Employee Acrylic Art Show at the Seattle Daniel Smith Store

Now on view in our Daniel Smith Gallery.... Our Employee Acrylic Art Show at the Seattle Daniel Smith Store! Next time you visit our Daniel Smith Store in Seattle, please stop by our Gallery to see what our talented Daniel Smith Artist Employees have created in Acyclic.

There are lots of different techniques on display ranging from straight forward acrylic on canvas painted with brushes, to many forms of mixed media (photos, ink, pencil, Super Sculpey, Liquitex Pouring Medium , different kinds of Golden Gels , Styrofoam, even rice!) on different surfaces (Ampersand Gessobord with 2" cradle , and other Ampersand Gessobords ). There were even a couple of paintings that used Golden Phosphorescent Green which is a glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint, and available at the Daniel Smith Stores.

Most of the paintings have artist labels with titles and mediums used to help viewers know what they are looking at. You just might get an idea or two for using different art materials from seeing these.

This show will be up through mid July...and we will have another Employee Art Show following this one!

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1) Annie Van Englen - "Untitled 1"

2) Annie Van Englen - "Untitled 4"

3) Annie Van Englen - "Untitled 2"

4) Annie Van Englen - "Untitled 3

5) No Label

6) No Label

7) Connie Tehada - "Polarbear"

8) Bryan Mandronico - "Untitled"

9) Bryan Mandronico - "Staint Sweetums"

10) Kelly Patton - "Stag Beetle: Dusk"

11) Kelly Patton - "The Puppeteer"

12) Kim McCarthy - "Untitled"

13) Unlabeled

14) Unlabeled

15) Connie Cagley - "Quetzalcoat 1"

*****

Watercolor 101 with Che Lopez at the Bellevue Daniel Smith Store

Saturday, June 28th Watercolor 101 With Che Lopez Get a jump start on learning some watercolor painting basics with the Bellevue Store's own Che Lopez . For the Watercolor 101 Workshop , Che will show you some fun and useful tips to help you get started painting in watercolor, just in time for Summer!

This is a great deal (not just having Che as your teacher) but each student will receive a $10.00 coupon to use at the Bellevue Daniel Smith Store towards buying art materials. So the class is $10.00 to register, and then you get a $10.00 coupon (to use at the Bellevue store) so that pretty much makes taking the class free!

$10.00
9am to 10am
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Bellevue Daniel Smith Store's FREE Demo on Saturday, June 28th

Acrylic Weekend! The FREE demonstration this Saturday at the Daniel Smith Store in Bellevue is Acrylic painting, and Sunday is "Come Paint with Staff" in acrylic paint.

Saturday, June 28th at 11 am & 1:45 pm

ACRYLIC: Pour it on!

Dianna Shyne

DON’T FORGET Dianna’s Workshop July 23rd Bellevue Store!

*****

Diana Shyne Workshop
Wednesday July 23rd

ACRYLIC: Pour it on! Build it up!

With Dianna Shyne

Join impressionist painter Dianna Shyne in a

distinctive approach to acrylic painting.

Dianna will show you her techniques

with a combination of fluid and

heavy bodied acrylics to create dynamic images.

Using landscapes for the basis of composition and form,

students will learn to increase their freedom and control.

Start your summer with a painting class that is fast paced, fun,

and inspirational!

$75 per day

11 am to 4 pm

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Seattle Daniel Smith Stores' FREE Weekend Demos for June 28th & 29th

This weekends' FREE weekend demonstrations at the Daniel Smith Store in Seattle is an All Acrylic weekend! Be sure to check out the Seattle Store Employee's acrylic paintings in the Store Gallery.

Saturday, June 28th from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm

ACRYLIC: Fluid Acrylic Basics

Paula Balch

SPECIAL Hands-on Event

Sunday, June 29th at 12 & 2 pm
ACRYLIC: Everyday Still Life Expressions
Cheryl Hoople
absolutearts.com

*****

Bellevue Daniel Smith FREE Watercolor Demo with Susie Short on Saturday, June 21st.

