Sorry for my Absence! June 6, 2014!

Hello Everyone,

I've been extremely busy the past couple of months and I need to work on my internet skills a bit more! Here's what I've been up to!

1. Started a weekly art class in Agoura Hills, CA.
2. Had a Plein Air Painting Workshop in Park City, Utah from June 15-19th. 
3. Got accepted and started preparing for Aspen Plein Air http://www.telluridepleinair.com/plein-air-artists (click on Aspen)
4. Got a new plein air easel, which I love (I'll give the brand in my next update)
5. Prepared panels for plein air
6. Drove 2 days and 18 hours of traveling from California to Snowmass Village, Colorado
7. Been working on my portfolio as well

Expect my next couple of Entries to be all about Aspen Plein Air and I'll also show pictures from my Utah Plein Air Workshop! Thanks for your patience and I look forward to sharing with you all soon!!

Best,

Samantha Fried

Tuesday, April 15th, 2014! Art Class Announcements!

Hello Everyone!

In the month of May I will be holding 2 classes titled: Drawing & Painting Workshop.

Have you ever wanted to draw or paint something or work on your skills and techniques in Charcoal, Pastels or Oil Paints? If so, come join one of my classes where you can work on whatever subject matter you want to create (i.e. portrait, landscape, still life, animals, etc.)

I want to foster your growth as artists within a creative environment and help you discover what makes you passionate about Art!

Here's the Information on my 2 Classes:
CLASS 1

• When: Wednesdays, 1-4pm in the month of May
• Dates: May 7th, May 14th, May 21st, and May 28th
• Where: My uncle's business: Evolution Audio & Video.                                                      5341 Derry Avenue. Suite S                                                                                                     Agoura Hills, CA 91301
• Price: $150.00 ($12.50 an hour)

CLASS 2

• When: Thursdays, 11am-2pm, in the month of May
• Dates: May 8th, May 15th, May 22nd, and May 29th
• Where: My uncle's business: Evolution Audio & Video                                                         5341 Derry Avenue. Suite S                                                                                                  Agoura Hills, CA 91301
• Price: $150.00 ($12.50 an hour)

THERE ARE ONLY 4 SPOTS LEFT FOR WEDNESDAY'S CLASS SO HURRY IF YOU WANT TO ENROLL!     

If interested in taking either class and you'd like to enroll, please email me at samanthafriedart@gmail.com.

Thanks for all your support, I appreciate it. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

BEST,
Samantha Fried 
                                                      

March 11, 2014. Lot's going on

Hi everyone,

I find it hard to remember to go on each of the social media networks. I've noticed that I've slipped with my Blogging. For those of you who follow me and my Blogging, I apologize. I will find a way to work on this.

Here's the cool news I've got a bunch of classes going on right now. You can still sign up.

2 Portrait Painting Workshops coming up!

8 Week Classes Both on Wednesdays. Starting Wednesday, March 26th to  Wednesday, April 14th, 2014.

One class is from 2-5pm, the Second class is from 7-10pm.

Price: $250 for 8 weeks
          $140 for 4 weeks
          $75 for 2 weeks
          $40 for 1 week


Location is at my Uncle's awesome business, Evolution Audio & Video, 5341 Derry Ave. Suite S. Agoura Hills, CA 91301.

If interested feel free to email me at samanthafriedart@gmail.com

Best,
Samantha Fried

Sunday, February 9, 2014. 2 PLEIN AIR PAINTING WORKSHOPS!

Hello Everyone!

I am very excited to announce that I will be starting up 2 New Plein Air Painting Workshops with Oils.

If you love the outdoors, landscape painting, color, educational environment, than you are in for a treat!

Each week we will visit new locations in the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County areas!

Without any more delay, here's the INFO on BOTH WORKSHOPS!

