Do you love vibrant color?
Would you like to try an easy medium to create mesmerizing paintings?
Would you like to learn how to paint with alcohol inks on encaustic and other substrates?
Join Helen Dannelly for this comprehensive two day painting class via Zoom utilizing
alcohol ink
During these two live 90-minute sessions,
Helen demonstrates:
- subtractive and additive methods
- painting abstractly
- floral ink paintings
- Yupo vs cotton paper
- inks vs watercolors
- color separation of certain inks
- painting in layers using
- adding linear elements with gel pens
Create your own imagery using these tips and techniques.
Helen brings her foundational
training in color theory to bear as she shares techniques for working with inks and watercolor on both Yupo, a synthetic paper, and traditional
cotton watercolor paper.
Her demos will get you thinking outside of the box as you discover new ways to express your ideas.
This is such a fun class to teach to both
experienced painters and to novices alike. Many people were told they have no talent when it comes to art or they haven't ever tried painting and are not sure if they will be "good". This class is wonderful because I've never had anyone unhappy with their results. The ink almost paints itself... It's so rewarding to watch students
deriving such pleasure and
satisfaction from this process. I love to share it!
~Helen Dannelly
This course is for you if you:
- Are new to art and want to try your hand at painting
- You may not have had a satisfying experience with painting in the past and are looking to change that
- Are a skilled artist and want to try this vibrant medium with its unique properties
- Would like to learn techniques to create both abstractly and realistically
- Want to learn how to paint with alcohol ink on encaustic
Helen has a knack for guiding you in amplifying your ideas. Her method of teaching involves showing the potential of what you can do with the various materials and then letting you loose to see what is possible.
As an instructor, Helen draws upon her formal art training to add richness and depth to the classroom experience, incorporating fundamentals of composition, color, and form.
Why should I alcohol ink to my practice?
- Creating with alcohol ink helps you quickly understand color mixing.
- The techniques covered are easy to learn but offer sophisticated results.
- You can step outside the box and get unstuck by using this media.
The term I hear most often to describe working with alcohol ink is "mesmerizing!"
~Helen Dannelly
FEATURES:
- Two 90-minute comprehensive sessions
- Discussion of the unique properties of alcohol ink, how they differ in comparison to watercolor and how they can be combined
- Demos of additive and subtractive techniques
- Painting with alcohol inks on encaustic!
- Explanation of display options
- Access to the recordings of the live sessions.
BONUS: Discussion of how to print your
work on cards, clothing and other
print-on-demand products!
Don’t miss out on this
satisfying, "mesmerizing" painting opportunity.
Helen is a dynamic instructor who supports you in realizing your vision.
FAQ:
Q: Do I need painting experience?
A: No, this is a class for novices, skilled artists and everyone in between. And for those with some experience, you will learn an additional medium to expand your practice.
Q: I don't have an affinity for art. Will this class work for me?
A: Yes! Several people new to painting who have taken this class are surprised and delighted with the results they achieved. Many call the process "mesmerizing!"
Q: I have more questions. How do I reach you?
A: You can email me at [email protected]
Helen Dannelly draws on over 30 years of professional experience in helping you realize your artistic goals. Helen’s teaching is informed by a unique combination of training that she utilizes in guiding you conceptually and technically. She received a BA in Women’s Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She studied painting at San Francisco State University (working with Bay Area photorealists) and sculpture at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Moving easily between drawing, painting, and sculpture, Helen has developed unconventional ways of mixing mediums that create emotionally evocative pieces. Helen’s work focuses on metamorphosis both personally, in natural phenomena, and of the materials. Her organic sculptures are inspired by the natural world, a nod to sea life and plants. Complex surfaces and engaging forms invite viewers to explore the impact of climate change--a metamorphosis of decline.
Helen is attentive to the importance of art fundamentals weaving them into her classes. She recognizes that these components (color theory, elements of composition, and drawing/ mark-making) are skills that need to be continually developed and refined in order for students to leverage them effectively in their work. This mastery results in students creating more sophisticated work and understanding why it is more successful.
An award-winning artist, Helen Dannelly is a trained painter and sculptor who has been exhibiting and teaching for decades. Helen is Curator at the Forshey Gallery at the Chicago Temple First United Methodist Church in the Chicago Loop which primarily highlights the work of women artists of color. She is the creator and facilitator of the international "Reboot Retreats for Creatives" to help overwhelmed artists pause, reflect and recalibrate their creative goals. The next Reboot Retreat will be held in Piedmont, Italy May 27 - 31, 2025. See: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/a261ae4cd7.html
She is the proud Co-Founder of Catalyst Art Lab, an online artists' membership community and online art school. She is also a Golden Artist Educator, a Silver Brush Educator and an R&F Trained Advanced Encaustic Instructor. She was invited to teach color theory in Sauveterre de Bearn, France, the Hui No'eau Art Center in Maui, HI, and at PaintSpace NOLA in New Orleans, LA.
Her work has been shown at Slate Contemporary in Oakland, CA, Sanchez Art Center in Pacifica, CA, Conrad Wilde Gallery, in Tucson, AZ, Adam Peck Gallery and Julie Heller Gallery in Provincetown, MA, Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, Truro, MA, Kolman & Pryor Gallery in Minneapolis, MN, Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, WI, Christopher Art Gallery, ARC Gallery, Stola Contemporary Art, Bridgeport Art Center. In 2023, her work was one of just 140 out of over 1200 submissions selected for the First International Bienniel Exhibition at the Ballinglen Arts Museum in County Mayo, Ireland.
Her work can currently be found at Alma Gallery and Addington Gallery in Chicago, IL.
Testimonials
“I just read the comments on my [work] and want to thank you for what you added. I am happy to have your expanded opinions. Very helpful and so encouraging. You made my day.”
~ Linda S. ~
"How I spent June: working (well, playing really) on some 3D encaustic pieces while taking two Zoom classes with Helen Dannelly. Fabulous instructor! Supportive and knowledgeable. And some amazing “classmates” whom I hope to meet in person when life becomes a little more normal. I did a lot of playing with different materials and plan to expand my experiments more in July. Great classes!"
~ Laureen W. ~
"I enrolled in both the Beginning 3D Encaustic (taught jointly by Helen Dannelly and Jeff Hirst) and the Continuing Explorations in 3D Encaustic (taught by Helen Dannelly). Both classes provide the encaustic artist the foundations to explore taking the medium in new and exciting directions. The classes were streamed via Zoom because of the pandemic and both instructors were patient in answering students’ questions and generous with their support well beyond the actual time spent together in the Zoom class.
In the follow-up Continuing Explorations class, Helen Dannelly challenged students to build on the foundations from the Beginning class, encouraging students to begin to develop a body of 3D encaustic work. As in the first class, Helen shared her knowledge and time to support each student individually as we experimented with these new materials. She challenged us to think in new ways and gave generously of her support when we had questions or encountered problems in our work.”
~ Laureen W. ~