Watercolor Artist Susie Short was at the Daniel Smith store in Bellevue last Saturday for one of the weekly FREE Daniel Smith demonstrations . Susie's theme for the the watercolor painting demo was "Sea and Shore" to give some insight and techniques on painting the shore for the 11am demo, and the second demo at 1:45 was tips on painting waves crashing onto the shore.

Susie shared lots and lots of insights, with her amazing observations on shore landscapes and tips on how to paint them in watercolor . She showed the packed room full of watercolor enthusiasts "feathering" to get the strong horizontals of the shoreline and parallel surf, how she makes the foaming surf and spray pop from the paper, achieves the translucent effects of the waves and water as it covers the sand and rocks...and so much more! For an hour demo there was a lot of great stuff!

Working mostly with her new Daniel Smith Sand and Surf Watercolor Triad: Indanthrone Blue , Ultramarine Turquoise , and Goethite (Brown Ochre) Susie demonstrated the watercolor painting effects she was showing the audience...really amazing! Susie also used just a touch of Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor, Green Gold for the light glowing through the wave just before it crashes.

Susie also had a painting on display that she did just a few days before when she was at the beach, it was an incredible shore landscape with dark rocks that she did with the new Sand and Surf Triad, and a touch of Quinacridone Burnt Orange which when mixed with the other three colors produced the most amazing deep, rich dark for the back-lighted rocks. This painting was the one she recreated for the 11am FREE demo.

When Susie was talking about how to paint the waves, she shared her excellent observations on how the light effects the water and how to create those effects with watercolor painting. It was also fun to watch and learn because Susie became very animated waving her hands and arms to act out the action of the wave...complete with sound effects! Susie is a very inspiring watercolor painting instructor, so be sure to come to her next Daniel Smith FREE Demo at the Seattle store : Saturday, July 12th at 11am and 1:45pm to see for yourself. Thank you Susie!

Susie Short also many watercolor workshops and watercolor painting videos and DVDs too! The next Daniel Smith Workshop is:

Sunday & Monday July 27th and 28th.

WATERCOLOR: Sea and Shore

with Susie Short

$75 per day

11 AM to 4:00 PM

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SUMI: Lotus Breeze with Yuming Zhu - Saturday June 14th FREE Demo at Daniel Smith in Seattle

Yuming Zhu began with a good basic introduction to the materials used for Sumi Painting. He briefly talked about the brushes used such as the Jade Bamboo Brush and Rattail Fine Line Brush and what characteristics each type of brush brings to the painting. Other materials such as the rice paper; Best Shuan, and Double Shuan, that is used, how it works with the Sumi Inks, why you need the Ivy Wool Felt (to keep the paper from sticking to you work-surface) and more really good Sumi Painting materials tips.

After introducing the audience to some of the basic Sumi Painting materials, Yuming began talking to us about painting the Sumi way: "You see your subject, you interpret your subject, you express the essential character of your subject." "You paint what you feel, not what you see."

Then Yuming began his painting of Lotus Flowers in the water...a very physical activity. Watching Yuming was like watching a martial arts bout; a period of studying and sizing up the opponent (the painting as it exists at that point), gathering energy and engaging with the painting using the brush, then pausing to stand back and absorb the results of that engagement. Yuming steps back, resumes his study of the new painting, and repeating his actions until he was satisfied with the painting.

Afterwards, Yuming answered questions, and the most interesting one was about how "rough" he was with his brushes when he was applying the ink to the paper. Yuming replied; "don't worry about abusing your brush when painting, work your brush the way you want/need to, when you clean your brush, that is the time to respect your brush."

Click here for tips on caring for oriental style brushes.

It was interesting talking to Yuming afterwards about the energy he gathers about himself just before applying the inked brush to the paper. Yuming talked about "chi" and told me that it's about "capturing the moment and energy...and paint what you feel, not what you see." It was a very interesting demo, thank you Yuming!

More on previous FREE Daniel Smith demonstrations

of Sumi Painting with

Elizabeth Kay

and with

Pasty Surh O'Connell

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Watercolor 101 Workshop with Che Lopez at the Daniel Smith Store in Bellevue

Saturday, June 21st Watercolor 101 Worshop

with Che Lopez.