MONDAY PLEIN AIR PAINTING WORKSHOPS with Oils:

Duration of Workshop: 8 weeks

Day/Time of Workshop: Monday mornings, 9am - noon

Dates of 1st 8 Week Session: February 24th to April 14th, 2014

Each week we will visit a new location!

Cost: $250

SATURDAY PLEIN AIR PAINTING WORKSHOPS with Oils:

Duration of Workshop: 8 weeks

Day/Time of Workshop: Saturday mornings, 9am - noon

Dates of 1st 8 Week Session: March 1st to April 19th, 2014

Each week we will visit a new location!

Cost: $250

THOSE OF YOU WHO SIGN UP WILL RECEIVE:

1. Supply List
2. Locations List

It is a beautiful year! Come join me outside to Paint the Landscape!  Thanks so much for your time.  Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

FOR INFO, email Samantha at samanthafriedart@gmail.com

Best,

Samantha Fried

www.samanthafried.com

February 8, 2014.

Hello Everyone!

I am very excited to say that I have been one of the artists chosen to go to Plein Air Aspen in July! I feel very honored to be accepted into such a prestigious Plein Air Competition. I want to thank the Sheridan Arts Foundation for letting me be a part of this wonderful experience. I look forward to painting in Aspen, Colorado. I've never been to Colorado and this is a great reason to go!

Since being accepted, I have been hiking with my art supplies, bringing up my stamina for the trip. Also, I started plein air painting again! Here is my first plein air painting of many for this year!

This is my new Plein Air Easel, the Guerilla Cigar Box! It's a great sturdy and small easel that is light and easy to travel with. If interested in the Guerilla easels, you can check out their website: http://www.guerrillapainter.com/accessories.html

I painted this particular painting in Simi Valley at Rocky Peak Park! It's a beautiful location, with amazing Rocky mountains to look at in every direction. I only hiked part way up, so I plan on returning and venturing deeper into the park.

In a couple weeks, I plan on starting up a new Plein Air Painting workshop. Expect Rocky Peak Park to be one of our many destinations. Look soon for the information on my up and coming workshop!

As always, thanks for reading my blog! Talk to you all sooner than later!

1-29-13 Busy/Crazy Week

Hello everyone,

I know that I need to work on my blogging and get a better schedule. Usually, I wouldn't want to make an excuse. But, thus past week has been insane. My grandma had spinal/neck surgery. She came out okay, but it's a serious surgery so I prioritized.

I went to San Francisco over the weekend and saw the Ansers Zorn show at the Legion of Honor. Amazing show, his water colors astounded me! If you're in the Bay Area, go see that show. It closes up in SF on the 2nd of February. While I was in San Francisco I also took lots of reference photos for paintings. It's always nice to see the city. Thanks to those who took out their time to see me! If I couldn't see you, all is good, life happens:)

I started my first portrait painting workshop last Wednesday in Agoura Hills, CA. If you are interested, please let me know. There are spaces still available. 7-10pm oil portrait painting class. Lots of fun! I'm very proud of my students. They've never painted a live model before and they all did a great job!

The show for Richeson 75 Small Works 2014 is up online and you can see my oil painting, " Tenaya Lake," on their website at www.richeson75.com 

I also am honored  to announce that I have been invited to the 5th Annual Aspen Plein Air 2014 hosted by the Sheridan Arts Foundation. I want to thank the judges and I am looking forward to going to Aspen, Colorado this up and coming July!

Thanks for your patience, I plan on blogging lots more. I think I'm going to do a painting a day for the month of February so keep posted!

January 15, 2014. How to stay positive.

Hello Fello Artists, Art Lovers, and Friends,

The biggest thing any artist has to overcome is their own self-doubt. It is very easy to go down that "rabbit hole," and sometimes very hard to get out.

I have a fear of the unknown and sometimes it turns into self-doubt.  While I am an extremely positive person, it is easy to be unsure of the future and concerned. Not all artists are sensitive people, I can be. It's just who I am.

