Upcoming Watercolor Class

A Wednesday night watercolor class is ongoing. People can join anytime, but if you like official start dates, the next round of sessions will begin on March 15, 2017. Classes run from 6:30pm - 9:00pm. It is a relaxed non-judgemental environment in which to learn how to paint. Come join us. For more info and to register, go to: Jack-in-the-Pulpit Art Studio.

Big news about art classes at Jack-in-the-Pulpit Art Studio coming soon.

Watercolor Class Begins this Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Watercolor class begins this Wednesday, January 11 from 6:30 - 9:00 pm at Jack in the Pulpit Studio. For more info and to register: www.jackinthepulpitstudio.com

Learn Oil Painting Without the Mess and Cost: No Fuss Oil Painting Class at Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio

At Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio, starting in late April, you can learn how to oil paint without all the fuss of material costs and mess.

No Fuss Beginning Oil Painting (6 Sessions)

Have you ever wanted to try oil painting? Have you hesitated because of the mess and cost of materials?  Learn the basics of oil painting in a relaxed and supportive environment without purchasing materials. Materials are provided and you can keep your wet messy canvases at the studio until they are dry. Class includes instructional demonstrations, discussion and plenty of time to paint. Class will cover choosing subjects, creating a composition, and mixing color while working your way through the different stages of creating a painting from start to finish. At the end of this class you will feel comfortable approaching a blank canvas and creating your own unique painting. And you will know if you want to invest more in oil painting.

Wednesdays, April 22 - May 27, 2015
6:30pm - 9:00pm
Cost: $175
Register for and see other classes here

Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio One Year Anniversary

Today marks the one year anniversary of the opening of Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio.  It has been a fun year!

 Many classes in watercolor, botanical art and drawing have been offered.  There also were a few workshops and an oil painting class. I would like to thank everyone who has taken a class here at "the Pulpit."  I have enjoyed meeting each of you and I thank you for not only sharing your art talents, but also your lives.  Classes continue with the current round of classes beginning tomorrow night.  Check them out here.


I also have enjoyed having a well lit and spacious studio for my own painting.  It is the best studio space I have ever had -- and I am painting more because of it.  You can check out my most recent oil paintings at my personal website: markgranlund.com.

I am looking forward to this next year.  I have mostly promoted the classes through word-of-mouth and hope the Pulpit will slowly grow as a place where people can learn a solid understanding of how to create art and also have an opportunity to take the ol' creativity-car out for a spin.

My hope is that there will be some big changes this second year with the studio teaching space moving to the house next door to mine.  I am in the process of buying the property and am excited to have a separate space just for classes -- plus it will be really cute when I'm done.

I am also hoping to announce a project I am working on with World Without Genocide.  But I will wait until we hear about a grant we applied for.

Thank you all for your support!

Demos from Last Week's Art Classes at Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio

Here are some demos from last week's classes.

In the Watercolor Wednesday class we learned how to make strong color with only one layer of paint.  This is a small demo painting of some pencils bound by two blue rubber bands. Class will be held again this Wednesday and anyone can come on any Wednesday, as it is pay as you go.  For more info: www.jackinthepulpitstudio.com.

Here are some pencil drawings of an orchid, from the Botanical Drawing class on Thursday nights. We were learning about shape and shading.

We also learned about negative shape and positive shape. and did some shading exercises.

All in all a fun week of classes at Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio.  Up coming classes include a Flower Painting class and a painting event on painting like Arthur Dove.  For more class info, go to: www.jackinthepulpitstudio.com.

Wednesday Watercolor - Whatever! Demonstration Pieces

Here are a few demonstration pieces I created during the Wednesday Watercolor - Whatever! class last week.

Jade plant in a cup - showing how to create value by using different varieties of the same color, i.e. yellow cup is created with cadmium yellow and yellow ochre

Still life created by painting an under-painting first and then layering color over it

Votive candle glass - darkening by adding opacity.

Come by Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio next Wednesday night at 6:30pm and paint with us!

Video: Trees in Ink Workshop

You asked for it... well, actually, you didn't.  But here is the video of the Trees in Ink workshop  this last weekend at Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio.  It was a great workshop with some really hard working artists.  We explored many techniques for using pens and brushes when creating trees in ink. Many thanks to all the students who made this fun and thanks also to Emily Samsel for the music to this video.