Get a jump start on learning some watercolor painting basics with the Bellevue Store's own Che Lopez . For the Watercolor 101 Workshop , Che will show you some fun and useful tips to help you get started painting in watercolor, just in time for Summer!

This is a great deal (not just having Che as your teacher) but each student will receive a $10.00 coupon to use at the Bellevue Daniel Smith Store towards buying art materials. So the class is $10.00 to register, and then you get a $10.00 coupon (to use at the Bellevue store) so that pretty much makes taking the class free!

Be sure to register early since the class size is limited.
$10.00

Saturday, June 21st
9 am to 10 am
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Bellevue Daniel Smith Store's FREE Weekend Watercolor Painting Demos for June 21st & 22nd

This weekends FREE demonstrations at the

Daniel Smith Store in Belleve

is watercolor painting with Susie Short on Saturday,

and Kay Barnes on Sunday.

Kay recently did a FREE watercolor demo

at the Seattle Daniel Smith Store, and please click here

for more information on that

Watercolor: Florals demonstration.


Saturday, June 21st at 11 am & 1:45 pm

WATERCOLOR: Sea and Shore

Susie Short

Sunday, June 22nd at 12 & 2 pm
WATERCOLOR: Florals
Kay Barnes

Eastside Association of Fine Arts Show at the Bellevue Daniel Smith Store

This month, the Daniel Smith Store in Bellevue is hosting an Art Show featuring members of the Eastside Association of Fine Arts in the Store's Gallery. The EAFA members' work was hung the last week, and will be up through June 28th, so be sure to stop in at the Bellevue Daniel Smith Store to enjoy the show!

The EAFA currently is having it's 2008 Member Only Show at Trilogy of Redmond Ridge, May 31 to June 26, 2008

Bellevue Daniel Smith FREE Demos this weekend, June 14th & 15th

This weekends' FREE demonstrations at the
Daniel Smith Store in Bellevue

Saturday, June 14th at 11 am & 1:45 pm
SUMI: Spiritual Harmony
Elizabeth Kay
DON’T FORGET Elizabeth’s Workshop
July 9th thru 11th Bellevue Store!
womenpainters.com

Sunday, June 15th at 12 & 2 pm
WATERCOLOR: Working Wet to Dry in Watercolor
Joanne Shellan

Seattle Daniel Smith Store FREE Weekend Demos June 14th & 15th

This weekends' FREE demonstrations at the
Daniel Smith Store in Seattle

Saturday June 14th at 11 am & 1:45 pm

SUMI: Sumi-Lotus Breeze

Yuming Zhu

Sunday, June 15th at 12 & 2 pm

Watercolor: Step by Step Painting

Gary Nelson

Daniel Smith Store in Seattle's FREE Weekend Demo with Kay Barnes

Last Saturday's FREE weekend demo at the

Seattle Daniel Smith Store

was with watercolor artist Kay Barnes .

Kay began the demo with a very lively chat about her background, and some of her painting philosophy. Kay is not only an expressive artist, she is also a very expressive teacher, and here are a few of the things she said to us during the demonstration:

"...it's just a piece of paper, not canvas you have to stretch and prime!....Watercolor is the easiest medium to get started in, it's less expensive and you get results sooner." "Most people who don't do watercolor don't realize how flexible it really is." "God doesn't like a stingy painter!...How many of you have thirsty paintings?" "Water is the vehicle to get the paint to move...put the water where you want the paint to go...pulling the wet to the dry to evenly distribute the color." "...don't try to control everything - allow things to happen." "Take time to stand back in AWE to allow watercolor to happen!"

Kay's demo painting was already sketched in and ready for watercolor. Kay told us she often uses an Artograph Prism Projector to sketch out her image from one of her photos, it saves a lot of time especially when teaching! The sketch was a close up of flamboyant yellow and red parrot tulip. Kay began her watercolor painting showing us how she wets the areas she is working on, applies her watercolor, talking while she paints..."all your brushstrokes count, make them curved and directional." "if I don't mix the colors on the paper (because they will turn gray) and allow time to mix on their own - they keep their own identity."

