Responding to Music on Canvas.

No doubt everyone is an artist!

I'm in the middle of a 10-day artist residency at the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg conducting sessions on intuitive art encouraging older adults to express their inner artist. We are having a blast!

Here are a videos of participants, oil pastel in hand, responding to music during the "Draw What You Hear" class.







The artist residency focused on creative aging is an Arts In Education program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Jump Street, and a research initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.

So thrilled to experience these art days with this amazingly fun and artsy group.

Listen to "The Flight of the Bumblebee" and drawing in response.

Responding with drawing to various styles of music.

Creatively engaging older adults by drawing like Matisse

Channeling Matisse! 

During a 5-week artist residency at the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg, I am teaching artist for a group of 18 older adults. They’ve been open to every creative endeavor put in front of them – from drawing their breath to drumming in response to photographs and now drawing like famed French fauvist artist, Matisse.

For this artistic challenge, I asked participants to come to class with a paragraph of text. The artists learned how Matisse drew masterpieces holding a 6’ bamboo stick with charcoal stuffed into the tip. Inspired, they set to work on canvas using their paragraph of text as subject matter.

Matisse drawing with a charcoal-tipped bamboo stick.

What fun!….to embrace the imperfections created using this unique, challenging technique.

The artist residency focused on creative aging is an Arts in Education program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Jump Street, and a research initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.

Newspaper Article About the FUN of Creative Aging Classes at JCC

From April 13 through May 10, I've been a teaching artist at the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg (JCC) to 18 older adults. The 5-week artist residency is an Arts in Education program of the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and Jump Street, as well as a research study for the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.

The following article appeared in the newspaper publication of the JCC about the creative experience being brought to older artists.

Senior Update
By: Roberta Krieger

"Who would possibly believe that at our age learning something new (and to many of us, something foreign), would be so much FUN! Well, take it from me and 17 other lucky seniors, a new and exciting world has opened for us. The reason for this is our Senior Club at the JCC was fortunate to be a beneficiary of an "Artist Residency Program with a Research Component" brought to us by Jump Street Arts in Education. It was offered to us at no charge by the generosity of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Our teacher, Cheryl Kugler is amazing as is our very own adviser, Cheryl Yablon, who is always right there to give a hand to those who are in need. Guess the name Cheryl and the word amazing are synonymous.

The program consists of ten approximately 90 minute classes which was open to 18 seniors who were willing to make a commitment to attend at least eight of the ten lessons: the first or second being mandatory. After the first lesson I cannot think of anyone who wanted to miss even one minute, never mind one lesson. The budding artists started to blossom.

The first four lessons (which as of this writing were all that we've completed) were like nothing that any of us imagined. We were told we would not be using any medium that required drying (watercolors or oils) as there is no place that they can be stored for the drying process. We use charcoal, pastels, both chalk and oil, pencils and crayons. I can't explain how much fun it was to schmear charcoal all over your hands without having anyone yell at you for getting "all dirty". Our lessons ranged from drawing our breath (yes, this is NOT a typo), drawing shadows, listening to different types of music from classical to pop and letting loose by drawing with the rhythm. Last be not least was creating musical stories to various pictures. This was where we really "lost" it...NON-STOP laughter. Not counting the serious type percussions, the instruments ranged from homemade noise makers to Fisher Price xylophones and in between. They say laughter is good for the heart. Well, all I can say is we are one "Heart Healthy" group!

Our homework for our next class is to bring a paragraph of something we have written or part of a story or poem that we like. I await this class with bated breath because if my husband's "masterpiece" is an indication of what others are bringing, it will be 90 minutes of hysterics.

Doing my due diligence, I contacted the Curatorial Department of MOMA and have complied with their request to fax over a sampling of our work. They were very impressed and promised to make every effort to attend our final class on Wednesday, May 10th, after which all of our "masterpieces" will be on display. You are all invited to join them. When classes are over there will be a big void in our lives. Maybe Rock Climbing lessons can be next."

Older artists respond to music on paper.

