Sunday

Guest David Savellano and the ECAA




El Cerrito Art Association attending members

Last month I attend El Cerrito Art Association’s first meeting of the year, which featured guest speaker David Savellano, it was also my first exposure to the ECAA group. The large room was filled to capacity and a large number of the audience brought along their sketchbook and paints to follow along.



ECAA Director, Charlotte Britton 


David Savellano demonstrated travel sketching techniques and pointing out that one does not need much in materials, because what is more important is to capture the random moments in nature or anywhere else one chooses or the inspiration leads one.






David favors urban settings that requires adaptability and above all great speed. This means that one must focus on the essentials and know what to eliminate since everything at best is temporary. By focusing on the important elements of a scene, ones art work reflects the energy of spontaneity in this particular art form of expression.

  • Other points of David’s presentation focused on composition and keeping people and environmental objects in relative measurement

  • When drawing people to create an outline and then cross hatch in the shadow areas and nothing more

  • To gather photo and magazine clippings of people for reference when ones sketch is incomplete

  • Limiting ones materials to a small folding metal palette with professional quality tubes paints; a #8 round synthetic and medium size squirrel quill mop brush; and a Moleskine Watercolour Notebook 8x5” inch; a small bottle for water





David with a finished demonstration sketch


David Savellano lives in the Bay Area and is a native Californian, he has earned signature membership in the National Watercolor Society (NWS) and the California Watercolor Association (CWA).


During the brief break, ECAA members look over David’s watercolours and notebooks


I regards to my last post, the painting in progress, “White on White” has been completed and I will share with you the various stages of progress very soon. Not wanting to lose the momentum with which I seem to have started the year, this Saturday I pulled a canvas that has been patiently waiting around since 2008 to receive due attention and giving its first coat of paint.




Thank you for your visit and comment
Egmont




5 comments:

Sophie Munns said...

Hello Egmont,
what a big gathering you took part in... good to think about how to work fast in trips and such... it can be a challenge until you get your head around the best approach.
Good to hear whit on white is completed and next underway!
Have a great week!
S

Four Seasons in a Life said...

Dear Sophie,

Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

It was good being out among like minded souls and I have decided to become a member of ECAA and start meeting other artists face to face, rather then always just staying home in my own world.

"White on White" gave me a much needed boost, especially since the painting turned our as envisioned.

Wishing you a wonderful start to the week,
Egmont

Hannah said...

I'm glad to hear you're back to active painting--and what a great time it sounds like with the El Cerrito crowd--I think the older I get, the more I value the fellowship of others. Adding a great artist/speaker is the icing on the cake!

tess stieben said...

I am doing the same here, I went to an arts group meeting last month and am looking forward to going next week (they meet once a month). I have felt a bit out of touch as I now live in a different city from my artist friends. Big Hugs and have fun with your adventures.

Caterina Giglio said...

My Dear Egmont,

How nice to read your last comment on my post. I do apologize for taking so long to thank you and I knew you would understand that I have been very busy.

This is a wonderful post and I am looking forward to lots o travel in the near future so I will definitely be taking a sketch journal along. It is just lovely that so many brought books and paints to follow along... delightful!

I cannot wait to see your new piece, White on White and will look forward to it.

Hugs to you dear one.

caterina