3 Things I'm Doing to Make 2024 My Summer of Art
(and what I have planned at The Painting School for your Summer of Art)
Many years ago, as part of an art show, I handed out this screen print:
I’m going to update this screen print a bit to fit this post-Memorial Day newsletter: What if you actually did something creative with your summer?
What if you made a bunch of paintings? What if you finished that graphic novel? What if you started that quilt? What if you learned how to design and paint your own mural?
Historically, summers have been a mixed bag for me in terms of creative productivity. Some summers I produce entire collections of paintings, other summers my art supplies barely see the light of day. I veer between fierce creativity and a total disinterest in painting.
Last summer was a great summer for me in regards to art production. I was subletting a lovely studio in Red Hook, Brooklyn, right on the harbor, and I was grateful for it every time I went there to paint.
The result of my discipline and my commitment to going to my studio in rain & heat & wildfire smoke was a series of paintings that feel important in terms of my progression and growth as a painter. (And, yes, even after 30 years of painting, growth and progression remains my goal.)
I tell you about my productive Summer of 2023 not to make you feel bad if your creative production in 2023 was zilch, but rather, to encourage you to fit some art into your Summer of 2024. I promise that you can still see outdoor concerts and movies, have picnics at Prospect Park and go camping while also keeping your creative muscles strong.
Here are 3 things I am doing to make my 2024 creatively productive:
Keeping my art materials accessible - I have plenty of space at The Painting School to make work and keep my materials nearby. But I am going to make my home another creative venue by putting together a small collection of art materials that I’ll keep in the closet. That will allow me to use small pockets of time, like early mornings before the kids are up and the night time hours when we are watching a movie together, to sketch or paint.
Seeing at least 3 museum shows a month - There are only so many times I can be told by artist friends that the Sonia Delaunay show at Bard Graduate Center cannot be missed before I realize it is a show I cannot miss. But beyond Delaunay, I am committing to seeing 6 shows over the summer to ensure that I am inspired enough to make my own work. I’ll report back if I meet my goal! (And if I don’t meet my goal, you’ll never hear me mention it again.)
Writing every day - Opening an art school has hit this area of my life more than any other; I no longer write every day. And my writing fuels my painting just as my painting fuels my writing so this no writing situation is no good. Even if you are not a writer you might want to look into Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages and use writing to kickstart your own creative practice. By creating a disciplined schedule of writing every day my words will accumulate into some sort of something in the end of the summer. I might even set a timer to remind me of that hour of writing because setting those types of triggers have been proven to help us establish good habits.
Maybe your 3 things could include buying an easel or creating an accountability pact with a painter friend or opening an Etsy shop.
Or maybe you have decided that your summer will be “The Summer of NOT Doing Anything But Free Concerts, BBQs and Camping”. That sounds pretty great, too. But can I suggest that you bring a notebook with you to the campground, take photos at the BBQ and write about the concert after you go? Summer inspiration can fuel your work when you return to your creative practice in the Fall.
Amy Sherald, An Ocean Away
This Summer at The Painting School!!
(I try not to use this newsletter as a marketing tool, but I am very excited about what we are offering this summer so excuse me while I do some marketing…)
When I started programming this summer at The Painting School in Brooklyn I had the goal of helping you actually do something with your summer in mind. And we have introduced a few things that I think will help a lot:
The Painting School Studio Membership - Creative space is a luxury everywhere, but it is especially luxurious in New York City. So we have created the Studio Membership program to allow 24/7 access to our beautiful space. It includes bit of room to store yours paints and the opportunity to build a creative community with other painters. This membership is not for professional artists or people who need a full-time, independent studio experience, it is for people who are fitting their creative practice into the rest of their life and need space outside of the home to make art. And it is not just limited to the summer, it will go on past Labor Day, too.
Summer Class Pass - I am not offering an on-going 4- or 8-week class this summer. (Who wants to leave a day at the beach to go inside to work on light and shadow?) Instead, the Summer Class Pass allows you to take 8 classes when you want for a discounted rate.
So many one-off classes! - I am programming July and August as we speak and filling the calendar with all kinds of classes and workshops, some of them are included in the Class Pass and others are one-off workshops taught by visiting artists that are not. Classes like Hacking the Renaissance Palette, Learning from Matisse, Introduction to Landscape Painting and so many more! I’m dropping them into nights and mornings and weekends and weekdays with the hope that we can get you what you want to take when you want to take it. Keep checking back, the options will continue to grow!
Here are some of the classes and workshop I am super excited that are happening in the space:
I am teaching a “Learn to Paint in 4 Hours” workshop this weekend (Sunday, June 2nd, 1-5). I’ve been working on this idea for a while and I can’t wait to see it come to life. You will learn everything you need to know in order to start a painting practice at home. Plus, it will be super fun and, as always, I’ll have drinks and snacks!
Have you ever wanted to paint a mural in your home? The Design & Paint Your Own Mural Workshop with Zara Fina Stasi from Good for the Bees - on Saturday June 8th is going to be your opportunity to decorate that baby room or cool upstate house. You will work with Zara on your own design then learn how to paint it by actually painting different types of mural styles on The Painting School wall! I can’t wait.
Painting Basics Classes - Starting with Playing with Color & Shape on June 24th, I’ll be teaching a ton of painting classes for new painters and painters who want to sharpen their skills, check the adult section for more upcoming classes like Filling The Canvas Painting Basics - Composition and Space in Acrylic for all Levels and Playing with Lines & Brushes
Learning from Cezanne is filling up quickly so don’t miss your chance to learn from one of the greats!
On June 15th Jason Logan from The Toronto Ink Company ( who has made ink for Margaret Atwood, Yoko Ono and Steven King) will teach you to make your own ink! The workshop will start with a foraging trip around the neighborhood to find things to use to create you own signature jar of ink. It will be about ink making, foraging, mixing, creating, collaborating and learning.
Email me if you have any questions about any of this - paintingisgoodforyou@gmail.com.
THE PAINTING SCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS!
If you have any art-loving young adults in your life- our camps are going to be awesome. We have two weeks of high school options and two of middle school. It will be nothing but fun and art and air conditioning.
Thank you for reading! Thank you for supporting! Thank you for bringing your art into the world!
Happy Painting!
Sara