One of the brushes Kay told the group she was enjoying painting with, was a Daniel Smith Platinum Series 24 Squirrel/Synthetic Watercolor Brush because it has the water holding power (the squirrel) and springiness, flexibility and strength (the synthetic). After the demo, several people were interested in checking out the brush, and Kay gave a bonus impromptu talk about the brush by the brush counter...a natural teacher!

I always enjoy seeing artists' palettes and how they actually set them up to paint, and Kay's was no different. She told me she squeezes about 1/2 a tube on to the paint well for every color, then allows them to dry out until there is just a little "give" when touched with a finger. Kay prefers not to paint from freshly squeezed paint...too easy to get too much paint on the brush. Then, when she is ready to paint she sprays water over the paint on her palette a few minuets before painting to soften the watercolor paint. Kay does it this way because she has found it preserves the "tips" of her brushes to not try and "jam" paint onto the brush when the paint it too dry.

The demo was as entertaining as it was informative, Kay is a natural teacher. Kay has watercolor workshops and classes scheduled through her Eden Gallery at kaybarnes.com

If you missed this FREE demo on Floral watercolor painting,

Kay will be doing another at the:
Bellevue Daniel Smith Store .
Sunday, June 22nd at 12 & 2 pm
WATERCOLOR: Florals
Kay Barnes

Watercolor 101 Workshop at the Bellevue Daniel Smtih Store

This weekend at the Daniel Smith Store in Bellevue

is our popluar Watercolor 101

taught by Artist Che Lopez from the Bellevue Store!

Saturday, June 7th and
Sunday, June 21st

Watercolor 101

Che Lopez

Have you found yourself wanting to learn some basic

"how-to" for watercolor painting?
Well, this is a nice way to get a start on watercolor painting
with this one-hour class of watercolor basics.
Che Lopez will show you fun and useful tips

for your watercolor projects.

Each student will receive a $10.00 coupon to use
at the Bellevue Daniel Smith Store towards purchasing
art materials...now that's a good deal!
Please register early, as class sizes are limited.

$10 per day
9 am to 10 am
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Seattle Daniel Smith Store FREE Weekend Demo: June 7th

This weekends FREE demo at the

Seattle Daniel Smith Store

Saturday, June 7th at 11 am & 1:45 pm

WATERCOLOR: Florals

Kay Barnes

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Bellevue Daniel Smith FREE Weekend Demos: June 7th & 8th

This Weekends FREE Demos at the Bellevue Daniel Smith Store

Saturday, June 7th at 11am and 1:45 pm

Acrylic: Pouring!

Annie Van Engelen
Annie will be showing the new and exciting
acylic pouring medium by LIQUITEX

* Notice *
Sharon Tietjen's

demo scheduled for June 7th,
has been cancelled

Sunday, June 8th at 12 & 2 pm
SUMI: Sumi-Lotus Breeze
Yuming Zhu

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Northwest Watercolor Society's Tour to See How Daniel Smith Makes Watercolor Paint

Last Wednesday, 13 board members of the Northwest Watercolor Society visited the Seattle Daniel Smith Store to tour the on-site manufacturing facilities where the Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors are made. The same manufacturing facilities are also where the Daniel Smith Original Oil Paint , Daniel Smith Ultimate Acrylic Paint , and Daniel Smith Printmaking Inks are made.

The tour was in four parts:

Since this was a VIP tour, it began with Katherine Taylor, Manager of the Bellevue Daniel Smith Store introducing John Cogley, owner of Daniel Smith, to the NWWS board-members. The group met at the front of the store where the video of "How Paint is Made - The Daniel Smith Way!" plays in the foyer of the Seattle Store. John talked to the NWWS group about what was happening on the video by explaining some of the processes, sharing stories and answering questions. It was really interesting to find out a few new things I had not previously learned before since John is very involved in the entire process beginning with being active in finding new minerals for Daniel Smith Prima Tek Paints .

David Pruneda, who works in the Seattle Store, took over for the next part of the tour by leading the group through the store to the room where the weekend FREE demos are held, it's also used as a Gallery. The group took seats to listen to David talk about the minerals used for making Daniel Smith Prima Tek Colors by showing and passing around some of the corresponding minerals such as Azurite Genuine . There were "rocks", and jars of powered minerals and examples of Prima Tek watercolors painted out on watercolor paper. There was also a map on display showing where some of the minerals come from...literally all over the world!