Listening to "The Flight of the Bumblebee" and responding on paper.

via Community Review, Vol. 92, No. 10, May 12, 2017, page 4, Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg

Happy Valentine's Illustration

In celebration of Valentine's Day weekend, here's the creative process behind an illustration I completed last Fall for a story in Sparkle magazine.

Final Illustration: 

Valentine's Day Illustration by Cheryl Kugler for Sparkle magazine.
Gouache and colored pencil on paper. 

Thumbnail Sketch:

Thumbnail sketch.

Sketch:

Sketch.

Painting:

Painting and colored pencil.

Finishing the illustration:

Finishing the illustration.

Close up:

Close up.

Published:

Published in Sparkle magazine.

Have a happy Valentine's day! Thanks for stopping by.

Plein Air in the Poconos

Last week, a small group of painters from the Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painter's participated in an overnight "paint out" at Graystone Preserve in the Poconos. The preserve is located near Hickory Run State Park in eastern Pennsylvania.

The incredible views were mesmerizing and so were the gorgeous colors of the changing Fall foliage. It made it difficult to pick a scene to paint plein air. However, rain quickly narrowed down a painting spot - the big porch of our rented cabin. 

Here's the painting that came out of my hands onto canvas:

The "almost" Final:

In-progress:

The Inspiration:

So many other possible scenes to paint back in my studio:

From what I learned, the property was purchased in the early 1900's by the Trojan Powder Company to test dynamite manufactured for the military. The company no longer exists, but the heirs continue to operate the property as Graystone Preserve. 

Graystone Preserve is a members-only organization. Lucky for us, a fellow painter is a member. She has amazing childhood memories of traversing the 4,000 acre property with her grandfather, an employee of the powder company. 

Christmas Tree Farm -- Illustrations for a Children's Magazine

Here are sketches and final illustrations for the December issue of Sparkle magazine -- a children's magazine reaching young girls ages 6 - 10.

The illustrations will run on the far left and far right of a full-page spread, with the story printed in-between the artwork. Illustrations are under-painted in gouache with pastel Prismacolor pencils and ArtStix.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

A Turkey Illustration for a Children's Magazine

Creating children's illustrations for Sparkle magazine is always a lot of fun! Here is a final illustration for the November issue, under-painting in gouache with pastel pencils:

The Process:

 The Thumbnail Sketch:

The Rough:

Figuring out the Gesture:

Under-painting:

And, almost done!

I always lose my seat...

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

"Letort Morning" - Pastel by Cheryl Kugler

A small, but talented group of artists from CALC (Carlisle Arts Learning Center) have been getting together once a month. In June, we spent a Saturday morning sketching out at Letort Spring Park in Carlisle, PA.  Here's the outcome and a few "behind the scenes" photos from my sketch pad.

Final Painting:
"Letort Morning", Pastel over watercolor, 11" x 15"

"Letort Morning", Pastel over watercolor, 11" x 15" by Cheryl Kugler

Reference Photo:

Rough Sketch on Location:




















Back in the Studio:
The art critic weighs in.

Thanks for stopping by the blog. See you next time!

Painting the Delicate Delphinium

A delphinium is hard to grow. I know. I've tried. So, when my client wanted a painting of a delphinium I knew they'd be a bit hard to find out in a garden. But, I found one and painted it. Let's take a look at the process!

The Finished Painting:
The petals are delicate. The morning sun created back lighting and interesting shadows on the thin flower petals.

Delicate Delphinium by Cheryl Kugler, 30" x 30", oil on canvas

The Composition:
Working from photos I took out in the garden, I began working on the composition in art class at the York Art Association.

Roughing in Colors:
Oh, to me this is the ugly phase of painting!

Making an Adjustment:
After blocking in color and beginning to work the painting, a glaring empty space existed in the center of the flower that wasn't as obvious in the sketch phase. The solution -- add an extra blossom.

Painting, Painting, Painting:

One last peek...

Commissioned paintings are always welcome! Let's talk.

Thanks for stopping by.