March 8, 2014 Member Meeting – Presentation and Workshop by James Smythe: “Abstracting from Nature”

Morning Presentation – 10:00am

Dune Design by Jim Symthe

The Presentation

I have a good friend and patron who owns a second home at Nags Head, NC. I visit every summer and spend my time painting coastal subjects, mostly in pastel. To extend my subject matter I began exploring Jockey’s Ridge, a State Park nearby. I became fascinated with the way the wind sculpted the sand and how the resulting pattern related to the natural materials found in such an environment. This resulted in a set of abstract paintings.

In my slide presentation I will show how my pastels progressed from views found on this great sand dune, to details of nature. This involves focusing in on an area or detail of a photograph to find a working composition that hides the scenic subject of the photo but results in an interesting composition. I will show a few basic 2-D design elements that I like to use to make a dynamic composition and an effective abstraction.

 

                                                                                                                                                               Dune Design by Jim Smythe

 

 

 

Afternoon Workshop – using concepts introduced in the presentation

 

MeClosePastels

Workshop materials:

Pastel paper will be the substrate. I will be using the most available, Canson Mi-Teintes. I most often use a mid-tone gray or other earth color.

A basic set of pastels. I will be selecting a color scheme mostly from colors I seldom use. This will be a chance for you to do the same. I will be using a mixture of medium soft pastels (Rembrandt) and soft pastels (Senneliers).

I will have available for your use several of the photos of Jockey’s Ridge that I used as reference as well as several that I have not used: however, you may like to use this approach on your own reference photos.

If you are a beginner and have never done a pastel before I will be happy to let you  select a color scheme from my least used pastels and will have extra pastel paper available for you to use.

More information: Website, www.jimsmythe.com; and, my blogsite, www.JamesSmythe.wordpress.com.

Refreshments will be served at our NEW VENUE Grace Church.

When you come to our meeting bring a friend!

The meeting will be held on March 8, 10:00 am

 

ADDRESS GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH
Grace Community Church
495 Cardinal Road
Mills River, NC 28759
DIRECTIONS FROM ASHEVILLE AIRPORT & AG CENTER
I-26, Exit for the airport
–Go West past the airport and past the Ag Center on NC 281
–Go approximately 1 ¾ miles west  towards Mill River
–Turn Right on street between the Land Rover dealer and Grace Church which is Cardinal Drive (the church is up on the hill)
–Turn left at the top of the drive into the church parking lot
–Go to the left side of the building to the green awning entrance
–Go into the hall and go left past several doors
–Our meeting room is on left.

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Please contact Janet Hartmann, Program chair, with any questions about our program. tjhartmann@centurylink.net … 423.767.4200

Please contact Kay Gordon, Membership chair, with any questions about our membership. kgordon@main.nc.us828.206.0240