rainy days are in contrast to the sun that mostly appears throughout the year in this area. After a little time off, getting the paint brushes out can be a little confronting. It’s amazing how quickly I have forgotten how to paint. I’m getting older, but I don’t think dementia is setting in? So what do I do? Baby steps. Put primer on a panel, organize the studio, do some drawings, etc. Just move. After a little while the creative wheels begin to churn. Then, if I am present and don’t rush it. I remember. It’s about discovering something new, something I’ve not seen that leaves me inspired. This is what lights me up. The act of creation. I’m interested in what lights you up? Leave a comment below.

To see my recent work in person, you can visit Terra Firma Gallery in Sonoma, CA, and The Passdoor Gallery in Sebastopol, CA.

For those of you who want to get inspired by starting out the new year being bold and creative, come play and explore in one of my studio workshops.

New Schedule thru May of 2016 
January 10 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30
January 17 New – Painting and Epoxy Resin / Sunday 12–4:30

February 13 All Day Saturday Workshop / Saturday 10–5 
February 14 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30
February 21 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30

March 12 All Day Saturday Workshop / Saturday 10–5 
March 13 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30
March 20 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30

April 9 All Day Saturday Workshop / Saturday 10–5 
April 10 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30
April 17 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30

May 7 All Day Saturday Workshop / Saturday 10–5 
May 8 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30
May 15 Introductory Workshop / Sunday 1–4:30

Go here >>> to get more information or download my new workshop schedule.

Interested? Please reply by email – chenry@sonic.net