Mira M. White Art News

Thursday, May 2, 2019

A bit more about o my weekly art classes:

NATURE BY DESIGN : DRAWING AS MEDITATION:

I think of the drawing process as a meditation, regardless of the imagery, although I intend to regard the natural world with awe and amazement when I give myself enough time to really look. My mediums are usually simple, either graphite, colored pencils, pens, ink. Papers vary because they offer different effects and surfaces upon which the tools glide.
Imagery will derive from both the external and our internal environments.
This will be the first time in many years that I offer a class of this sort. I just feel a need to do so, to offer myself and others in my group a time for quiet and visual contemplation. I hope you will join me. Beginners are welcome! Contact info:

NATURE BY DESIGN: DRAWING AS MEDITATION

June 7, 21, July 5-Aug.9 1-4 pm (8 sessions)

No class June 14,28

Lafayette Studio,1136K, Saranap Ave. Walnut Creek

Tuition: $ 310

Pre-register: 925 947-5773 mira@mirawhitefineart.com

MATERIALS LIST:

Graphite pencils: H- 6B

Graphite powder ( Weber brand in jar)

Sumi Ink

Fine Line Marker pens- Sharpie type

Colored pencils ( oil based or watercolor)

Traditional dip pens ( optional)

Papers:

Pad of Duralar and/or Vellum 9"x12"

Pad Yupo 9"x12"

Mixed Media sketch book for pen work

Additional materials will be approached as needed

MIX THOSE MEDIA:

I offer a mixed media class that includes watercolor, acrylic, soft pastels, sometimes collage and, recently oil, cold wax and pigment sticks. It varies every time I teach it because I get excited about new possibilities. My summer mixed media classes will take place in 2 locations- one an evening class in Oakland at Studio One- My other class is an afternoon class in Walnut Creek at Lafayette Studio:Both of these classes , of necessity, are for continuing artists who want to enrich their current practice and expand their visual vocabulary.

ABSTRACTION WITH MIXED MEDIA

May 16-June 6 (R $112N/R $142)

July 11-Aug.22 (R$215N/R$257)

Thurs. 6:30-9:30pm

Studio One Art Center,365 45^thSt. Oakland

Pre-register: 510-597-5027

Ask for materials list

MIX THOSE MEDIA: Focus on Abstraction

June 3.10, July1-Aug.5, Mon. 1-4 PM

No class June 17.24 ( 8 sessions)

Pre-register: mira@mirawhitefineart.com

Lafayette Studio,1136K, Saranap Ave. Walnut Creek

Tuition: $ 310

Pre-register: 925 947-5773 Ask for materials list

mira@mirawhitefineart.com

WATERCOWATERCOLOR LOOSE & LUMINOUS I love teaching watercolor! The flow of the water, its luminosity and potential for involved layering , mixing with other media, encompassing both representation and abstraction- taking a journey with the paint- it engages me in a very contemplative manner. My classes focus, for beginners, on wash techniques, brush handling and simple color exercises. As students develop skills in handling materials and methods, more complex projects are presented.

THE WAY OF WATERCOLOR: LOOSE & LUMINOUS

June 3,10, July 1-Aug. 5 Mon. 9-12 noon

No class June 17, 24

Lafayette Studio, 1136K Saranap Ave. Walnut Creek

Tuition: $ 310

Pre-register: 925 947-5773/ mira@mirawhitefineart.com

A Ask for materials list

May 15- June 11 R$125N/R$$155 S/T $100

July J July 3-Aug.14 R$215N/R$257 S/T $195

Wed. 6:30-9:30 pm

Studio One Art Center, 365 45th St. Oakland, CA 94610

Pre-register: 510 597-5027

Ask for materials list

Ask

Friday, April 5, 2019

Testimonials from workshop participants and others

Hi Mira:

I want you to know that it was an excellent

art workshop you taught this weekend. You

shared fabulous techniques on how to

abstract the figure (or whatever else).

Although it’s probably not as easy as

you make it seem, you demonstrated

all-purpose art skills which are viable

for every participant at some skill level.

Thank you for this art-heart gift.

Love,

Jan-L.

Good morning Mira,

Many thanks for all your inspiring & valuable teachings this weekend. I learned so much from you and the other students.

When I came home I discovered that my piece actually speaks to me more, up side down.

Interesting that on right side up, I started with the figure and built around it.

On upside down viewing, the faces just appear out of the abstract.

I am more drawn to the upside down version which I’ve included below.

I will definitely catch up with one of your classes again!