The next part of the tour was conducted by Ron Harmon, the long time Daniel Smith Chemist, who took us back into the manufacturing room. There Ron showed us the the 5 large to huge mixers that the pigments are mixed with the various liquids. Watercolor with Gum Arabic and water, Acrylic with acrylic emulsion, Oil with either safflower or linseed oil, and Lithographic ink with litho varnish. Next, are the various three roll mills that "take the pigment particles and tear them down" to transform the mixes into Daniel Smith paints and inks. While we were there, one of the mills was being used to refine Daniel Smith Quinacridone Gold Watercolor , so it was extra cool for the NWWS group to see. Lastly Ron lead the group over to see the two filling machines, one for watercolors and the other for acrylics, where the tubes of paint are filled. The inks are actually too thick for the fillers and the cans are hand filled beside the mills. Here is a trivia question for you...how are the labels applied to the tubes? Answer: by hand! Bonus answer: by Ron's daughter's hand!

Next, David lead the group back to the demo room to answer more questions...there is always so much to learn!

At the end of the tour, most of the group were amazed that while they "knew" that Daniel Smith manufactures its' name brand paints and inks, they had not realized that the Daniel Smith Watercolors , Acrylics and Oil Paints and the Printmaking inks are actually made in the same building as the Seattle Daniel Smith Store.

Next time you are visiting the Seattle Daniel Smith Store to pick up more art supplies, just remember that a couple of walls over on the south side, is where the magic of COLOR for your paintings is made!

The tours are now resuming after a long hiatus, and Daniel Smith Manufacturing Tours are available by appointment for groups of up to 20.

Boardmembers of the Northwest Watercolor Society, thank you for coming, we were happy to see you, and show you how our Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors are made!

Northwest Watercolor Society meeting with Deanne Lemley and her Plein Aire Painting Demonstration, and Daniel Smith Plein Aire Art Supply Display

Last Tuesday, the Northwest Watercolor Society held its' "4th Tuesday of the month meeting" in Bellevue. Their guest for the evening was Deanne Lemley who gave a demonstration on Plein Aire watercolor painting.

The Bellevue Daniel Smith Store was also invited to set up a display of Plein Aire art supplies so that NWWS Members could see the wide range of artist materials available to the Plein Aire Artist during the social time before the meeting, and Deanne's demonstration.

Katherine Taylor, the store manager, and artist Che Lopez also of the Bellevue Store, were there to set up the displays and answer questions about all the Plein Aire artist materials. Along with the Daniel Smith Plein Aire art supplies, Che brought (to show everyone what he actually uses) his entire personal Plein Aire kit including his Daniel Smith Tripolar Half French Style Easel , Artist's Tote bag, and three watercolor palettes , one each depending on his mood for that landscape! Two of the most talked about items were the Plein Aire Easel Shelf to add more workspace, and the clamp-on Artist Easel Umbrella to shade out glare while painting.

After the General Membership meeting was the anticipated Plein Aire watercolor painting demonstration by Deanne Lemley. Deanne re-created a Plein Aire watercolor painting while the audience watched. It was amazing to see the painting reveal itself while Danne painted, on the projected screen so everyone in the large audience could see. Deanne Lemley offered many tips on Plein Aire Watercolor Painting while she was working including these two:

"Stop painting when the light moves."

and

"When you paint from life you see opportunities that

you can never make up."

This was the last meeting until September. Non-members are welcome to attend these Northwest Watercolor Society meetings to introduce them to what the NWWS is about.

It was a fun and informative evening and many thanks to the members of the Northwest Watercolor Society for inviting Daniel Smith to participate!

Bellvue Daniel Smith Store FREE Weekend Demos this Weekend...

This weekends FREE demos at the Bellevue Daniel Smith Store

SPECIAL EVENT Saturday, May 31st from 1 to 3:30 pm

ACRYLIC: Golden A to Z

Barbara Depirro
FREE!

