Coffee Art and Relief Printmaking

 One of my favorite still life subjects with students is this little red Bialetti Moka Pot. Not just because it makes the most delicious coffee but it is just so darn cute. This beautiful linocut is by a 5th grade artist!

 

8"x8" edition size of only 20 original prints. 

A little more carving after the image was proofed.

Ready to print!

Ready to carve!

The finalized drawing. The first step was a series of thumbnail sketches to quickly determine a composition. Then the drawing was developed keeping in mind which areas would be carved away.

This original Linocut Print is an edition size of 20, prints are available for sale $75. with the total amount going directly to the artist, my 5th grade student. Please reach out me at ameen@studio-kids.com for details if you are interesting in purchasing and supporting this very talented young artist.

Private Art classes in Seattle, Watercolor

The last 18 months i have done a deep dive into over 30 years of my own travel photos. Exploring these images as small scale watercolors. Its only natural that this would carry over into my teaching practice once I opened the studio for limited classes. Currently I am full, but feel free to send me an email if you are interested.

Now I just need to remember to take more photos and document the progress.

 Student work! 8x10 watercolor on cold press watercolor paper. We were both thrilled with the finished painting. My student is a high school senior with no previous formal art classes. The project took 5 hours to complete. Patience....

Work in progress, after about 3, 1 hour sessions. Painting takes patience, close observation and learning about the properties of the materials.

The source photo from Leicester, UK.  A lovely passage way to a fabulous tucked away bookshop.

Private Art Classes for Kids in Seattle

 Tiptoeing my way back into classes!

That was fast!!! Private sessions are full for now!!!

One on one classes start with the basics. Drawing with pencil, charcoal and inks students look closely at still life arrangements in the studio. Comparing daily use objects with each other, students are looking closely at size, curves and angles to accurately re-create the arrangement.

We then progress to more detailed studies and look at shadows and high lights.

Quick studies with bamboo in pens and a focus on line quality.

The same subject but with water soluble pencils.

 

Please contact Ameen for more details and scheduling. Private sessions are offered to fully vaccinated students. All materials are provided. $50 per hour.

Decorate with art

Summer/fall 2021, its been so nice to finally be able to visit some of my family and dear friends in beautiful British Columbia. Here's a few highlights of their art collections!!!!

 

 

Acrylic on canvas 20"x20"

From the barber shop series, "Figaro Style", Commercial Drive, Vancouver

"The Roosevelt Hotel", Vancouver....probably NOT where you'll want to stay...

A little pepper....4"x6" watercolor on paper

My personal favorite "Continental Barbers," Commercial Drive, Vancouver. Stone lithograph, Sold out.

I love that my dear friends own this one and that Alan used to get his hair cut here.

Reflections on the Sunset Hill Walking Art Fair

The studio got a deep clean and was transformed into a lovely gallery space last month for the Sunset Hill Walking Art Fair. A huge thank you to all who turned out to make it such a success. It was fun to see some former students and meet some potential students who are so patiently waiting for classes to begin again. I am holding off till at least Jan. 2022 but will continue with updates here. I'l be busy with my own work and exploring new projects for students.

The final touches for the Art Fair.

The main walls even got a fresh coat of paint!

Getting ready....

A stack of over 100 5X7 water colors does not occupy much space. I framed about 25 pieces and matted all the rest and slipped them into 8x10 sleeves. Unframed pieces were spread out on table tops on the patio and in the studio. It was so rewarding to see everything presented!

Deciding what to frame!!!!

From the drawers....

 The studio/gallery is open by appointment. You can contact me through my website www.ameendhillon.com

Watercolor Family Portraits

One of the surprises of working through my 100 day project has been the family portraits. I didn't set out to paint family portraits but I now have a growing little set! 

I start with a pencil sketch and then either black ink pen or straight to watercolor.  My 100 day project is all 5x7 painting based on my own travel photos from over the years.  Please do check out my website to see them all AmeenDhillon.com and follow me on Instagram @ameendhillonart

Watercolor can be manipulated on the fabrics but faces have to be done very carefully. I usually prefer to capture the gesture and try not to go into detail but occasionally I get carried away. 

Added some more saturation to the colors, the stencil background and shadows.

Thought I was finished but added just a bit more.

  Quick shot of some of the others. 

Three Figures Crossing The Zambezi, My People in Venice, My People in Burano, Lunch Stop Botswana

Lounging at a Cafe in Amman

How to upcycle and frame small artwork

 

I framed these for a good client of mine. She wanted to use a frame she had on hand. It was an inexpensive frame from the 90's that came with three matt board window openings. The plexiglass is thin.

My only regret is not putting in real glass. My local hardware store is no more, they were the best and reasonable priced for custom glass cuts. I get my matt board for free at the local frame store. The keep a bin of off cuts. These are great for all sorts of projects and FREEEEE!

The finished piece. These are my original watercolor paintings, each 5x7 on cold press 140lb watercolor paper. Do check out my website for lots more art AmeenDhillon.com. Original artwork, especially if the paper has a deckle or torn edge looks beautiful mounted in a shadow box style frame where the artwork is raised slightly to appear to float within the frame.

Gather your materials and stretch them out on a clean table. Ruler, pencil, white plastic erasure, acid free tape, hot glue gun, white matt board that matches or compliments the artwork, acid free foam core pieces cut to slightly smaller than the artwork.

Coil the tape and put it the 4 corners of the foam core. Center your artwork and gently add pressure so that it sticks. Keep a clean piece of paper on top of the artwork and gently burnish the taped areas with your hand. This keeps the oils and any dirt from you hands from getting on the art. Mount all three paintings and set aside.

I replaced the original backing with sturdy matt board making sure it was larger than the opening so that it would attach across the back of the frame. Measure and place the paintings keeping an equal space at the top, bottom and sides. paces between the paintings should be slightly less. I left 1 1/4 inches around the edges. I put very light pencil marks in the bottom corners only. Put coiled tape on the back of the foam core squares and attach to the matt board. After they are mounted and the measurements look good erase your pencil marks. Now let's put it all together, hot glue the plexi glass to the inside of the frame. Attach the matt board to the back of the frame, before securing it in place check for dust, debree and  fingerprints within the frame.  Attach the matt board to the back of the frame,  I used the existing clips and a staple gun for the side without clips. 

 For light frames I attach fishing line with a staple gun and knot it in place for hanging.