Working with models can be challenging. How do you get them to show the emotion you’re looking for? How do you handle lighting? Tori Heffernan is an expert at these things and is going to lead us through the process both in an outdoor and an indoor location.
We’ll be starting at Capron’s Dam in Uxbridge, MA. It’s immediately around the corner (walking distance) from our gallery. Then we move inside when it gets dark.
All are warmly welcome to attend! If you don’t have your own paints, let us know in advance so we can bring some for you. Or you could just come and watch! Painters and photographers are warmly welcomed to learn.
Date: Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 Time: 6:30-9pm
Location:
Capron’s Dam Across from the FireFly Gallery 15 Mendon Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
Thank you to Carol Frieswick for planning this event!
Some info from Tori:
My name is Tori and I am a freelance model. What that means is I do not stand with an agency, and I represent myself. I am also a model instructor at The Creative Collaboration events that a couple of my colleagues and I run. My goal is to show the community that there is beauty in everyone, and art can take many forms.
I help models who are new to the industry learn how to pose by letting their emotions influence their expression. I help photographers interact with models by demonstrating different methods of communication and direction. My instructions are a baseline for models and photographers to build their own style off of.
I enjoy working with others, individually and in groups. Using my knowledge to help others new to the art form or wanting to try something different. I love what I do!
A reminder that tonight Wednesday August 28, 2019 we have a fun light painting workshop at the Alternatives Singh Theater in the brick mill in Whitinsville MA!!
Light painting is the art of creating light images with time-lapse photography. Several BVAA members own “light sticks” which let you do this kind of light painting. You can also use flashlights, LED lights, laser beams, and all sorts of other things.
In essence you have a camera on a tripod which you can set the shutter speed for. You want the shutter to stay open for a length of time – usually 5 seconds or more. While the shutter is open, you move light (and people and such) around in front of the camera so the camera captures that motion.
The challenge is you need it fairly dark for this to work. Otherwise the surrounding light impacts the image. Luckily, Lisa will be at the Singh Theater in Whitinsville on Wednesday 8/28 running a writing seminar on social media networks. That’s from 6-8pm. The seminar is in the outer area of the theater. The inner area of the theater is nice and dark and big. So members can use the theater to test out various light painting ideas. Lisa is done with her seminar at 8pm and then can join you as a model or participant.
I know of three PixelSticks (or equivalents) that the group has – Lisa’s, Bob’s and Luke’s. Let us know if anyone else has one.
This is FREE to participate in! Come on out and see how it works! Even if your camera doesn’t have a shutter speed setting, come anyway. You can try out one of our cameras and/or serve as a model or light-holder.
Talented painter Carol Arnold teaches a monthly oil painting class – and August is a truly special treat! Carol is a member of Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik’s Putney Painters. All levels of painters are welcomed with open arms. The focus will be on drawing, edges, values and color. These are areas which a beginner can practice and an advanced student can hone to perfection.
Carol makes these classes fun and inspiring, while supporting you to the next level of your growth!
This monthly class usually meets on the first Thursday of every month from 6-9 pm. But for August, Carol has created a truly special opportunity. She is opening up her home in Northbridge. She has flowers, stone walls, woods, a maple sugar shed, and much, much more. You’ll get hands-on personal attention from a master!
Cost: $60 per day. You can come either day or both.
When: Wednesday, August 7, 2019 9am-noon Thursday, August 8, 2019 9am – noon
Where: Carol’s home in Northbridge. Details will be sent to those who register.
This class is open to the public. It is open to all ages and to all levels of painting ability.
Please make sure you register beforehand so we know how many to expect. Carol will send you a supply list to get you started.
Viva paper towels Bag for dirty paper towels Palette Lead or oil primed linen or boards 14×18 or 16×20 is a good size Pallet knife
Oil paints:
Rembrandt colors: Ultramarine blue deep Cobalt blue light Viridian Transparent Oxide Red Transparent Oxide Brown Cadmium lemon
Winsor and Newton colors: Alizarin permanent Cadmium yellow deep Cadmium yellow pale Yellow Ochre Pale
Gamblin: Phtalo green Permanent Alizarin
Holbein: Terra rosa
Le Franc: Titanium white
Please use professional quality supplies, it will minimize problems when you paint.
About Oil Painting:
Oil paint has been the medium of choice for a wealth of famous painters. Leonardo da Vinci. Claude Monet. Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Paul Cezanne. There is just something spectacular about the beauty of oil paint which captures the eye and the imagination.
Whether you’re a raw beginner or an experienced painter, this oil painting class will take you to the next level. It’s full of personal hands-on advice and a warm, welcoming atmosphere!
If you’re interested in painting, drawing, and illustrating, we have the perfect Saturday lined up! It’ll be a great time with laughter, conversation, creativity, and the space to stretch out! It’s all FREE!
We’ll do hands-on help with Instagram for anyone who brings in a smart phone or tablet!
Open Paint 10am-3pm For the entire day, it’s an open paint! All are welcome, including the public, family, and friends! It’s free! We have watercolors and acrylics on hand, or bring your own if you wish.
