FAYETTEVILLE,
Ga. (August 2019) -- Award-winning artist/instructor Gail McDaniel will teach a new eight-week watercolor painting course
22 miles south of Atlanta in the Peachtree City/Fayetteville area this fall.
The course will be offered to beginning,
intermediate and advanced artists on Thursdays starting Sept. 12 at Heritage Christian Church, 2130 Redwine
Road in Fayetteville. Sessions will occur from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sept. 12, 19
and 26; and Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31.
The
artist/instructor will provide insights on composition, value, color theory and
application. She also will demonstrate some of the techniques that have helped
make her an award-winning artist, including abstract under paintings,
disappearing purples, painting on Masa Paper, white on white, monotype
paintings, let it flow, texturize your paintings, portraits, reflective surfaces,
and wax-resist Batik. The course is structured to serve artists at all skill
levels, from the very raw beginner to the most advanced. McDaniel will close
each session with individual critiques.
Because space is limited for the
classes, reservations are required. Tuition is $165 for eight class sessions. For more information or to register,
contact the artist by phone at (678) 603-1502 or send an inquiry to gail@gailmcdanielart.com.
Individuals can learn more about the artist/instructor and view her artwork at
http://www.GailMcDanielArt.com and follow her at
http://www.Facebook.com/GailMcDanielArt and
http://www.Twitter.com/GailMcDanielArt.
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| "Brit Bonnets," a watercolor painting by Gail McDaniel |
Two of McDaniel's Peachtree City/Fayetteville
students won awards for their watercolor paintings at the Peachtree City
Library Art Initiative, a juried art exhibition in July 2019. Celia Phillips of Peachtree City won first
place in the "People's Choice Award" category. Three of Phillips'
paintings were exhibited during the show. Rachel
Lindsay of Fayetteville won second place in the same category.
A third student, Dixie Randall of Peachtree City,
recently sold one of her paintings.
"They've all worked hard and
done really well," said McDaniel. "This is all the more outstanding when you remember
watercolor being the most challenging and specialized medium.
McDaniel is an acclaimed watercolorist who, by invitation,
has served as an associate member and demonstrating artist/instructor for the
prestigious Winsor & Newton Creative Artist Network of London. She was commissioned to create four program
covers for Griffin (Ga.) Choral Arts' 10th anniversary concert season. Before
moving to Georgia, the artist spent more than 20 years working as a
professional watercolorist and art instructor in Nashville and Brentwood, Tenn.
During that time, she taught more than 1,600 students in classes and workshops
around the world. A number of her former students have developed into
professional artists with exhibitions and commissions.
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| Gail McDaniel (center) with some of her former students (Photo by Chuck Whiting) |
"Like
me, others love the look of watercolor paintings and want to learn the
medium," said the artist, who painted the invitation cover for
"A Little Night of Music" starring country superstar LeAnn Rimes. "Many come for the change of
pace and the new, wonderful, relaxing challenge it brings. The intermediate and
advanced students come to me to grow in the medium."
Over
the years, McDaniel has seen the positive change that comes over many people
when they spend three hours with her, creatively thinking from
the right side of their brain.
"It's
truly a night-and-day change, not to mention the fun they have," McDaniel
added. "Many who have come to me with no art background find they really
have a true talent for painting. Some of them never had the slightest notion
they had any talent. It's such an outstanding reward for them and a source of
real pleasure for me."
A
good example is Phyllis Tatum, a watercolorist who studied with McDaniel for 14
years in Middle Tennessee. She and her fellow students were thrilled when she
won four blue ribbons and a red ribbon at the Tennessee State Fair. Her crowning
achievement came later when she won the fair's "Best of Show", a rare
occurrence in watercolor circles.
McDaniel
fondly remembers receiving a thank you note from former student Suzy Foy of Boulder,
Colo., who wrote, "My whole life I have dreamt about being an artist... I
never believed I could live that dream, one painting at a time. Because of my nine
workshops, mentoring and support (from McDaniel), it is happening."
"One
of the obvious results of classes is the togetherness that comes upon the group,"
McDaniel noted. "Friendships develop, and with that interest in each
other's lives and the happenings and events in their world. The group watches
children grow up, grandchildren being born, and members die. The group
celebrates the joys together, as well as the sad times, giving special support.
Sometimes, our paintings reflect those experiences."
The
classes near Atlanta should be no exception. McDaniel will demonstrate the
techniques, shortcuts and concepts that she has developed or learned by doing,
reading or studying with others. She shows her students everything she knows,
holding nothing back. Her goal is to inspire them without making them feel
overwhelmed.
During her career, McDaniel has
trained artists from 36 different states (including Alaska and Hawaii), the
District of Columbia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Guatemala, Japan, Mexico, the
Philippines and South Korea. She has taught 11 workshops on historic Ghost
Ranch in New Mexico, a landmark where the late Georgia O’Keefe lived and
painted. She also served as a member of the arts faculty of Cheekwood Botanical
Garden & Museum of Art.
In 2002, she and her husband, Ken,
launched the "Students and Friends of Gail McDaniel Awards", raising almost
$90,000 for Middle Tennessee public schools. The fundraising effort earned Gail
and Ken a nomination in the "volunteer innovator" category of the
2009 Mary Catherine Strobel Award. In 2012, the artist was named the PENCIL
Foundation's "Volunteer of the Year".
Before leaving Tennessee, she
received an award for "Excellence in Community Service" in 2010 from
the Travelers Rest Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution. She was inducted into the Cave City, Kentucky, Hall of
Fame in 2011 and named to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels in 1970 as
one of "Kentucky's ambassadors of
good will and fellowship around the world."
In 2001, she was invited by
directors of the "Art in Provence" program to conduct an eight-day
watercolor workshop in Dieulefit, France. She also has taught in Central
America, South America, and Canada. She studied under 38 noted art instructors
to help build her reputation as one of the South's top artists/instructors. --
even accepting a commission to paint a family landmark for former Kentucky Gov.
Louie B. Nunn.
Gail McDaniel's artwork was featured
on the program covers of four major concerts in 2016-17 performed by The
Griffin Choral Arts group. The choir is led by Artistic Director Dr. Stephen J.
Mulder.
For
more information about Gail McDaniel or to see her work, visit
www.GailMcDanielArt.com.
