Ann Bell’s Blog www.annbell.net/blog

May 30, 2010

Continuing Professional Education hours (CPE hours) & Creative Inspiration for Art Teachers

Many art teachers have come to my mixed-media art workshops during the past year. I had not realized that someone could get a degree in art without becoming comfortable with the painting process. But a major in college usually requires 8 semesters.

Art is such a broad field that many people get an art degree with only one or two painting classes…or maybe even no painting classes. By the time you take art history, drawing, printmaking or sculpture or pottery…and get interested in one area & perhaps take several classes in that, you may only get one class in watercolor…or oil.

Acrylic painting is much more user friendly than oil. It’s much easier to handle in a school situation. It dries quickly and has no odor, making it easier & more convenient than oil. It is opaque, making it much easier for beginners and students than watercolor. But if you are trying to teach your students to paint in acrylic, and you are not comfortable painting in that medium yourself, you are likely to feel stressed.

My classes can give you the skills you crave…and the confidence.

The techniques I teach can be used in your classroom.

And you may be able to receive Continuing Professional Education hours for the time you spend in my studio learning these techniques. 

Several teachers who have studied with me found that they could receive CPE credit for the classes. They simply needed to get the classes approved by their supervisor.

Some school districts even pay for the classes.

If one (or more) of my workshops appeals to you, I suggest that  you check with your supervisor to see if you can receive CPE hours for the time you spend learning in my studio. Upon completion of your work with me, I’ll provide you with a letter stating the subject matter and hours, along with your name and my contact information.

If your school is willing to pay for your classes, I can invoice the appropriate person. Or I can provide you with a paid invoice so you can be reimbursed.

Fullfilling your professional development requirement can be fun and personally rewarding. You can nourish your own creativity, while learning techniques that you can take directly into your classroom.

It’s just a thought. I’ve constructed my schedule so that you can take several classes on consecutive days. This makes it feasible for you to travel and have several days of classes if you live outside of the Houston metropolitan area.

If you are an art teacher outside of Texas, and you would like to come to study with me in my studio, check with your supervisor. You might be able to count the class time toward your own continuing education requirements.

Even if you are experienced painting with acrylic & mixed-media, you will still enjoy the classes (and the experience of painting in my wondrous, light-filled studio) and you’ll probably learn some new techniques.

The class schedule for most of June is now availale at
http://www.annbell.net/classes.htm 

I have been a professional working artist for more than 30 years. I have been teaching art to adults for about 15 years. I have demonstrated for many arts organizations in the Greater Houston Metropolitan Area, and Tomball, Livingston, & Baytown. You can learn more about me and see samples of my work at
http://www.annbell.net

My studio is located near downtown Houston, on the Metro at the McGowen station. You can stay at a downtown hotel and come by taxi or rail, without having to rent a car. The same rail goes to the major art museums.

Will I see you in my studio? You are welcome to call me if you have questions.

I’m looking forward to providing you with creative inspiration.

Ann Bell
281-330-3827

PS You can see an album of my paintings on my facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53716&id=1039957322&l=064708e754

Friend me on facebook, or follow be on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/annbell

April 7, 2010

Visualize Venice Ann Bell Houston Artist Open Studio

I’m going to Venice. I am so excited. I’ve fantasized about Venice for years.

I’ve collected cards, lace, music and any wonderful item I could find that was made in Venice…in the effort to provide touchstones that would make Venice real for me. Now Venice is within my reach.

My open studio Saturday, April 10, noon until 5 PM will be my first effort to share with visitors & art lovers my Venice Ephemera and collages. Instead of hoarding my collected bits & pieces of Venice, I have used these wonderful items to create unique cards and collages that I will show and sell on Saturday.

Cards that are beautiful enough to frame and sure to be saved & enjoyed by the lucky recipient are priced around $10.

Ann Bell Card Sample

This is a sample of one of my cards.

Collages are priced at $25-$40, for unframed 8″ x 10″ size. I will frame a few of them.

Ann Bell Collage \

Ann Bell Mixed Media Original \

If you come on Saturday, you will also enjoy my larger mixed media paintings, some of which are inspried by Venice. Maybe you’ll find a very special painting to enjoy in your own home.

Regardless of whether you acquire a treasure, you’ll enjoy a wonderful afternoon enjoying art in the creative spaces where art is made.

Ann Bell

PS. Please take my phone # with you, so if you have any trouble finding my studio, you can call me for directions.

281-330-3827  Remember, I’ll have maps of all the spaces. Saturday, April 10, noon until 5 PM.

March 8, 2010

New watermedia paintings on exciting pastel surface

I Dream of Venice, mixed media painting by Ann Bell, on new Pastel Surface board by Richeson. It’s so much fun to paint on! Thanks, Vikki, for introducing me to it.

If you want to try this fun painting surface, they are available at Art Supply on Main, in Midtown Houston–on sale for 50% off, only $8.50 for 11″ x 14″ board.

This painting is predominantly acrylic, 11 x 14. I painted it at my Saturday demo for Art Supply Expo.

Vikki also has a huge selection of stretched canvas at buy 1, get 1 free.

Golden City, shown below, is the first painting I did on this new surface. It is predominantly watercolor, with acrylic, acrylic ink, and Inktense colored pencil details.

If you would like to see these paintings, Vikki will have them in the store by Wednesday.

If you would like to see my current schedule of classes, visit http://www.annbell.net/classes.htm This month they are all planned between March 13 and March 20, to fit teacher’s schedules. Spring Break!

Ann Bell 

December 14, 2009

Gift Certificates for Private Painting Lessons

Creativity is an essential human force. We are all creative and have a desire to express our creativity.

The desire is stronger in some people than in others. Some people have always secretly wished (more…)

July 31, 2009

Helping Artists: Learn to sell your art

Filed under: Classes, Events — Tags: , , , , , — Ann Bell @ 12:01 pm

Are you an artist? Creating art is a powerful, life-affirming, joyful way (more…)

June 25, 2009

Will you become more successful…or will you disappear?

Are you doing the right things to promote yourself as an artist?
Are you actively (more…)

June 12, 2009

Passion for painting paper

Sometimes I just want to paint beautiful paper (more…)

May 31, 2009

Ann Bell’s Mixed Media Class & more unique art classes in Houston

If you are an artist looking for fun, unique learning opportunities in Houton, you will be happy to know that I just updated my class schedule with new classes. Visual Magic with Mixed Media class is (more…)

May 6, 2009

Adorable loving kittens seek good homes.

Filed under: Random — Tags: , , , , , — Ann Bell @ 10:44 am

Two weeks ago I rescued four beautiful kittens.  They have all found good homes.Loving kittens need good home One Thanks to Friends for Life and Peggy for the wonderful help. The staff at Petsmart on Shepherd & Alabama remembers (more…)

Mixed Media Play

I love to play with my art tools. Mixed media is the most fun. In mixed media I can reach for any art tool in my studio. Oil pastels, colored pencils, acrylics, stencils and stamps I’ve made, any textured materials, brushes, rollers, the sky is the limit. My creativity blossoms. And so will yours!

Thursday May 7, I will teach Visual Magic with Mixed Media. I will demonstrate my secret techniques and I will share my tools with the artists who join me in my studio.

If this appeals to you, I still have space for one more person. This class is suitable for all levels of painters.

Should the seat have YOUR name on it? You can email me tonight or call me tomorrow to claim your space.  Email and phone links are on the class page. You can pay through paypal.

See the complete class description http://www.annbell.net/MixedMediaClass.htm

This painting is an example of one I did using (more…)

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