Warmly, Arina

Dear Mira,
I have to share that I spent my much-beloved coffee time this morn going back into your site, and realized, with much dismay, that I had somehow not seen your work when I had viewed it before... I must have confused you with someone else... embarressing, but true. Ugh. Anyway, it does not matter now, because I have pored over every single piece on your site, and am so deeply moved by your work. It resonated with me on an emotional level, as well as aesthetically. I love your use of color, and am I intrigued by your range of softness and starkness, and the wide variety of textures that you portray. It is clear that you have devoted your life to expressing yourself with your art, and you are incredibly gifted and hard-working, prolific as they come, but with amazing quality. Wow. I wish I could sit down and have some of the chat time we did not get to experience in person :).

Michelle

.I am an exhibiting artist, I recently had a solo show in Walnut Creek City Hall.I would say that I have learned a great deal from Mira M. White and my latest pieces have included many of the new techniques I have learned in her classes.

I see the following as Mira's unique talents as a teacher from Lynn

:§ Mira's unique ways to use the materials be it watercolor, pastels, collage, oil sticks etc
§ Her ability to expand my knowledge through informative demos
§ Mira's presentation skills which always results in interesting classes
§ Mira's preparation and ability to engage the class.
§ Mira's many examples she brings to class, to once again expand on the possibilities using the material being taught
§ Her ability to encourage questions and answer them skillfully and respectfully
§ Mira's ability to inform us of current exhibitions and artists we should familiarize ourselves with in the art community at large
§ Mira's ability to visit each student with their different strengths and needs and be able to help them with their individual questions

I have had the privilege of being a student of Mira's for the last three years, and I can safely say she is one of the most inspiring, prolific, and talented artists I have ever known. When searching for instruction, one usually finds good artists who have no interest in or skill in teaching, or ardent instructors who, regrettably haven't that much artistic talent. Mira is so different in that her passion for her work segues beautifully into her expertise in the classroom studio. She is intuitive, accessible, and her art speaks volumes about technique and the connection between the artist and the art they produce. I have found her instruction and support invaluable as I continue on my own artistic journey, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. If you are serious about your art, do yourself a huge favor and enroll in one of her classes and/or workshops.

Robbee

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Sunday, February 3, 2019

About my Workshops

I need to talk for a bit about my workshops.

I conduct a variety of them: encaustic, soft pastel, oil and cold wax, mixed media

In all of them I am focussed on introducing processes and methods of working.

The variety of mediums all require slightly different approaches. I am a materials girl and a visual storyteller who uses abstraction to make material magic.

It is wonderful to come to a workshop to learn about a process. It is doubly wonderful to leave with a finished product. Does that always happen. No.

I believe that to bring artworks to completion requires time and a gestation period. Workshops are periods of new learning and immersion. We often don't know how to bring works to completion for months, sometimes years.

A great number of artists conduct workshops. And other artists take workshops to get inspired or to learn another artists technique- to pick their brains, so to speak.

It is a dilemma. I spend years working on a method of working. Teaching it exposes it to the public and offers it for " sacrifice". I spent years developing my graphite work, did not share it or teach it- and then I did- what happened was I saw lots of pseudo mira's being produced. It's hard-- Where does ego leave and generosity of spirit remain?

We live in a tumultuous time in which everything is photographed, mimicked and copied. We strive to make ourselves known. I cannot compete with artists who have a formula for producing a "finished product."

I do not know what else to say....

Saturday, November 10, 2018

The Abstract Beauty of Black ( and all the shades of Grey) Workshop

We were a small but mighty group! 4 wonderful participants.
First Day:
1.Large Black gesso and Sumi Ink studies on lengths of butcher paper and large drawing paper( I got great paper on Amazon by Bee- 5 yards @36" wide-- and rag!)
2. Then we proceeded to work outside with charcoal powder and buckets of water. Wonderful, wild effects, but very messy ( images follow)

Second Day was devoted to exploring possibilities with Graphite Powder
Third Day began with a group process in which everyone worked on everyone's 8"x8" 8 ply museum board. I photographed a couple of the combinations. Remainder of the day devoted to finishing works- Here is a random sampling:

Melinda Di Sessa

D
Kaia Dercum

Group process

David Woodward

Cheryl Cahn

Group at Work

Studio

Sunday, June 3, 2018

More pics from my Wondrous Wax Workshop in Mendocino, May 2018

More Paint

Dear Mendocino

The color set up

Our Wax Paint Heating Up

The First Day

Demo/ Marion

Marilyn at work

Group Supplies

Sharon at work

A moment during graphite pours

Graphite Pour results

Linda at work

A Moment during graphite pours

Cheryl at work

Saturday, June 2, 2018

My Wondrous Wax Encaustic Workshops: An Update

Hi there,

I am finally getting here to post some process images from a number of my encaustic workshops- those included are from November 2017, March 2018 and, just finished, May 2018. Here goes: