Artists are encouraged to register now. Class is limited to just 15.
N.C. artist Sterling Edwards is set to conduct a five-day acrylics abstract workshop from September 20 - 24, at Sunset River Marketplace art gallery in Calabash, N.C. Known best for his abstract landscapes painted in transparent watercolor, Edwards has spent much of the past two years creating large acrylic abstracts.
The Sunset River workshop will be his first acrylics workshop and is already generating a good deal of interest in the coastal Carolina art community. In this class, he will demonstrate and explain his techniques for painting acrylic media abstract paintings on canvas. He plans to include information about painting on paper as well.
The popular instructor, who is well known in the area for his affable personality and effective teaching techniques, says, “As a visual artist, I am constantly stimulated by the never ending variety of shapes and colors that surround us. It’s not enough just to replicate what I see, but rather to interpret. Combining form with color relationships and bold values, I feel compelled to express my thoughts and emotions with strong – and often stylized – shapes. What I feel about the subject draws me to the brush.”
Topics to be covered in the September workshop include how to stylize and abstract shapes; creating a balanced composition with an aesthetic mix of positive and negative shapes; creating special textures; and how to maximize design with overlapping shapes.
“Even if you’re new to painting, I think you’ll find this workshop informative, inspiring and fun,” Edwards adds.
The Kansas City, Mo. native began painting at age 12, when his parents noticed his natural ability to draw and enrolled him in an oil painting class. Once introduced, he began experimenting with every medium available to him. After studying with watercolor master Zoltan Szabo, Edwards developed his own watercolor style and began conducting workshops in 1993.
He has been a featured artist in Watercolor Magic magazine and was elected as a signature member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour. His book, Creating Luminous Watercolor: a Four-Step Process is being published this summer by Northlight Books.
“This is my first workshop teaching acrylics abstract,” says Sterling Edwards, “It’s going to be fun for all of us.”
Gallery owner Ginny Lassiter said, “We are delighted that Sterling chose Sunset River for his very first acrylic workshop. He’s an incredible instructor.”
Artists interested in attending are encouraged to register now. Participants are limited to 15. The price for the five-day class is $450, including a nonrefundable $150 deposit, which is due at registration. The balance is due by July 20. Sunset River Marketplace houses artwork by almost 200 North and South Carolina artists in its 10,000 square-foot space. The workshop will be held in the classroom at the back of the gallery.
Sunset River Marketplace is located 10283 Beach Drive S.W., Calabash, N.C. For information, call 910-575-5999.
Materials List
5 to 10 stretched canvasses ranging in size from 16x20 to 24x36. Sterling uses medium texture canvasses. (Due to space limitations please do not bring any canvases larger than 24x36)
Assortment of acrylic paint. Sterling will be using the following tube colors however it is not necessary that you have these exact colors or brands:
Stephen Quiller Pyrrole Red Medium
Stephen Quiller Mars Black
Matisse Burnt Umber (Structure)
Matisse Australian Sienna (Structure)
Matisse Cobalt Blue (Structure)
Matisse Cadmium Yellow (Medium) (Structure)
Matisse Skin Tone Deep (Structure)
Matisse Southern Ocean Blue (Phthalo Turquoise) (Structure)
Matisse Yellow Light (Hansa) (Structure)
Jar of Golden Titanium White
Assortment of large and medium flat and round bristle brushes. (Sterling uses his signature Sterling Edwards Blending and Glazing Brushes which he designed in addition to a good variety of other bristle brushes. His signature brushes will be available for purchase at the workshop.)
Bottle of fluid medium. Sterling uses Liquitex Gloss Medium and Varnish
Paper towels and tissues (Bring plenty of each)
Apron or old clothing (Yes, it can get messy!)
Cake pan for mixing colors or a pad of disposable paper palettes
Reference photographs (Keep in mind that this is an abstract workshop so bring photos of subjects that have interesting and overlapping shapes.)
Large flat carpenters or drawing pencil (Flat pencils have larger lead and are great for adding calligraphy in your abstracts)
