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Updated 1st September 2010 A WARM WELCOME TO FRIENDS AND VISITORS FROM HOME AND ABROAD
"If painting seems to be the complete of all pictorial techniques, then pastel is certainly the most direct. No instrument as the brush, knife or palette interferes between the artist's gesture and his work" - Pablo Picasso
A warm welcome to visitors old and new, and I do hope you enjoy your visit to my website. I am a professional artist based near Torrington in North Devon, where I live with Heidi my GSD, Tiggy and Millie my two cats and my husband Paul. I specialise in animals in pastel and I am always looking for new ways to make painting enjoyable and rewarding for those who share my love of art and animals. I do hope you find something to inspire you on these pages.
****2011 Course dates now added**** If you are thinking of joining us next year, dates for my 2011 Pet Portrait courses (Basic and Improvers') and Leisure and Painting Breaks are now available. If you are interested in a course for this year, I have just added some more dates for the autumn, including a pre-Christmas Painting Day with mince pies and cream. To book please see below.
***My Web Pages At a Glance*** Pet Portrait Courses - this page has details of my specialised Pet Portrait courses. Now into their third year, these courses show you how to make the most of the lucrative pet portrait market. They are ideal for anyone who has an interest in art and is looking for ways to make it pay, or who just wants to produce a stunning image of their own pet (or any other animal subject). I also run Pet Portrait Improvers' courses, so whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist wishing to develop your skills you will find these courses invaluable - and fun. And if you would like to learn about pet portraits while enjoying some leisure time in North Devon, I have introduced a new, more relaxing Leisure and Painting Break where you can spread the course over three days - see below for details.
E-Workshops - these distance courses are ideal for those who don't have the time to travel for personal tuition, or who simply prefer the comfort of their own home. Easy to follow written instructions are provided along with images of each stage, making it easy to produce a beautiful finished painting and gain knowledge of techniques that you can apply to your own artwork. These courses are also available by post for those without computer skills. My Pet Portrait courses (see above) are also available by post or email. To date I have helped hundreds of students through these email courses - please have a look at my E-Workshops page for a small selection of their (unsolicited!) comments. Painting Days - on this page you will find details of my popular general Painting Days. Based in my home studio, these are one day courses designed to give you the opportunity to learn my pastelling techniques on a subject of your choice. I also run occasional workshops which use a follow my leader approach to help you quickly master the art of pastelling by building up a stunning image of the day's subject. Course and Tuition Dates - on this page you will find a list of all my courses and breaks which are still available, along with the number of free places Private Lessons - I can provide one to one or one to two tuition to provide more intensive help for artists who wish to make quick progress with their artwork by general tuition or by tackling problem areas. I also provide a consultancy service by email or post to help with any tricky areas encountered in commissions or originals, including providing a tonal study for artists who wish to concentrate on the colouring stages of a commission. Gifts - I have a selection of prints, gift vouchers and greetings cards available for purchase. Cards and Prints - I have a selection of my images available as greetings cards, as well as open and limited edition giclee prints, and I will be regularly expanding these ranges. Please have a look at this page to see what is currently available.
Following a number of enquiries, I have just added some more Pet Portrait course dates for the autumn - these are running on 27th/28th October, 13th/14th November, and 11th/12th December. I have also added a pre-Christmas Painting Day on 17th December if you would like to paint a subject of your choice and enjoy hot mince pies with cream. If you are interested in any of these or one of my dates for 2011 please have a look at my Course and Tuition Dates page which lists what is currently available. Dates include 2011 dates for my Pet Portrait courses (basic and improvers') as well as Leisure and Painting Breaks . If you are thinking of coming to this beautiful part of the country next year and developing your artistic skills, I would love to hear from you. I have been busy emailing my latest Newsletter to friends and students, each one individually sent, (I've always found bulk "mailshots" a bit impersonal and offputting). I am grateful to everyone who has been kind enough to reply and thank me for the latest news and pictures. The occasional email address doesn't respond, so if anyone hasn't had a newsletter and would like one (including anyone who hasn't been in touch before), please email and I will send one out. New e-workshops My Tiger e-workshop in soft pastels is now (finally) ready. This image is both striking and straightforward, and is a good starting point for anyone who is new to pastels or who wants to brush up on old skills. I have a few urgent projects and commissions which I hope to complete in the near future, after which I will be adding some more subjects to my e-workshops range. A special thank you to all those who have been waiting patiently. My next subject will be a loveable little meerkat, which I am planning to do in close-up, followed by a colourful pheasant for autumn.. I already have some photos in mind of the semi-tame cock pheasant who regularly comes to our garden to be fed, and who obligingly poses while looking for his corn. I am also planning additons to my oil pastel range, which currently comprises Shetland Pony, Collie and Black Cat. As you will see, I have now added Paypal buttons throughout my website to make it even easier to make payments. PayPal is safe and secure, and saves the bother of putting cheques in the post. As always, if you would like to email or ring with a query, however big or small, please don't hesitate. Please note that you are of course still free to pay through the post by cheque if you prefer.
****Sales and Exhibitions**** A selection of my work is being sold by a number of galleries in Devon, including the Salar Gallery, Hatherleigh, (www.salargallery.co.uk), where I have a number of originals, prints and greetings cards on display. I also have some originals and prints for sale through Gallerie Marin at Market Street, Appledore, North Devon - if you are interested, please contact Mrs Audrey Hinks on 01237 474231.
****Featured Artists **** I have now added a page to my website to feature some of my more establised artists, with biography details and a link to their own websites. My first featured artist is my friend Kay Witt, a professional artist from Northern Virginia, USA. Kay's lovely wildlife images and pet portraits can be seen on her new website at www.wildwolfportraits.com, and she can also be contacted via my Links page. I am always happy to add links to fellow artists' sites, and many of these can be found on my Students' Gallery. If you would like to be included on my Featured Artists page please email with a photo of yourself, biography details and a selection of your images. I plan to feature a new artist each month.
****Students' Gallery**** As you will see, my site includes a Students' Gallery where artists can display an example of work which they have completed with me, and I am always happy to add a link to your website. I am very proud of what these artists have achieved - please have a look and see what you think.
And finally... Happy painting!
Vivien . |
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VIVIEN WALTERS FINE ART For further information Email: info@vivienwalters.co.uk All content copyright © 2008-2010 Vivien Walters. All rights reserved. |