If the weather is nice out, visitors can also embark on an Uxbridge sketch walk. We have the maps all ready.
When: Saturday, Aug 3, 2019 10am – 3pm
Where: BVAA Open Sky Uxbridge Community Art Gallery 5 South Main Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
Our Saturdays at the gallery include an open paint session where all styles of art are warmly welcome. Whether you’re 12 or 102, whether you’re a new beginner or a seasoned artist, we would love to have you. It’s completely free to participate in the open paint. You can bring your own paints or we’ll have watercolors and brushes to share.
There is a TON of free parking immediately next to this building. It is fully and easily handicapped accessible.
Feel free to show up for some or all of the day to paint. Some come for just the morning, some for the afternoon, and some for the entire time. There are several options on the same block to grab lunch if you’d like. We also bring in a pizza and those who want slices chip in a few dollars.
Our Saturday events are free, casual, relaxed, and fun! All levels are welcome.
Ask with any questions – we’d love to have you join us!
This Uxbridge gallery is supported in part by BVAA member dues, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and by ValleyCAST. The space use is kindly donated to us by Open Sky Community Services. Open Sky uses this space for client activities during weekdays. They allow the BVAA use of the space – and its gallery walls – on evenings and weekends.
FREE! Talented, amazing artist Michael Graves has showcased his art in the Massachusetts State House as well as in countless galleries. He’ll be leading our adventure today! He’ll begin with a short demo, so you can see what plein air (outside-from-life) painting is all about. Then he’ll offer advice and suggestions as you all explore your painting skills! You can paint in any medium you wish. You can also just watch him if you want! No pressure, no stress!
If you’ve never done a plein air paint before, and you want to give this a try, you might read: Plein Air Painting – Preparing for your First Outing. If you don’t have supplies, we’ll bring watercolors, brushes, and paper. Bring a water bottle and something stiff like a small cutting board to tape the paper to.
All levels of artists warmly welcomed! Even if you’ve never picked up a brush before, we’d love to have you give this a try.
If you’d like to bring a beach chair to sit on, and snacks / drinks, feel free.
Please let us know via our contact form if you’re planning on coming, but if you decide last minute to attend that’s fine too. It’ll be a great morning of learning about painting in the out-of-doors and exploring our Blackstone River history!
Location and Time River Bend Farm 287 Oak Street Uxbridge, MA The location has restrooms and a water bubbler, but no food.
Saturday, July 27th, 2019 10am – 2pm (or so, feel free to leave earlier)
Michael Graves is a nationally-recognized landscape artist based in central Massachusetts. As a plein air artist, Graves paints on location, braving the elements, to capture the many moods and temperaments of the natural world. Over a 30 year career, Graves has received over 70 awards and medals, been featured in a variety of books and publications, and inducted into numerous national art associations.
Although Graves has taken painting trips throughout North America, and parts of Europe and Asia, his favorite subjects continue to be of the simple farms, bucolic vistas, and rugged coasts of his native New England. His artwork is and has been exhibited in dozens of galleries throughout the U.S. and is included in the permanent collection of the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. His paintings have also been selected eight times for inclusion in the national Arts for the Parks competition of the Top 100 Paintings of National Parks.
Born in 1952, the son of a local tree warden, Graves grew up with a love of painting and a deep appreciation for the outdoors. In the late 1970s, Graves met the renowned Cape Ann artist Bernard Corey (1914-2000). Corey became a lifelong friend and mentor and the two painted together nearly every day for over two decades. Michael Graves is a member of the Rockport Art Association, the Guild of Boston Artists, the Hudson Valley Art Association, and the Old Lyme Art Association. He is a friend and frequent painting companion of some of the most well known plein air artists of New England.
Mike lives in Millbury, Massachusetts with his wife Pam. He has two sons.
River Bend Farm in Uxbridge is a beautiful location. There’s the traditional red farm which has a visitor’s center within it. Then the farmland is right on the Blackstone Canal. This is one of the best locations on its entire stretch to see what the canal was once like.
Until the early 1800s, traveling around central Massachusetts was fraught with trouble. The woods were thick. There were wolves and other dangers. Either you were trudging through deep snow in the winter or dealing with swarms of bugs in the summer.
It was nearly impossible for any trading to get done.
Finally in 1823 the Blackstone Canal Company was formed. Its mission was to create an easy-to-navigate canal connecting Providence to Worcester. This would then open trade up to the entire world via the Narragansett Bay.
Construction went fairly quickly – they began in 1825 and were completely done with the first travel on October 7, 1828. It took two days for one of the slender canal boats to make its way from one end of the course to another.
They expected the canal system to last hundreds of years.
Unfortunately for them, the railroads saw the opportunity and quickly moved in. By 1848 the canal was shut down. The railroad had taken over that quickly.
Come on out with us to get a solid look at this amazing part of our history!
This is just one part of our month-long Celebrating the Blackstone artistic celebration. Be sure to check out all of our events!
This month-long celebration is sponsored by Constellation, an Exelon company.
