Silk Screening

While at the Teacher's Seminar at the Jansens, Dave mentioned silk screen painting, which totally intrigued the group. So off he goes to the garage to retrieve some used panels, to better explain what it was.

You start off with Half-tone 1500 dots/inch thin silk fabric, which comes in a roll. This is cut to the size of your pattern, and tacked very tightly into a wooden frame. A chemical (available at the same supplier as the silk fabric) is then applied to the silk fabric, and the whole frame is placed into the dark. Light is what activates the chemical.

Your pattern is either hand-painted with Black on a sheet of acetate, or you could use Photoshop on your computer to fill in the elements using Black, then print it out onto acetate.

Next you take your acetate pattern and place it on top of the chemically treated silk fabric. Place the framed screen on the floor and shine a 150 watt lamp onto the screen for a duration of 30 minutes. You can clamp the lamp onto the edge of the table. The heat of the lamp reacts with the chemical in all the areas, except where the Black painted elements are. Underneath the Black, the silk screen fabric remains porous.
You would then take the screen outside and hose it down with the garden hose to wash off the Black and expose the see-through silk fabric pattern. Very intricate patterns can be painted with this method.
Once the screen is prepared and dry, it can be used repeatedly to apply the basecoat color onto any surface. Just lay the screen over the surface, squirt paint on the end of the screen, then using a special tool, swipe the paint over the surface. This action allows the paint to enter the patterned silk fabric and base the pattern onto the surface below. If you have more than one color to basecoat, prepare two or more screens including only those elements for each color. You could use straight paint, or paint with Faux Finishing Medium to get transparent based elements.
I could see this used for grisaille or underpainting in White or Medium White.
Teachers who have large classes would find this method especially a time saver.
till later
Frieda

More of Dave's gallery

Every corner of every room in the Jansen home is filled with Dave's beautiful artwork and painted furniture pieces. Can't recall one piece of furniture that wasn't painted. Next he is painting the doors... wonder if the ceilings are next after that, haha.




Oh I think Dave missed one item, see in the corner of this bedroom... there is a large container that is raw wood... I'm sure next time I come it will be painted with some new technique that he is studying.


Tomorrow, I will give you a glimpse of the Silk Screening process, it's quite unique.
till later Frieda

Dave the Teacher!!

Even on break time, Dave is still teaching impromptu, he is amazing! He just loves all the questions from his students (or affectionately his "little monsters"), and shares all he can to help us understand.

Since this was a Teacher Design Seminar, we had lots of opportunity to design on Dave's favorite sketching surface, tons and tons of 11" x 17" paper... he buys it by the caseload. Here's Georgia, Elaine and Ann absorbing lots of great design ideas from Dave. He makes it look so easy, but it's years of practice behind each pen stroke.

Notice Cathy's big yellow note pad, I'm sure it came handy with the volume of information Dave shared with us.

Teacher Dave at the end of one table with the TV monitor picking up all his sketches and illustrations, so everyone can see. Notice the stack of books on the right, just below the TV... it was growing as the Seminar continued. My seat was right behind the pile, so a few more books and Dave would disappear, haha. Be prepared to jot down lots of ISBN # of recommended books... Martha's a wiz at buying books for Dave, so if you need help, just ask Martha!! she's the expert. Must order a few for pick-up at the next Seminar, hummmm, there's just too many to choose from.

Dave promised to teach us the important aspects of taking great photos of our finished pieces, and he delivered. Here is the set-up that he uses... 2 large sheets of non glare white mat board behind and under your painting. Prop piece at an angle to reduce glare from overhead lights, and use cardboard to reduce further glare in the room (Dave is holding it up). Always use a tripod with your camera set in AV mode to F stop of 6-8. AV mode sets the shutter speed automatically, or you can adjust it manual as well. Works great every shot.

For those going to a future Seminar, make sure you pack a sizable notebook and pen... as you can see by all the notetakers. Our brain just retains so much information before it begins the delete process, so notes are handy to jog the memory later on. DeAnn still had last years notes and jokingly compared them to this year... finding some repeats, but lots of new material to study.
You'll notice Arlene enjoying a wonderful frozen dessert sherbet packed in the actual rind of an orange. Food was all excellent, thanks to Martha.

