Oil Painting Classes in Gainesville to Resume in February '09

The Quinlan Visual Arts Center has just confirmed the dates for the spring session of Charles' oil painting class. Apparently they've been getting lots of requests and queries about it, so I wanted to post these as soon as I had them.

Painting: Design and Technique will be held Wednesday afternoons and evenings from February 11 - March 18, 2009. We hope to see you there as we all start a new year of artistic growth and development!

And congratulations are in order for the Quinlan's new Executive Director, Amanda Kroll! We've enjoyed working with her for several years now in her position as Assistant Director and we look forward to helping her strive for her goal "to make the Quinlan among the top visual arts centers in the nation."

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Painting - Design and Technique
Wednesday afternoons (1-4 pm) or evenings (6:30-9:30 pm)
$150 (members) $165 (nonmembers) for six weeks
Session dates : Feb. 11 - Mar. 18, 2009

Quinlan Visual Arts Center
514 Greene St. NE, Gainesville GA 30501
http://www.quinlanartscenter.org/
770-536-2575 or email info@QuinlanArtsCenter.org

Upcoming Dates for Oil Painting Classes

The dates have been set for the next few sessions of Charles' oil painting classes at The Art School at Binders in Atlanta.

After the upcoming holiday break, we will resume with the last three weeks of the current session (Tuesdays, Jan. 13 - 27) and then on to the next full six-week session - Tuesdays, Feb. 10 - Mar. 17, 2009.

For those of you looking even further ahead, future classes will be held Tuesdays, Mar. 31 - May 5 and Tuesdays, May 26 - June 30, 2009.

This is an ongoing, challenging course in which Charles utilizes both the still life and the figure to teach principles of design and the visual language, without smothering the student's own artistic vision. To better fit your busy schedule, both afternoon and evening classes are available.

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Painting - Design and Technique
next session dates: Feb. 10 - Mar. 17, 2009
Tuesday afternoons (1-4 pm) or evenings (6-8:30 pm)
$140 for six weeks

The Art School at Binders
Piedmont Peachtree Crossing
3330 Piedmont Road, Suite 18, Atlanta GA 30305
http://learning.bindersart.com/
contact person: Kristina Breneman - 404-237-6331 ext. 203

New Works: "Straightforward"

Though this piece isn't exactly new, this is the first time we've shown it on our website. Charles painted this striking portrait one day last year and then tucked it away until just recently. It is currently a part of the Atlanta Fine Arts League's Small Works Exhibition and Sale going on until December 15th at the Limelight Gallery at Binders. Please contact them for purchase info. (14 x 11, oil on panel, 2007)

New Works: "Study in Blue"

This wonderful little gem is another of Charles' most recent pieces. It was begun as a demonstration for his ongoing painting class at Binders Art Supply in Atlanta. Once he got home that night, he decided to take it a little further - refining it a bit here and tweeking it a bit there. I love how he can suggest form and solidity with just a few brushstrokes. (12 x 16, oil on panel, 2008)

This painting is currently hanging in the Limelight Gallery at Binders as part of the Atlanta Fine Art League's Small Works Exhibition and Sale. The show will remain up until December 15th. Please contact the gallery for purchase information.

New Works: "Pear and Pumpkin"

This is probably one of my favorites from among Charles' most recent pieces. I just love the way it feels - it seems to glow with warmth and texture. This little painting just pulls you in and makes you want to stay. (12 x 16, oil on panel, 2008)

"The Red Cup" an Award Winner in NYC

The American Artists Professional League awarded to "The Red Cup" the Jack Richeson & Co. Award at their 80th Grand National Exhibition, recently held at the Salmagundi Club in New York City.

The exhibition catalog and complete list of award winners arrived in the mail today. We weren't able to attend the reception, but by the looks of the catalog it was a wonderful show!

3rd Place People's Choice Award at OPA Eastern Regional

A wonderful email came in today!

"Natasha" has won the Third Place People's Choice Award at the Oil Painters of America 2008 Eastern Regional Exhibition.

