phylliswhiteart.com Blog

This past Saturday, July 30th, was the final art class in this summer’s art camp at Sweetwater Mansion in Florence. I really enjoyed teaching this group. It was a lot of fun and it was interesting to see their progress from the first class to the last. We began the first class by learning to mix colors and about light and shadow. The second class was about composition and how to size your subject in proportion to your canvas size. The last class was geared toward painting in a background first, then adding a subject (flowers) to the foreground, and I taught them some special brush strokes to create leaves and petals.
I think they all did a great job and I hope they all learned a few things that they can use to practice on their own. Art is such a creative and fun hobby, even if you’re not a great artist. I always say; practice, practice, practice!! A little bit of talent and a LOT of practice goes a long way….Keep practicing girls! It was so much fun working with you all!!
If there’s enough interest, we may have another class sometime in the future.

It’s been a great two Saturdays teaching art at Sweetwater Mansion. There has been a great turn out of about a dozen kids and adults. We’ve had a lot of fun and the students have learned about mixing colors, how to paint light and shadows, composition, and much more. Next Saturday, the 23rd will be the final lesson. Anyone who missed the first two sessions is still welcome to come and join the fun for our final class. Just bring a canvas and some acrylic paints and you’ll be on your way to a fun new hobby. Children and adults are welcome.

Today I’m still working on the portrait of ‘James’. It’s coming along. I’m trying to finish it before Arts Alive this weekend. This painting will be on display at Sweetwater Mansion when they have various events.

Well, it’s Monday morning, and finally a day to relax a little. I have been so busy since the day I retired…almost 2 weeks ago. It feels good to have a day to relax and not have to rush off somewhere. I am taking this opportunity to drink lots of coffee and resume work on a portrait I am doing for the Sweetwater Project. I have been commissioned by Sweetwater to do a few paintings relating to Sweetwater Mansion and it’s history. This is the beginning of my third painting for the project that I started a few days ago. It is just in the beginning stages, but I thought I would give you a little preview of what I’m doing this week. This portrait is of one of the Civil War re-inactors who was at “The Day at Sweetwater” held April 23rd, 2011. I made a photo of this re-inactor named ‘James’ and I was so pleased with the photo that I decided to include him in the project. I loved the contrast between the darks and lights in the photo. It also will capture a couple of the gigantic magnolias which are over 100 years old. I will repost when the painting is finished to show you the result…..well, I’m off to paint now…Have a nice day!!

I had a great night at First Friday this month. The weather was perfect and it seemed like the whole town turned out for it. My sister, Sharon, came up from Decatur and joined me in my booth, displaying her many crafts, from jewelry, colorful cell phone pouches, key chains, book covers and many other things. We had a great time…and dinner at Rosie’s afterwards; a perfect ending for the evening.

The first day after retirement I began a 4-day art workshop with Roger Dale Brown a great artist from Nashville, who paints in the impressionistic style. I was anxious to learn his techniques for creating the beautiful paintings I had seen in galleries. He was a wonderful instructor and I loved his method of teaching. He taught us how to simplify our paintings by blocking in the four basic shapes of a landscape and then beginning with the darkest values and working from dark to light, and from thin to think paint. I feel like I learned so much and am now ready to pack up my easel and paints and hit the road to plein air paint. Ahh, retirement and plein air painting…that’s the life!!

April 28th, 2011, I retired from the City of Florence/Electricity Department, after almost 33 years…32 years and 9 months, to be exact…but who’s counting!! Well, actually, I was! I never dreamed when I began my job with the City in the late 70′s that I would be there until retirement. Even though I had been counting the days for the last ten years, it is surreal that I am finally there. After six weeks of intense training of my replacement, it is finally over.
I was Energy Coordinator/Secretary for the City of Florence since the beginning of the TVA Energy Program in 1979, and was the only person in that role for 33 years. So, when it came time for me to retire, I was the only person who could train my replacement…or give her any help. So, it was exhausting trying to cram her with over 30 years of knowledge of a rather complicated program. Clara Lambert was hired as my replacement and I wish her well as she begins her new adventure.
I have begun my new adventure as an artist, my life-long dream. It is wonderful and I am enjoying it sooo much!!

Friday and Saturday, April 22nd & 23rd was the first of this year’s events at Sweetwater with “A Day At Sweetwater”. Admission was free and everyone was invited to spend a day at Sweetwater, touring the mansion, walking the grounds, and learning a little of the history of Sweetwater. Actors were on the grounds both days reinacting Civil War era events that occured at the mansion. Books on the history of Sweetwater and the Civil War were on sale.
I played the role of author and artist Maria Howard Weeden who is known for her portraits of former slaves and her books depicting life in the South.
It was a beautiful day, perfect for a day outdoors. I enjoyed sketching some of the reinactors and various other subjects on the grounds with my artist friend, Linda Smith. It was a great day!
As art coordinator for the Sweetwater project, I plan to hold some plein air outings for local artists in the near future…dates will be announced.

Winter finally seems to be gone and spring is fast approaching…and the
mind turns to thoughts of getting outdoors and painting plein air. This
past Saturday was a beautiful day, but I didn’t paint outside, instead I
painted with a group of artsy ladies that meet a couple of times a month
to paint and share a day of fun; sharing ideas and offering a little praise
and pointers.

I did the painting above. It’s 11″x14″ oil on canvas.

It’s been a great Thanksgiving weekend.
I spent Thanksgiving Day with my family and, of course, ate too much.
The next two days, I didn’t get out of my pajamas…Spent two days in
my studio painting and just relaxing. Today (Sunday) I spent the afternoon
plein air painting. I was afraid it would be too cold, but it turned out to
be a nice afternoon; a little chilly, but not unbearable. Painted rolling
hills in a pasture full of cows just off Gunwaleford Road.

I’ve decided I’m not that good at plein air paintings, but I believe the
practice still pays off. Whether I’m great at it or not, I enjoy it…and
really, that’s what counts the most.