Good Ole Alabama Folk School

Dori spent this past weekend at the Alabama Folk School in Nauvoo, Alabama taking a guitar workshop from the incredible Herb Trotman. She came away with a wealth of music theory, some new skills to practice, and very sore fingers.

During her regular visits to the Alabama Folk School she take time to hike, sit in rockers and visit, photographs for her paintings, peeks in on the visual artists, and enjoys the concerts and jam sessions that arise among the musicians. She's on the advisory board, too, and recommends y'all sign up for one of the best weekends you can have. They offer visual art, music, and writing workshops.

DECADE Opening

I passed around my camera to guests at the opening of DECADE, our 10th anniversary student/teacher exhibit. They documented the event well and creatively. 

New Student Work Completed

Mary Compton and Ricki Jill Treleaven finished paintings this week at Red Dot. Enjoy.

Mary Compton

Ricki Jill Treleaven

Pre-Show Sales

Three of Dori's paintings sold this week, in anticipation of the upcoming DECADE exhibit. Dori likes this. CLICK BELOW FOR SLIDE SHOW.

Frames in the Making

Scott is preparing frames for my work in his makeshift wood shop: our carport. We're gearing up for DECADE, which opens at Red Dot this Saturday. 

It's Coming. Get Ready.

Only a week away! Join us for our 10th Anniversary Celebration at the opening reception of DECADE, our Student/Teacher Exhibit. Saturday, September 6 from 5-8 pm. Thank you for 10 happy years in Birmingham!

Student Paintings Finished This Week

Several painting students finished work this week. A lot of hard work went into these pieces, as you can see. 

Natalie Smith

Deeana Crider

Kay Lindsey

Anne Vaphiades

Tulsi Vora

Audience Perspective

I gave a talk about my artwork at Indian Springs High School, and I passed around my camera for students to take photos of the event. Click on image below for a slide show.

Kid Class, Still Life Work

Pots on a Rail

Student pots drying outside during Scott's evening clay class.

Before and After Drawings

BEFORE. Drawing by new student with no instruction.

AFTER. Same student at the end of one of Dori's drawing classes. She caught on quick!

Framed

Scott is building Dori's frames for the upcoming DECADE 10th Anniversary exhibit at Red Dot. He loves his outdoor wood shop in the Alabama summer heat.

Dori Instagram Photos

I (Dori) have been an amateur photographer for many years, and I share my work online through Instagram. There are those who pose the question, "Is Instagram replacing art galleries as a place to exhibit?" I don't know the answer to that, but I will consider it an invite to show my photos (not fancy, I tell you!) on our Red Dot Blog from time to time as an extra exhibit space. These are taken in the parks and open spaces of Fort Collins, CO a few weeks ago. CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE SLIDE SHOW.

Throwing Pots in Scott's Clay Class

Red Dot to Celebrate 10 years in Birmingham

It's coming sooner than you think: Our student/teacher exhibition celebrating Red Dot's 10th anniversary. Please join us for an opening reception Saturday, September 6, 5 - 8 pm. We are grateful to have been a part of Birmingham’s art community for so long. Our students, collectors, and many supporters and friends have made it possible. Thank you!

Student Art Pages Always Being Updated

Continue to check back for changes on the individual student pages. They are always completing new work. This week we had at least 7 new paintings finished.

A diptych of "Maggie" by Beverley Phillips, a student at Red Dot for 8 years.

Art Education in the Post Skill Era

At Red Dot we seek to foster an environment of encouragement and enjoyment. Many students are interested in learning to paint realistically, and others are pursuing a more abstract experience. As instructors it is vital for us to nurture whatever style and subject matter is most natural and desirable for the student. We know this allows the student the best opportunity for developing skill and a singular voice. Yet as veteran students of various education settings, we have run into a major amount of teaching methods that categorically reject these notions.

Huffington Post writer F. Scott Hess agrees with me and many other artists about the perils of wanting to be a skilled craftsman painter in today's art academia. In his well-articulated article, "Is De-Skilling Killing Your Arts Education?" he exposes the sad state of art education. I normally don't get preachy about issues on this blog, but this one has affected me and my family for a long time.

The artist's work above is a fabulous painter and long-time friend. 

Trip to Fayette Art Museum

The small town of Fayette, AL has a noteworthy folk art collection with large holdings of the works of Jimmy Lee Sudduth and Lois Wilson, two well-known visionary local artists. Jimmy Lee mostly painted with mud and sand until later in life. Lois was educated and exposed to the world away from Alabama, but retains a singular, outsider-art style. We took a day trip with some friends to see the Fayette Art Museum and took lots of photos.

Dancing girls, I think, by Jimmy Lee Sudduth.

Lois Wilson, painting of a woman. She had hundreds of paintings of all sorts of people, all painted on found pieces of wood. 

Necktie quilt by folk artist. I will get the name soon!

Saints by Lois Wilson

Football players by Jimmy Lee Sudduth

Lois Wilson had strong opinions about race, religion, politics, the environment, and institutions of many kinds. Many of her pieces reflect the voice of an activist with bold poeticism.

Benjamin Perkins gord art, looking like a contemporary art installation with the starkly utilitarian surroundings.

Another Benjamin Perkins piece concerning God and country.

Lois Wilson decorative toilet seats. I want one!

Jimmy Lee Sudduth cotton pickers and cotton wagon.

The Wonders of Kid Class

George and Grace, both age 8, came up with amazing renditions of home interiors in watercolor and marker. Below are the magazine images they worked from and their finished pieces.

Graces's watercolor

The image Grace worked from

George's finished piece

The magazine ad George drew from. He omitted the receipt at bottom right.

New Student Work

Enjoy recently finished paintings and drawings by Red Dot students, and check out the Student Work pages to see their portfolios.

Jeanne Alexander's portrait of her grandson.