Creative Fairy Godmother

 One of the scariest of our painting process with Intentional Creativity is the  "risky glaze,"   where we take our painting into the fog ... During my  first class , our teacher Elizabeth handed us a spray bottle, a big brush and transparent color (Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold) diluted with a bit of water, and a soft cloth (piece of T-shirt). She had us lay our canvases flat, then demonstrated spraying the canvas, brushing on the color, and then burnishing it in, using the cloth! ... And then we went off to lunch!  Yikes and  Wow!!  Used this way, a glaze integrates the colours we've used, and helps unify the picture. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on what is going "into the fog," what concepts are being integrated.  We move back  (5-6 feet away from the canvas) to gain perspective, and spend some time with our journals, exploring inquiries, "what do you want me to know?" ... "What can you help me understand and integrate?" .....

 One of the most important features of our painting is the expression in the eyes! And the way you paint eyes distinguishes your work - we each have our own special touch!  Our Art Doctors often give tips on how to bring in the light, and more expression, especially as we're competing a painting. You'll want to develop how you'll teach this in your own classes.  One of the teaching tools I created early on was painting a background, then a bunch of different eye shapes and angles on a small canvas board - maybe 10×16." Some are looking down, some forward, the pupils may gaze to the right or left; eyes may be more open, or mostly closed ...  I also demonstrate eye shapes on a big paper or whiteboard, inviting questions, and have them practice sketching eyes and other features on paper or in their journals, and develop ones they particularly like. Here is a lovely little video tutorial our IC sistar Emily Grieves created on bringing light to the eyes! Her example is on...