Stay tune for more of Dave's gallery
till later
Frieda

Studio Shots

A number of Heritage Team members were at the Teacher Seminar, which made it extra special for all of us!

Here's Georgia, Donna Rose, and Bobbie laughing about something... we found lots to laugh about... it's the spirit of the Team. Behind Donna Rose, in the big black chair is where Dave sits to teach. Above his head, a video camera is mounted in the ceiling, which captures him sketching and painting, visible on the TV screen above him, and another one on the opposite wall of the studio, so that every seat is great!

This is such an adorable picture of Paul and Cathy, and impromptu Dave hugging them from behind... it captures their special friendship.

As you can see from the pile of papers and tracing paper sprawled out in front of me, I was inspired. I came home with 8 brand new designs... 3 for my magazine table, 2 Rogaland designs (even bought a large wooden plate at SDP which would work beautifully with one of these designs), plus 3 others for plaques or other small table tops... not sure yet. I was thrilled, just what I needed... a push out of the nest.

Arlene and DeAnn are hamming it up after trying their skills at some new painting techniques that Dave introduced us to. We could all see some serious potential in using these techniques for some quick and yet beautiful results in our paintings.

Brenda and Georgia are preparing their palettes for some painting time. Most of this Seminar is spent in designing, and learning... less painting. So now we get to play and learn some new painting tricks...painting outside the box with the Chippendale on a light background... looked pretty neat!!

Tomorrow, I will have some more pictures - taking photos of your paintings, silk screening sample boards and of course more studio teaching and gallery samplings coming up. Hope you're enjoying the behind the scenes happenings at the Jansen Seminars. I encourage you to take the time and attend, you will be inspired!!
till later Frieda

Dave's gallery

Inside the Jansen home is beautiful, with all of Dave's artwork on display. There are so many amazing furniture pieces painted in a variety of period styles. With Dave painting at least 200 pieces a year, it's a wonder there is any room left in the house. Even inside closets are stacked with paintings that rotate throughout the home. It's worth the visit just to spend time enjoying the gallery.

This hallway is lined with many of the designs from his DVD series. I recognized all the pieces from the Advanced Color set, and they are all gorgeous up close. There isn't a room in the house that isn't adorned with paintings, even the bathrooms.

On the fireplace hearth is a tryptic with the new design from the Georgian Scroll study Dvd series, a new one that I added to my ever increasing collection. It is the first of a continuing series on Scrolls. I'm slowly learning there are a whole host of scroll styles. Oh! I must share..Guess what? this week I mastered the 'Dave hook' on my scroll. I was very excited!!! I spent weeks trying to get it right. I was missing the "pull up on the chisel" before pulling my scroll... I did it first time!! Isn't it great when you finally get it!! Same thing happened with my comma strokes, it's all about the consistency of the paint in the brush... thin in the barrel, thick at the point for a comma.. and a full-load of thin paint for an S-stroke. Now you try it!! It works!

It's hard to pick just one piece that stands out... but I must admit this little table caught my eye. Isn't it adorable, I just love the design and the colors. Must find a similar table and paint something like it... very cute!!

This is one fabulous piece, I love the way Dave has designed the panels, connecting each one together... then edging the panels with scrolls. During the Seminar, Dave taught us how to design for multi-panelled doors. Repeating a common element in the design on each panel is important for establishing harmony. Have to check the Seminar Schedule, I can feel a Furniture Seminar calling me in the near future.


Every room has incredible furniture pieces, all designed and painted in different colors, but they harmonize beautifully. This marquetry table is from Dave's Dvd series, which I've also added to my collection, and next on my list to watch and study. The Team has added a number of marquetry lessons to the new Manual... taking us from a beginner pieces to more advance, I can't wait to learn more about this art form.

I'll share more tomorrow... studio pictures coming up, so check back...
till later Frieda

1st time at Jansens

This was my first time at the Jansens taking the Design Seminar. I will be sharing photos of what it is like at Dave's, and what you have to look forward to, should you too have the privilege of attending one of his Seminars. It is truly worth every dime.
This view is taken from the back of the home... to the far right downstairs is the Studio with a walk out to the back patio, where Dave takes over as BBQ chef on Sunday evening. In the evenings, sitting out on the upper deck you can be amazed by the blinking lights of hundreds of fireflies.

