Our demonstrator for October was Anne Demeter. She presented a demonstration using gouache.
The meeting was held in the Guild Hall, First Congregational Church (middle side door), Sanborn Street, Reading, Wednesday October 8th, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
We have some photographs of the event in case you could not make it there in person. You can click on any of the images on this page to view a larger version of it. Then, use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.
Anne started the demo by explaining the proportions of a face.
The eyes are half way down, and the bottom of the nose is half
way between the eyes and the chin. Similarly, the mouth is half
way between the bottom of the nose and bottom of the chin.
When painting children, keep the features short. The
longer the features are, the older the subject becomes.
Anne paints on toned paper to establish the middle values immediately.
She paints from light to dark. Gouache is an opaque watercolor paint.
It is more forgiving than aquarelle since you can go back over it.
She starts out painting thinly and then paints thicker as the painting develops.
The features of the face slowly emerge.
Dark values in the background make the subject come forward.
Adding the details and some opaque white.
Done.
You can see more of Anne's work at http://www.northshoreartsassoc.org/Krapish/ADKrapish.htm
Like her mother, Anne loved to draw. She began painting lessons in Danvers at age 11. Around the corner lived Mrs. Matsubara, a gifted artist and patient teacher. Every Saturday morning she took a half dozen children in her station wagon to different sites around the North Shore to paint in oils and pastels. She brought them into the light about color theory, warms vs. cools, limiting their compositions en plein air, and exposed them to her family life and culture.
Anne Demeter received her B.A. in art/education and went on to teach emotionally disturbed children in Brewster, NY. She and her family returned to the North Shore, where she studied with Helen Van Wyk, Betty Lou Schlemm, Charles Movalli, Don Stone, and other accomplished artists. Anne said, "These artists not only imparted their knowledge of painting, Cape Ann�s history and place in American art, but more importantly shared their abiding friendship."
Anne is an artist member of North Shore Arts Association and Rockport Art Association, a former president of North Shore Arts Association, and a trustee of Rockport Art Association.
Anne Demeter will demonstrate in gouache. Bring some friends to this demonstration; enjoy inspiring art and the sociability of delicious refreshments.