The voting took place throughout the duration of the show at Richland Fine Art in Nashville. If you haven't had a chance to see the exhibition yet, you've got to try and stop by - it's spectacular! But hurry, it closes this weekend...

A Wonderful Weekend in Nashville

The weekend of October 17th (2 weeks ago now) was the opening reception for Oil Painters of America's 2008 Eastern Regional Exhibition. This year's event was hosted by Richland Fine Art in Nashville, Tennessee, and since Nashville is a fairly easy drive from Atlanta, of course we had to go!

The gallery was packed when we got there, with the crowd spilling out into the lobby of the posh, high-end shopping center where Richland Fine Art is located. There were so many wonderful paintings there and, as cliche' as it sounds, it was truly an honor just to be included in the show. (I found out that evening that more than 800 pieces had been submitted, but only 94 were accepted!) We could have stayed for hours more just to be able to closely look at everything. I'm sure we missed a lot - the crowds made it a little difficult to spend time with any one piece.

This was the first OPA event we've been able to attend and it was really nice to meet so many of the artists. A representative from American Art Collector magazine was there taking pictures, there was live harp music in the lobby and talk, introductions and laughter flowed freely.

Dinner for everyone followed at a great restaurant just a few doors down from the gallery. We were joined at our table by David Hettinger, an OPA Master Signature member and the awards judge for the show. He told some great art school anecdotes from his youth and he and Charles swapped David Leffel stories back and forth. He was a great sport and very pleasant company. His plan was to leave town early the next morning, take the back roads and paint his way home! I hope he had a great trip.

Bright and early Saturday morning many of the group were at Belle Meade Plantation for a group paint-out. Nashville-area artist Dawn Whitelaw had graciously made all the arrangements. The weather was perfect with only a few clouds rolling through in the afternoon. There were at least 15 painters scattered throughout the grounds of the plantation that morning. Several hours later most everyone met for a lunch break to chat and compare notes. The main house, various outbuildings and barns, the gardens, the family crypt (now empty) and Richland creek (which runs along the front of the property) were all captured in paint that day.

Charles finished 2 paintings - the main house with fall foliage in the morning sun and the old stone dairy building in the afternoon. (Once he's added the finishing touches and signed them, I'll post them here on the blog.) We left in the late afternoon weary and energized at the same time, with 2 beautiful little paintings and several new friends.

Our early start the next morning got delayed by a bit of antiquing on the way home. We came out with several little treasures which I'm sure will soon find their way into some of Charles' new still-life paintings! It was a great way to wrap up a wonderful weekend.

A Student Testimonial

Joyce Golinsky, a student of Charles' from the afternoon painting class at Binders, recently wrote the most wonderful statement about her recent artistic development and her experiences in Charles' class. She started with Charles at the beginning of the year after seeing "Takin' it Easy - a study" hanging at the Atlanta Artists Center last November.

She has given us her permission to post her words here. And while Charles may blush at the praise, I'm gonna jump at the chance to share this with everyone...

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Finding the right teacher to take me to the next level was not easy. I was looking for one that not only has a high degree of technical knowledge, but also could connect to my individuality, with the ability to help me develop as an artist.

I am very happy to say that Charles Walls is absolutely one of the best art instructors I have ever taken from! He not only is a fantastic artist, he is a passionate teacher.

His sincere desire to impart art principles, while focusing on steps for an individual's development, enables him to analyze the best approach for each student.

I am thrilled and excited to have found a true teacher, capable and willing to help me achieve my artistic goals. Thank you, Charles!

Sincerely, Joyce Golinsky

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Painting - Design and Technique
next session dates: Dec. 2, 9, 16, Jan. 13, 20, 27
Tuesday afternoons (1-4 pm) or evenings (6-8:30 pm)
$140 for six weeks

The Art School at Binders
Piedmont Peachtree Crossing
3330 Piedmont Road, Suite 18, Atlanta GA 30305
http://learning.bindersart.com/
contact person: Kristina Breneman -
404-237-6331 ext. 203