http://www.valeriestephenson.com en-gb valeriestephenson.com 2010-8-2T00:00:00Z valeriestephenson.com http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#71881 Just to let you all know my new blog address is httpwww.valeriescreativestudio.blogspot.com Hope you will join me. 2010-8-2 00:52:03 http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#68235 2010-6-18 00:52:20 http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#68234 2010-6-18 00:40:27 http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#61553 Would you believe its been 7 long months since I updated my blogforgive me to all who read it. Since last August I have been so very busy making my lovely velvet scarves and I sold such a lot as Xmas gifts not only in my alteration workshop but also at craft fairs. So much praise as I dont think anyone else does this work in IrelandI could be wrong I am now registered with The Craft Council of Ireland which gave me a real buzz. As a result of all the work I could not give too many Art Classes just one term of 6 weeks . Due to request I am now making some velvet embossed handbags to match my scarves but they can also be bought separately of course.I would love to hear your comments on my work please whether it be good or bad as feedback is knowledge. This morning I was out in my front garden doing some weedingyes that time of year is here again but no daffodils as the weather has been so cold Im disappointed about that as I love to see the lovely yellow heads swaying in the breeze.... 2010-3-27 16:26:22 http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#46157 Hi all have you seen my new Craft Gallery I have just added. Yes as well as painting I am now making Love Hearts as I like to call them. Made with with so many different prints of materialwhich I had imported because I could not get it in Ireland and filled with flame retardent filling. I have also perfumed them with Rose oilor not if you choose My beautiful velvet scarfs are coming soon also.All hand embossed and lined with some lovely designes. Colours range from deep greenredrustsblue and carnetion.Im kept so busy at this moment. I have also just finished a 6 week teaching course in Art. Next lot of classes start in September so Im really looking forward to my holidays coming up the last week in August.I really need the break.Talk to you soonVal 2009-8-2 23:26:03 http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#43955 As of late I have been working on my garden and with the result colour is everywhere.A lot of hard work comes with the pleasure weedingwatering shaping and sweeping up the rubbish but in the end its all worth it when your sitting in the garden with a cup of coffee or maby a glass of wine. I also love to paint in the garden when we get a nice daynot too hot or cold.Flowers give inspirition for colour and watching the bees going about their daily work.If only it was always so peaceful and calmand then my beautiful grandchildren arrive.Everywhere is filled with laughter and questions. What are you doing Nan How do you do that Can I do some Time to put away the paints. Food and drinks are needed now. My new Artists Studio has just been finished and my Beginners Art Classes started back last Wednesday.What a great night we all had.The room is so bright and airy and my own paintings are hanging on the walls.I have also started my craft work which I will be displaying on my site soon ... 2009-6-27 10:46:25 http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#38947 Yes its spring again although it still feels like winter with cold winds and rain but thats Irish weather for you so no point in complaining. About two weeks ago I was approached by a local newspaper Kildare Xtra to have an editorial done and there it was when I opened the paper this morning a full page with some of my art work including would you believe a photo of myself. I have to say I was very pleased so now this page is heading over to Australia to show my son Jason. Famous at Last if only in Kildare I also received a few emails congratulating me on it. Classes are going well. We started on a seascape and after only 3 weeks into the course the ladies turned out some very nice work so well done Hopefully I will be able to show some of their paintings at a later stage. 2009-3-30 13:47:53 http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#34395 Hello all its been quite a while since my last visit to be honest Ive been so busy with my art work lots of commissions for my Angel paintings. They are very popular for Christmas and also New Born and First Communion gifts. And of course I was organising my own list of presents for my four beautiful grandchildren. What a happy and joyful time I had sharing this Christmas holiday with my family. I do hope you all enjoyed yourselves too. Now the New Year has arrived and back to work I start just like everyone else. My Art classes will begin again in February and I hope to show you some of the work in progress.In the meantime if you have a question to ask me please feel free to do so. My first task is to insure my brushes are clean and ready to use. After I wash them in warm sudsey water I like to put a little of my hair conditioner on leave for a few minutes and rinse off you will find the brushes are so much nicer to work with. This time of the year is good for buying your sketc... 2009-1-1 23:16:42 http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#31498 When I began painting I used canvas board and then progressed to stretched canvaswhich I prefer. Of course they come in all shapes and sizes deep canvas are good as they look quite well hanging when not framed. Although canvases come already primed I still like to give them a light coat of acrylic paint before I begin my picture. If you get a small piece of damp sponge any type will do and spread a thin coat of paint on your canvas it gives a good backing before you start your work. I like to use raw sienna for this. Keeping Acrylics wet . Stay wet palettes are great for this.They come like a plastic container with a sheet of blotting paper on the base and a sheet of a greesproof paper on top you wet this and it keeps your paint very usable for a week or more which means you dont waist any paint. 2008-10-23 20:33:11 http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#30766 I am now giving acrylic art classes for beginners adults and one thing I stress is having good brushescheap ones dont work as the hairs come out on the canvas and also they leave marks or streaks in the paint. I like to start my class off with sizes 1flat 12 flat and no.1 or 2 round. Rigger brush is good for tree branches and grass. Primary colours are as everyone knows RedBlueYellow. My favourites are CrimsonCobalt Blue and Process Yellow. Of course red and yellow make orangeblue and yellow make green and red and blue make purple and then when you mix white to either it changes the shades so you have to experminent yourself. Sap Green is good to have as when you add yellow in different amounts you get a variation of greens. Purple is worth buying as you can waste a lot of paint trying to mix one. Burnt Umber is a nice warm brown and great for darkening the tone of other colours. If you use a lot of orange get yourself a tube of Cadmium Orange. Also Paynes Grey is good to have and d... 2008-10-10 00:31:34 http://www.valeriestephenson.com/page6.htm#30029 Hi all yes this is me at last I put a picture to the text. As you have guessed my first love is painting second comes gardening. As you have seen from my web site httpwww.valeriestephenson.com Ive been painting for the past 12yrs or so of which I will post some pictures later on....After watching my youngest son Jason drawing from an early age and then on to painting my interest grew. Eventually I decided to go for it and took some adult classes and it progressed from there. A new life began My art classes were in Oils but I then changed to Acrylics as they dried quickerbut I must say it took some time getting used to acrylics. I have learned that acrylics can be used like watercolorswhen you thin them down and like oils when used straight from the tube. As time goes on I will leave a few tips I have learned through trial and error. 2008-9-22 14:27:35