**A note that James isn’t able to make it this Sunday, so I’ll (Lisa) will be leading the photography walk. James will plan one for a bit later in the fall! I’ll post when he’s available to do that. I hope to see you Sunday morning at 10! Note it’s the MIDDLE parking lot on the bike trail. The one across from the gas station. It’s not the north-end of the visitor center and it’s not the south-end by the Shoppes. You can FB Message me (Lisa Shea) and I get those on my phone, if you get lost. **
Come on out for a free, fun photography workshop along the Blackstone River! It’ll be Sunday, August 11th 2019 from 10-12. It’ll be led by the amazing talented photographer James Hunt –
The Millbury Bike Path is part of the plans for a long bike path / walking path / celebration of the entire Blackstone River from Worcester, MA to Pawtucket, RI. The stretch which is complete in the Millbury area starts at a parking lot near the Blackstone Shoppes mall complex and goes north along the river to the Worcester Visitor’s Center just past the WalMart.
It’s quite an interesting bike path. It wends along the Blackstone River quite a lot, so you get good images of the ducks, turtles, beavers, and other creatures. There are a number of train bridges and walking bridges to get photos of.
Plus, the Blackstone River goes right along the train lines here, so there’s ample opportunity to get cool photos or drawings of the trains in various configurations.
Directions and Time We’re meeting at the MIDDLE Millbury bike path parking lot. It is immediately across the street from the Valu Gas Station at: 1255 Millbury Street Worcester, MA
So if you search for that on your GPS, you’ll find the spot. Here’s a map so you can see where it’s located. The parking lot is just north of where Route 20 crosses Route 146 and the Mass Pike. You can get to it by going a bit north on 146 from there and taking your first exit, then taking a right. Alternatively, you can take Route 20 east from 146, then take your first left onto Park Hill Ave, and then two more quick lefts.
We’ll meet at the middle parking lot at 10am to gather up everyone, and then go for a gentle walk to explore photography and the path! Call or text Lisa if you’re running late and she’ll let you know where to find us.
Please let us know via our contact form if you’re planning on coming, so we know to wait for you. If you forget that’s OK to, just show up! Bring friends! It’ll be a great morning of learning about photography and exploring our Blackstone River history!
If you’re interested in painting, drawing, and illustrating, we have the perfect Saturday lined up! It’ll be a great time with laughter, conversation, creativity, and the space to stretch out! It’s all FREE!
We’ll do hands-on help with Instagram for anyone who brings in a smart phone or tablet!
Open Paint 10am-3pm For the entire day, it’s an open paint! All are welcome, including the public, family, and friends! It’s free! We have watercolors and acrylics on hand, or bring your own if you wish.
If the weather is nice out, visitors can also embark on an Uxbridge sketch walk. We have the maps all ready.
When: Saturday, July 20, 2019 10am – 3pm
Where: BVAA Open Sky Uxbridge Community Art Gallery 5 South Main Street Uxbridge, MA 01569
Our Saturdays at the gallery include an open paint session where all styles of art are warmly welcome. Whether you’re 12 or 102, whether you’re a new beginner or a seasoned artist, we would love to have you. It’s completely free to participate in the open paint. You can bring your own paints or we’ll have watercolors and brushes to share.
There is a TON of free parking immediately next to this building. It is fully and easily handicapped accessible.
Feel free to show up for some or all of the day to paint. Some come for just the morning, some for the afternoon, and some for the entire time. There are several options on the same block to grab lunch if you’d like. We also bring in a pizza and those who want slices chip in a few dollars.
Our Saturday events are free, casual, relaxed, and fun! All levels are welcome.
Ask with any questions – we’d love to have you join us!
This Uxbridge gallery is supported in part by BVAA member dues, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and by ValleyCAST. The space use is kindly donated to us by Open Sky Community Services. Open Sky uses this space for client activities during weekdays. They allow the BVAA use of the space – and its gallery walls – on evenings and weekends.
Here’s the schedule of BVAA shows at the Milford TV Studio for the 2019-2020 season!
We have a FREEEEE 2-month show schedule at the Milford TV Studio location. This location gets a fair amount of traffic as locals come and go to the various events there. Our art hangs on the walls in their hallways and rooms. Every two months we swap out with a new theme.
On the swap-out date, we all descend on the studio and hang out from 6-8pm. We take down the old art, put our new art against the walls, and have fun. We bring in our own snacks and drinks for this. It’s casual and relaxing. You can bring as many pieces as you wish on the theme. Milford TV hangs and labels our pieces for us.
On the reception date, Milford TV provides the food and drinks. By now they’ve hung and labelled all the artwork for us. We show up and enjoy the show and conversation from 6-8pm.
It’s free to participate and there’s no stress. Just bring in as many or few art items as you want, on the theme. Just label the back of each with the title, artist name, and price. You don’t have to fill out any online forms. We do have a sign-in sheet there just to keep track of what is in the gallery.
Ask with any questions! And let me know if you spot any typos on any of these pages. In general the date is always the last Thursday of the month. We only slide it to avoid major holidays like Thanksgiving. Sometimes we have to move dates due to winter storms and such – we’ll email in advance if that happens.
