Winner of The People's Choice Award at the 2nd Annual Shelter Cove Plein Air Painting Competition Oct 2015
Barry Jamison
General Info
I started teaching pastels in 2002 at my studio "Sutter Street Pastels" in the Historic district in Folsom CA, taking a suite in a building once used as a livery stable long ago, and as an automotive repair facility in the 1950's. I've moved my studio three times within this building and at present, am most pleased with it. It's cozy, and with the music playing and the fun mix of students, some great things happen. I've often said I will someday record my classes on video and capture moments shared by this eclectically-minded group.
I insist that:
1) Art & creative processes are a way to "create one's own world" (which is survival-nice when the world we live in gets us down)
2) While involved with a painting (especially from a photo) deviate from subject matter, take liberties and if an "accident" happens with it or something different starts to emerge- go with it and see what happens. Put your own stamp on it.
3) Probably above all, any critiques be of a constructive nature and that we are supportive of one another.
I started teaching pastels in 2002 at my studio "Sutter Street Pastels" in the Historic district in Folsom CA, taking a suite in a building once used as a livery stable long ago, and as an automotive repair facility in the 1950's. I've moved my studio three times within this building and at present, am most pleased with it. It's cozy, and with the music playing and the fun mix of students, some great things happen. I've often said I will someday record my classes on video and capture moments shared by this eclectically-minded group.
I insist that:
1) Art & creative processes are a way to "create one's own world" (which is survival-nice when the world we live in gets us down)
2) While involved with a painting (especially from a photo) deviate from subject matter, take liberties and if an "accident" happens with it or something different starts to emerge- go with it and see what happens. Put your own stamp on it.
3) Probably above all, any critiques be of a constructive nature and that we are supportive of one another.
About My Art Background
Art has always been an important way for me to spend time and go on "adventures" in my head. Sometimes, these adventures get put onto paper.
Chronologically, I worked with crayon (colored outside of the lines and all my crayons were broken), Pencil, Tempera, Watercolor, Fluorescent water color ( was going to start using these again recently and my eye doctor told me NO!) permanent marker (op art mural on a door), pastels, oil pastels, "block" printing, oils and acrylics. I've spent twenty years messing with computer tools as well and have found CorelDraw suite and Paint Shop Pro to be useful conceptualizing tools and sketching aids...
I make my own sanded pastel paper (toned neutral grey) up to 26" x 40"...it has a nice tooth to it. Made a few pastels as well- a messy business but unique colors. Save your small pieces and when you have enough make your own.
I've had the pleasure of studying with some excellent teachers (William Scott Jennings, Albert Handel, Ben Konis, Bob Gerbracht) through the years and when it comes to teaching my own students it's a legacy I wish to pass on. I find that teaching is very rewarding.
A couple of insights.... always paint/create for YOURSELF FIRST. Satisfy and feed that critic within. If someone else digs what you do, that's cool. If they buy it, that's really cool, too. Trying to hard to please potential clients is a trap and will kill creativity.
I've found, lately, that the period between sleep and full wakefulness is a time of extremely creative ideas/notions etc and sometimes if lucky, I actualize on these ideas- but they're difficult to retain.
Art has always been an important way for me to spend time and go on "adventures" in my head. Sometimes, these adventures get put onto paper.
Chronologically, I worked with crayon (colored outside of the lines and all my crayons were broken), Pencil, Tempera, Watercolor, Fluorescent water color ( was going to start using these again recently and my eye doctor told me NO!) permanent marker (op art mural on a door), pastels, oil pastels, "block" printing, oils and acrylics. I've spent twenty years messing with computer tools as well and have found CorelDraw suite and Paint Shop Pro to be useful conceptualizing tools and sketching aids...
I make my own sanded pastel paper (toned neutral grey) up to 26" x 40"...it has a nice tooth to it. Made a few pastels as well- a messy business but unique colors. Save your small pieces and when you have enough make your own.
I've had the pleasure of studying with some excellent teachers (William Scott Jennings, Albert Handel, Ben Konis, Bob Gerbracht) through the years and when it comes to teaching my own students it's a legacy I wish to pass on. I find that teaching is very rewarding.
A couple of insights.... always paint/create for YOURSELF FIRST. Satisfy and feed that critic within. If someone else digs what you do, that's cool. If they buy it, that's really cool, too. Trying to hard to please potential clients is a trap and will kill creativity.
I've found, lately, that the period between sleep and full wakefulness is a time of extremely creative ideas/notions etc and sometimes if lucky, I actualize on these ideas- but they're difficult to retain.
