San Antonio College Library

This proram documents the ways in which artists and influencers create new methods and inspire new generations to envision the possibilities of craft. Visionaries include weaver and textile artist Kay Sekimachi.

This program explores the diverse craft heritage, traditions, influences and innovations in the Golden State. Artists include Pomo basketweaver Corine Pearce, textile artist Deborah Cross, and silversmith Randy Stromsoe.

Karen paints a variety of popular garden subjects at different times of the year: the landscaped gardens at Blenheim Palace, an herbaceous border full of color and shapes, a formal garden with a beautiful lily pond, flowers in pots on the garden steps and finishes with an autumnal bonfire. Skies, water, trees, shrubs, pots, stonework and flowers are all demonstrated with her familiar flair for instruction.

Filmed in mid Wales, David suggests how to put a sense of mood into our paintings. He shows us how to search out the optimum viewpoint whilst sketching, finding a wide variety of subjects: a wonderful old Welsh farm, sheep at a feeder, a bridge, a bubbling stream, a study of a tree and even a street scene. He then selects the sketch of the bridge from which to paint a finished watercolor in his studio.

Mary only ever paints in her studio in London, where she produces paintings from her numerous sketchbooks and from many objects she has collected. Here we see her sketching in her garden by the Thames, completing two paintings in gouache and working in oils. We also see her producing one of her delightful collages. This film is a fascinating look at a remarkable painter with an instantly recognizable personal style.

In this second in a trilogy of films, Tom paints in oils, producing wonderfully observed landscapes in a loose, impressionist manner. He takes his paints to the Somme Estuary in Northern France, where he explores a wealth of subject matter. These include weekend crowds promenading by a river, estuaries and beaches - even an old fashioned carrousel. Tom works quickly on the spot using a small oil pochade, returning to make bigger paintings of the subjects...

In this film, John takes us to Venice which for many years has been a source of inspiration for his painting. He chooses three contrasting subjects: a stunning pink palace seen across the Grand Canal, a quiet canal and bridge, and a view of the colorful stalls by the fish market. The film finishes with a studio painting of gondolas in the basin behind St Mark's Square, taken from sketches.

James always carries a sketchbook in his pocket and has amassed a wonderful collection of sketches over the years. Working in his studio, James shows us how to paint watercolor landscapes from them. He selects views of the Lake District and the Windrush River and gives detailed instruction on how to paint the main elements of a landscape: skies, clouds, mountains, trees, buildings, water and reflections.

In this film Peter "Pete the Street" Brown takes his oils to southern France. He is happiest painting en plein air, whatever the weather and in Arles he finds plenty of sunshine and some great subjects. In the narrow streets and squares surrounding the Arles amphitheatre, Pete captures the hustle and bustle of street life whilst seizing the stunning light when it is at its best

Ron's painting locations range from the Windrush valley in the Cotswolds to the Severn Estuary and Gloucester docks, interspersed with studio demonstrations. His painting style is fast, direct and exciting and the film covers every aspect of watercolor, opening our eyes to a new way of looking at the landscape.