For more information about workshops and classes, visit www.jackinthepulpitstudio.com.

Class Demo - Sketch to First Wash

This last week I worked with the Introduction to Botanical Watercolor class, showing them how to proceed from a sketch, to transferring a drawing to watercolor paper and then applying the first wash of color.

This African violet plant is my subject.

This is my sketch of the plant - locating and plotting the shapes

I transferred the sketch to tracing paper while changing and improving some shapes.

Here is the drawing after it was transferred to watercolor paper and a first wash of color is added.

Art Classes: Drawings Made During Class

Here are a few drawings that I made during class demonstrations and drawing time.  If you are interested in taking a class at Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio, check the schedule here.

Ink Drawing of bromeliad leaves

Ink drawing of leaf coming off stem

Negative space drawing

Drawing: The Basic Elements Class

Here are just a few photos from tonight's class, Drawing - The Basic Elements.  This was the first class and we worked on developing our observational skills, understanding line and how our different pencils work. It was a very pleasant evening of gesture drawing, contour line drawing and creating thumbnail sketches.

Blind contour line drawing of a plant - I think.

Working hard

Working large on gesture

Not too late if you want to join us. 

Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio Final Update

Here is the final update on the class space before classes begin on Tuesday.

Here are two of the chairs. Colorful wooden Windsor chairs.Very comfortable.

This is the eastwall that you enter through. Here are the old original window and slice of siding. And the clock, small bookcase and bulletin board. The bright green room down the hallway is the bathroom. Yes, our own private bathroom!

This is the north wall with tables.

And finally the south wall with closet and a view of the hallway. And the small but growing plant collection. Soon there will be a second set of shelves with more plants I am very excited to be teaching in this space!

There is still time to register for a class! Check the schedule here.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio - Studio Update

With less than a week before classes start, here are some pics of the teaching art studio almost done.

Here are two shots of the two sides of the teaching studio. It has a very pleasant feel to it. Tomorrow I will be installing one more set of tracklights and finishing a couple of electrical things.  I am working on creating a pleasant balance of warm lights for ambience and bright cool lights for seeing and making art - just part of making the best private studio in the Twin Cities for learning techniques to create fine art and botanical art. In the daytime, the windows let in wonderful sunlight.

Another wall of the studio. Here you see the door (sans knob - soon to come), a small bookcase, an original window in the original exterior wall of the house and a slice of the exposed original siding to the house (built in 1900). The bookcase will have art and botanical books. Above the books will be a bulletin board and clock.  Here people can find information about the groups and businesses Jack-in-the-Pulpit Studio is partnering with: Minnesota State Horticultural Society, Terrace Horticultural Books and Dreamland Arts Theater. The clock, well, that will be to tell time.

This is the door to the teaching studio (sans knob - soon to come).

 

I have a matching door to my private studio off the same hall (sans knob - soon to come).

We re-stained the stairway and will hopefully paint the walls this weekend.

Yes, there is a lot more work to do, like stripping and painting some trim. Here is an in-progress shot.

There has been much work done to make this studio a great place to teach and to learn. Several people have volunteered their time and help.  One former student (and future student, I hope) is donating some cabinets and a microwave. This weekend I will be picking up chairs and tables. This spring, we will be getting out into the yard and making gardens to paint in. I hope you can be a part of this fun adventure to provide quality art instruction.  Classes start next week - click here for info.

Teaching Studio Update

 

Changes are happening in the teaching studio as I am getting closer to the first class beginning. Above you see the general room so far.  Floor is painted, and walls and ceilings are being patched, too. It is interesting how the room seems to grow or shrink in size with each change.

 

The teaching studio is part of a newer addition to the home. A unique feature is the original window in the former exterior wall of the old house. The first image is of looking into the window from the stairway and the second is looking from the studio out into the stair and hallways. 

 I need to patch the ceiling.

 

I removed a closet wall and underneath one of the studs was the original siding from the house. I am leaving this strip to show the old siding, which is near the original window shown above.

This is the present stairway.

This is the current hallway floor.  The floor, when I bought the house, was covered with masonite and linoleum tile.  I will be fixing this up and painting it to match the studio floor, along with fixing trim, etc. I'm looking forward to the first students who will use this space starting January 7.