So, let me explain how I can turn things around. If I stay on the fear and uncertainty, it eventually feels like I'm stuck in quicksand.  When I've seen movies/shows where there is someone in quicksand they reach out for something to grab, asking for help from the people near them.

My number one rule is not to be afraid to talk to someone about your fears, you have people that care about you and will listen to your worries like you will listen to theirs. Whether it be about your painting, shows, teaching jobs, money issues, etc. you have to be able to open up. I find keeping these feelings bottled up just makes things worse in the end.

1. Talk to someone, it helps hearing an outside perspective from your own thoughts
2. Remember something that you're proud of accomplishing
3. Make a few new goals (even if it's to be not so hard on yourself)
4. Remember that you get to do what you love. 
5. Try to stop living in the future because it will only be a mystery. 
6. Stop worrying about things in the past that have brought you down because it's already history.
7. START focusing on today, now because the present is a GIFT. 

I know many people who cannot focus on the NOW, including myself. This is just a reminder that you can do it and you're not the only one who flounders every now and then.

THANKS for listening, I had a rough morning and got myself out of it.  I hope I can help you out as well.

BEST,

SAMANTHA FRIED :)

January 9, 2014, In-Progress Painting

Hello Everyone!

I enjoy painting commissions and having work to do. Sometimes, it's really nice to set up a side project and work on something that you want to paint. I've been painting this child's portrait for the past couple of days. It is so nice to paint from the heart. I've been wanting to paint this for a while and it's awesome when you can find time for yourself.

Here's some in-progress shots of the painting thus far, there is still lots of work to be done. I hope you enjoy the painting. The later photos are a bit washed out in the face area, but it's pretty exciting.

January 4, 2014. Portrait Painting Workshop Announcement!

Hello Everyone!

I hope that your 2014 has been treating you well thus far!  I have been extremely excited about this year! I am starting my own Workshop this year! I have a STUDIO that I've rented out for evenings. It's pretty cool.

During the day, Evolution Audio & Video in Agoura Hills, California.
During the evening, Samantha Fried's Art Studio!! in Agoura Hills, California.

I want to thank my Uncle Jay and my Grandpa for this. Evolution is their business and thanks to them, I have a place to teach! I will forever be in their debt for giving me this opportunity!

Now to the Good STuFf!!! I'm starting an Ongoing Portrait Painting Workshop! Here's the Info!

Duration of Each Workshop: 8 Weeks
When: Wednesday nights, 7-10pm, January 22nd to March 12th, 2014
Location: 5341 Derry Ave. Suite S. Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Cost: $250 (this includes the model fee)
There is limited space in the class so please contact me at samanthafriedart@gmail.com

Those of you who join the workshop, I will send you a supply list.

Thanks for all your support, I look forward to hearing from you soon!

BEST,
Samantha Fried

January 1, 2014. Donations to S.T.A.R.T. Rescue

Hello Everyone,
2013 has been a great and busy year. I know I haven't been blogging much, but, I'm back in full swing.

First and foremost, there is a wonderful organization named S.T.A.R.T. Rescue. S.T.A.R.T. Rescue is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and spay/neuter of homeless animals throughout Southern California. For more information, please visit their website at START RESCUE

I've created a donations page on my website. A percentage of all paintings on that page will be donated to START RESCUE. Also, ALL PAINTINGS ARE ON SALE!

You can check it out on my DONATIONS PAGE

There is also a painting I will be donating to the organization. Titled, "Indy," it's an oil painting on linen of the pit bull Indy who was horribly attacked during Independence Day weekend of 2013. He was strapped with fireworks and lit ablaze, thanks to START, he's had many surgeries and is ready for a permanent home. When the ART AUCTION for this painting occurs, I will definitely announce the DATE!

Indy, Oil on Linen, 18"x24"

AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR READING AND MAY THIS YEAR BRING MORE CREATIVITY INTO YOUR LIVES! HAPPY NEW YEAR!