Saturday 31 March 2012

Farewell

It is with regret that I mark the passing of Vivienne Crebo. She was a very active member in the Invermere art scene and was showed me great kindness in introducing me to the area.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

A workshop

I lead an acrylic/portrait workshop for the PMP members on Wednesday, Mar. 27th. This was the first time I taught a painting class (have taught drawing classes in the past). Everyone was very kind to me and I learned quite a bit, so I will be more prepared the next time I teach such a class.

I worked from a 8"x 8" digital image that was ruled into one inch sections. I drew that image on my prepared 16"x 16" stretched canvas that had been ruled into 2" sections. So my ratio was 1:2. It's important that you figure out a way to make your ratio true for your image in both directions.

I worked from the photograph observing shapes and just trying to get down color on most areas of the canvas. I also showed the group how I used some of my printed tissue paper to give texture and color to the shirt.

Today I started refining some of the shapes and bringing in more of the dark shadows. I will continue to refine shapes and colors. And fix my "road". Goodness, I can't draw a straight line. I thought I would keep posting as the painting progessed so people could get an idea of how a painting is developed.

Comments would be nice!

Tuesday 27 March 2012

I'll take the yellow dress

Sorry, but I just have a thing for paper dolls and western clothes.

Excellent place to look for marketing information: http://artistshelpingartistsblog.blogspot.ca/

Monday 26 March 2012

Reproductions and a warning

A series of paintings from a Carol Marine workshop.

Opus Art has a video of how they make reproductions. I am going to try their service one of these days.

And to check out an innovative painter, go see Myrna Wackov at:
http://myrnawacknov.blogspot.ca/

 
Dear Chamber Members,
Information received from Victoria Police Department regarding the latest Fraud Alert Visa & MasterCard Scam.  Please read this important information.
“Just a heads up for  everyone regarding the latest in Visa  fraud.  Royal Bank received this  communication about the newest scam.  This  is happening in the Midwest right now and moving  this way.

This one is pretty slick since  they provide YOU with all the information,  except the one piece they want.. 

Note, the callers do not ask for your  card number; they already have it. 

This information is worth reading.  By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard  telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be  better prepared to protect yourself. One of our  employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA and called on Thursday from 'MasterCard'.. 

The scam works like this: 

Person calling says - 'This is  (name), and I'm calling from the Security and  Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is  12460, Your card has been flagged for an unusual  purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify This  would be on your VISA card which was issued by  (name of bank). Did you purchase an  Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a  marketing company based in Arizona ?' When you  say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we  will be issuing a credit to your account. This  is a company we have been watching and the  charges range from $297 to $497, just under the  $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards  Before your next statement, the credit will be  sent to (gives you your address), is that  correct?' You say 'yes'.

The caller  continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud  Investigation. If you have any questions, you  should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back  of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security.  You will need to refer to this Control Number.  The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do  you need me to read it again?'

Here's  the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works - The  caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in  possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn  your card over and look for some numbers'. There  are numbers; the first 4 are part of your card  number, the last 3 are the Security Numbers that  verify you are the possessor of the card. These  are the numbers you sometimes use to make  Internet purchases to prove you have the card.  The caller will ask you to read the last 3  numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3  numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just  needed to verify that the card has not been lost  or stolen, and that you still have your card Do  you have any other questions?'

After you  say no, the caller then thanks you and states,  'Don't hesitate to call back if you do', and  hangs up. You actually say very little, and they  never ask for or tell you the card number.. But  after we were called on Wednesday, we called  back. Within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are  we were glad we did! The REAL VISA Security  Department told us it was a scam and in the last  15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged  to our card. We made a real fraud report and  closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a  new number.. What the scammers want  is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the  card. Don't give it to them.  Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master  Card directly for verification of their  conversation..

The real VISA told  us that they will never ask for anything on the  card as they already know the information since  they issued the card! If you give the scammers  your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're  receiving a credit; however, by the time you get  your statement you'll see charges for purchases  you didn't make, and by then it's almost too  late and/or more difficult to actually file a  fraud report.

What makes this more  remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call  from a 'Jason Richardson of MasterCard' with a  word-for-word repeat of the VISA Scam. This time  I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a  police report, as instructed by VISA. The police  said they are taking several of these reports  daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we  know that this scam is happening. I dealt with a  similar situation this morning, with the caller  telling me that $3,097 had been charged to my  account for plane tickets to Spain , and so on  through the above routine...

It appears  that this Is a very active scam, and evidently  quite successful.

Pass this on to  all your family and  friends
Bev Stewart
Program Coordinator
Neighbourhood Block Watch
Phone:  250-995-7409
Victoria Police Department
850 Caledonia Ave
Victoria, BC  V8T 5J8

Saturday 24 March 2012

Abstract




'Two Candles' Abstract Painting by Gerhad Richter '02 recently sold for 14.3 million dollars! Wish I could sell for anywhere near that.


DIY Stretched Canvas --  Opus Arts

Watch our new video, featuring Colin Mitchell from our Opus Langley store, that shows you how to stretch your own canvas over stretcher bars. Pick up some tips and discover how simple it is to do it yourself.