Sunday, June 1st at 12 & 2 pm

WATERCOLOR: Garden Journal

Molly Hashimoto
FREE!

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DON’T FORGET Molly’s Workshop June 8th at the

Seattle Daniel Smith Store

Come to the FREE demo and meet Molly ton learn more

about Garden Journaling, and to find out if Mollys'

Workshop in June would be good for you.

*************

Sunday June 8th

WATERCOLOR: Garden Journal with

Molly Hashimoto
Back by popular demand!

Fine-tune your skills for summer by taking one of Molly’s

most loved workshops.

Bring your own favorite photos and catalogs

to create beautiful pages of studies, sketches,

and small landscape plans.

Many different techniques will be demonstrated for you to find

the ones that work best for your journals and artistic purposes.

Bring a blank journal, or cut paper to size for a journal

that you can put together after the workshop is over.

Instructions will also be provided.

$75 per day

11 AM to 4:00 PM

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Seattle Daniel Smith FREE Demos Coming This Weekend....

This weekends FREE demos at the Seattle Daniel Smith Store:

Saturday, May 31st at 11 am & 1:45 pm
MULTI-MEDIA: Anything Goes on Ampersand Panels
Patricia Seggebruch

SPECIAL EVENT Sunday, June 1st from 1 to 3:30 pm
ACRYLIC: Golden A to Z
Barbara Depirro

SUMI: Spiritual Harmony with Elizabeth Kay - FREE Seattle Daniel Smith Store Demo

Last Saturday's FREE demo at the Seattle Daniel Smith store was informative (as they all are) and extra entertaining with Sumi Artist: Elizabeth Kay. There was a bit of theater in Elizabeth's demonstration of Sumi Painting; music, movement and motivation for aspiring Sumi Artists...and at the end of each Sumi painting Elizabeth completed, there was a burst of spontaneous applause!

Elizabeth Kay had lots to tell in a packed hour. She demonstrated "The Four Gentlemen", which are the four basic brushstrokes in Sumi painting, Discussed what to look for in Sumi paper and how it's different from watercolor paper ...much, much thinner, and you paint on the smooth side. And so much more....

As Elizabeth painted three different Sumi paintings she was inspired by music, Asian naturally, but there were some musical surprises in store for the audience. Each painting had a very different type of music playing while she painted: Classical, the theme music from the movie "Dances With Wolves", and my favorite painting of a Bird of Paradise was done to Salsa Music! Elizabeth's brush twirled and danced across the sumi paper enticing a splendid Bird of Paradise to appear...very dramatic!

Elizabeth had lots of wonderful motivating words to tell the attendees: "An Artist is someone who paints", Elizabeth calls all her students who attend her classes Artists. "Know your Subject, Love your Subject, Paint your Subject". Paint on the best Sumi paper you can, and master that surface because you never know when that particular work will be the One...and "if it doesn't work, you've made wrapping paper!" Elizabeth asked the attendees the question: "When is a painting finished? When the Artist dies".

If you missed the opportunity to come to this FREE demo, and if you weren't there you really missed something! Well, you have a second chance because the Bellevue Daniel Smith Store will be hosting Elizabeth Kay with a second FREE demo this coming June:

Saturday, June 14th at 11 am & 1:45 pm

SUMI: Spiritual Harmony

Elizabeth Kay

womenpainters.com

**********************************

Elizabeth Kay will be having a three day SUMI Painting Workshop

at the Seattle Daniel Smith Store,

June 19th through the 21st:
Experience the joy of painting in sumi and

brilliant asian watercolors

during a three-day workshop.

You will learn to master basic sumi strokes

while controlling the use of water, ink, and color

with an objectiveto capture the spirit and vitality of the subject.

Elizabeth believes that

"you are an artist if you hold the brush in your hand,"

and that "painting to theme music gives

each artist a sense of peace and harmony.

"The class structure will progress in the following format:
Day One: Materials, basic strokes and unique traditions,

and beauty of the sumi art form.
Day Two: Create several small sumi paintings.
Day Three: Complete your paintings by mounting

on decorative asian papers.
$75 per day

11 AM to 4:00 PM

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