Surrounding their home is acres of wooded bush, where an abandoned kid's playhouse still stands... perhaps someday to be occupied again with little Jansens, ha.

Being a wood worker myself, I had to explore the woodshop, where Dave Palmer fills the students wood orders. He just smiles when asked "Dave do you think you could make me a clock and have it ready when I leave on Monday?"... and somehow he manages to make all the ladies happy!!

Inside the woodshop, Jessica has come out to help Dave cut some larger sheets of MDF and birch, to sizes that are more manageable for Dave to rout the various trays and plagues that he makes.
I'll add more tomorrow, so until later Frieda

Sharing Snacks from our Module Menu

Thought I would share a few snacks from Module 1. For those who are new to my blogspot, let me fill you in on my role with the Heritage Team. For the past number of months, I have taken the role of Editor for the new Heritage Education Manual.

What was I thinking when I accepted this challenge!!!! Honestly, to think I almost failed English class in school, and my first language was German... but don't tell the Team they are working with an amateur, haha. I had never done anything quite this monumental before... it has clearly challenged me to learn many, many new things for which I am truly grateful (I have a wonderfully patient son mentor, thanks Alex).
I love my job!!!

I have had the pleasure of working one-on-one with the amazing Team of talented, brilliant artists and designers from around the world. Language barriers are removed when speaking the language of art, we understand each other, how cool!!

Our Team has come to realize the importance of having one person editing the Manual. I don't say this to brag in any way, it doesn't matter who that person is. The point is this simple fact is reflected in the layout consistency, the format within each lesson, the easy reference of the whole Manual, and so much more. It has harmony!! when there is a common colorful person (haha) eagle eyeing the whole thing, it adds harmony to the entire manual.

Each lesson is very precise, with a consistent format, so that anyone can find exactly what they are looking for in each lesson, without searching through pages and pages to find the information.

As a team we have listened to the many, many requests from former Tradition's Teachers for simple, fun and easy lessons for beginners, without all the pages and pages of text to read. We are committed to bringing you a program to get you painting not just reading. Lots of fun step-by-step worksheets; brush basics to develop your brush skills; color corners to advance your understanding of color & pigments; several design selections presenting the same objectives; and brilliant Step Photos taking you through each lesson, Painting Step-by-Step.

As they say "a picture is worth a thousand words". I thought it would be nice to share small 'snacks from our menu' to wet your appetite. This is not meant as a tease, but to encourage you to start planning for the Fall release date for the Manual - October 1st, 2009, by inviting others to join you in some genuine painting fun. This Manual will be a pleasure to teach to your future bunch of students joining you in a great time of painting around the kitchen table or in your studio. The best part is that as they work through the fun designs, they are developing as artists without even being aware that they are learning skills as well as having fun.

This is the goal of the new Heritage Education Program. We hope that many of you will be joining the Team in celebrating a wonderful addition to our much loved passion of art.

A lot of hard-work and thought have gone into the layout of the objectives in the new Manual, and our Team can hardly wait to present it to you. If you have any questions please join us in the Forums... you can sign in at the http://jansenarteducation.com website. We'd love to meet you.

Check back for more snacks over the next few months.
till later
Frieda






Love the way Serina has included herself handling a brush in this Beginner Landscape piece for Module 1. There are a whole bunch of these in her design lesson to help you understand the techniques that she has perfected over her career as an artist.




We've included a section in many of the lessons called Design Inspiration. Here is an example of what inspired Arlene to paint this Grisaille piece for Module 1, it is her beloved cat Murphy... we've even left his photo in the lesson... Arlene was thrilled!!


This tulip is just a snack of what amazing details Josette has included in her Painting Technique Worksheets with each of her designs. She has a real passion for teaching the Beginner student, which is reflected in her presentation of these study sheets.

Leaving Thursday morning, I'm taking a much needed break from the computer to have fun with the Jansens and as I can imagine a crazy bunch of students, haha, as we enjoy 4 days of learning with Dave. This is my first in-person Seminar with Dave (I've enjoyed many Retreat days with Dave on DVD), but I'm sure this will top them.
Till Wednesday next week Frieda