Michele's NW Studio: April 2020

Thursday, April 30, 2020

New Online Zoom Watercolor Class in 8 Days

I see the studio mannequin is busy taking selfies for his Zoom profile.

Get ready, get set,.....Paint!

In just 8 days our brand new live online watercolor classes begin! The studio is all set up. I dove into the deep end of my crash course on teaching watercolor remotely. I’ve been practicing on Zoom with my students from previous classes. I’m sure there will be some adjustments to be made during the process of using an online format but we’re doing it!

It’s so wonderful seeing those smiling faces and hearing the voices we’ve been missing. Nothing can replace the experience of being there for an actual in person watercolor class as we have been accustomed to in the past. However, there is a certain personal perspective and relaxed comaraderie one can enjoy while learning in the shoeless classroom. We can safely be up close without a mask while looking over the details in a painting.

All the features of our usual watercolor class will be there: slide references, videos, Q&A, assignments to work on in class, time to work on your own and live demonstrations to watch. There will be group and private critiques. Some days we may even venture outdoors to enjoy the beautiful spring weather. When the day’s class is over, you don’t have to pack up and get in your car because you’re already home! If you miss a session you may access a recording, or just go back to review something you want to understand better. The familiar class email with homework assignments will be sent after class as usual.

One day we will return to the Skylight Room and sit together side by side as we explore new ways to experience the world of watercolor. Meanwhile, come to class live online and indulge your creativity with a wonderful family of watercolor painting friends at Kirkland Arts Center.

Update: May 1, 2020
Online watercolor classes have been scheduled at Skagit Valley College
For more details and How to register for SVC Wednesdays please follow this link.

Dates: 5/20/2020 - 6/24/2020

Days: W Times: Arranged

CouriAnne Williams
Continuing & Community Education Director Mount Vernon Campus
Register by phone 360.416.7638
courianne.williams@skagit.edu

For more details and How to register for KAC Fridays please follow this link.'

425) 822-7161

info@kirklandartscenter.org -6059395

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5 PM

Materials list-Suggested only-You may work with what you have at home.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Tulip Day

My extremely modest ‘rows’ of tulips

I’m thinking about our daughter in California today, whose favorite flower is the tulip. When she was a child, our family would go out to the fields where thousands of tulips made a colorful patchwork as far as you could see. We were allowed to park along the roadside then. Kodak would choose a particularly dramatic view and build a platform for anyone to climb up and get some great snapshots.

Today we are under “shelter at home” self isolation because of the Covid-19 pandemic. California has not been under this quarantine as long as we have. I have been self in self isolation since March 28! If that is what it takes to protect ourselves and others from infection, then that is what we’ll do!

In the Skagit Valley they are already clipping off the tulip heads to promote the development of the underground bulbs. We are discouraged from venturing out to the tulip fields and causing traffic problems for the locals. So today I offer my modest little “field”. I’ve left them to bloom beside the road for those on neighborhood walks to enjoy. Later today, difficult as it will be, I will cut these flowers down so that they will grow and propagate next year. I am pleasantly surprised that our feral rabbits haven’t already munched these down!