Join me in the gorgeous East Tennessee Mountains of Gatlinburg, TN at The Arrowmont School of Art, where I will be teaching a week-long course in atmospheric painting in both oil and acrylic. In this workshop, students will lean to interpret the landscape through process of introspection, observation and application. By painting with acrylic and oil, you will create mood-driven art by layering, subtracting and adding molding pastes, gel mediums, cold wax medium and glazes. You will explore composition, structural elements of landscapes, color mixing, capturing light, principles of art and design along with a daily mixture of demonstrations, studio time and individual consultations. This is not a traditional plein-air cours, but you will paint out-of-doors, weather permitting, and in the studio. This course is open to all skill levels however an understanding of color theory and basic painting skills is helpful.
Author: Rachael McCampbell
Upcoming Women’s Retreat to Italy – June 8 – 15, 2019
I’m excited to announce that Artistic Adventures Abroad is offering a unique opportunity to attend a workshop in the beautiful Tuscan hillside town of Cortona, Italy. This retreat will be a week dedicated to creating art, journal writing, personal reflection and, of course, outstanding food and wine! By spending a full 7 nights in one city, you will get to know Cortona personally.
Cortona is where “Under the Tuscan Sun,” was set and where the author, Frances Mayes still lives. The author described it best when she said, “I think I went to Italy initially for the art, architecture, food and history, but I stayed there because of the people in Cortona.” It is a special place I discovered when I spent a summer there at a University Studies Abroad program and it’s brand new each time I go back. It’s a wonderful opportunity to stay there for a week and really get to know this very special village and its inhabitants.
We are staying at a beautiful property mere steps away from Cortona with breathtaking views of the Valdichiana valley below. This is a double occupancy trip for women only (each king bed can be made into two twins). Some of the bathrooms are ensuite, and others are shared. So think about who you would like to partner up with for this incredible experience and make plans to join us next June 8-15, 2019! There are only 10 spaces!
Before or after our week in Cortona, I recommend that you take the opportunity to travel in Tuscany as there are so many incredible villages and ancient towns nearby.
For $600 you can hold your spot for this amazing trip and experience. Please contact me directly. For more images of the property read on:
Continue reading Upcoming Women’s Retreat to Italy – June 8 – 15, 2019
Teaching at Plaza June 6 – 27, 2018 Nashville, TN
Atmospheric Landscape Painting: Have some fun this summer in Nashville and paint! Come join me for a four week course meeting Wednesday mornings at Plaza Art in downtown Nashville. We will explore landscapes in both acrylic and oil. Any level is welcome but some painting experience is preferred. Address: Plaza Art, 633 Middleton Street, Nashville, TN 37203. Cost is: $280
Instructor: Rachael McCampbell, GOLDEN certified Art Educator and a Gamblin Art Instructor.
Payment: Checks or cash only to McCampbell Art Studio LLC. Wednesdays, June 6 – 27, 9am-Noon
Upcoming Art Classes: April 2 – May 7, 2018
Come Join me for my upcoming Spring Series of Art Classes at Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary in Brentwood, TN. We meet on Monday mornings, 9 – noon, for six weeks. April 2 – May 7th. We will work on new painting techniques in both acrylic and oils.
We will focus on the landscape but you can paint other things as well. Cost: $325 per person. I hope to see you there!
Contact Owl’s Hill to register and pay.
Continue reading Upcoming Art Classes: April 2 – May 7, 2018
Group Show at the Pryor Art Gallery – Reception March 29, 2018
Join several middle Tennessee oil painters for the exhibit, “Oiled Fantastic,” who are showing work at the Pryor Art Gallery in Columbia, TN March 23 – April 22, 2018. The opening reception is March 29th, 5 – 8 pm. I hope to see you there!
Continue reading Group Show at the Pryor Art Gallery – Reception March 29, 2018
Painting Trip to the Cotswolds! Summer 2018!
This is an a magical trip to the gorgeous Cotswolds in England July 23 – August 3, 2018. I hope you can join us for 10 glorious nights in the Queen Anne Manor home not far from Chipping Campden. We will paint, draw, write, travel, dine, laugh and have a great time. We will tour gardens and learn about the Arts & Crafts movement which originated there in the Cotswolds. Landscape Architect, Curtis Stewart, will teach us about English Garden Design and Rachael McCampbell will talk on the Arts and Crafts Movement, taking the group to see examples of the work. We will do journal painting, see Highclere castle, many of the ancient Cotswolds villages, Blenheim Palace, Roman ruins, have high tea, dine in pubs, hike the English countryside and more. I hope you can join us!
THIS TRIP HAS SOLD OUT!
McCampbell Lectures at Cheekwood: How Garden and Fine Art Design Merge, March 1, 2018
I hope you can join me for an amazing day at The Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee for the Proven Winners Landscape Roadshow. This is a day of expert speakers in their field of landscape design and horticulture. I am speaking with my husband, Curtis Stewart, who is a renowned Landscape Architect, on the connection with Garden and Fine Art Design and how the two merge. We will also get our hands dirty and paint a small landscape to take home.
This will be full day from breakfast to lunch to cocktails. Come meet new friends, get inspired to plant in the spring and consider the “ART” of the garden you will create!
You can register through Proven Winners.
Welcome to Rachael McCampbell Art Studio
Welcome to McCampbell Art Studio! Rachael invites you to learn painting techniques and follow her on adventures in painting both in the USA and abroad. Join the fun and follow her artistic life by subscribing now.
Commissioned Paintings
by Rachael McCampbell
This article was published in the February 2018 issue of Nashville Arts Magazine
There are many things to consider when hiring an artist to paint your vision, but first and foremost, choose an artist because you like the way they paint. It’s probably not the best idea to hire an artist who paints classical portraits for an impressionistic landscape. Some artists can paint in many different styles, but as a general rule, I would advise working with an artist where you can see strong examples of their work and hire them for that.
To protect both the artist and the client, there needs to be a clear contract outlining the expectations on both sides regarding size, medium, substrate, subject matter, colors, and style along with price, date of completion, and who is responsible to frame, transport, and install the art. I always ask for half up front and half upon completion. Now you can get to the fun part of creating!
Installation for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Knoxville, TN
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (ETCH) in Knoxville, TN developed an amazing art program for children who stay in or visit the hospital. The original art lifts the spirits of the children, parents and staff who are there every day. I am blessed to say that I got to be one of those artists who help ease the worry and pain of those who pass through.
It began by answering a RFQ (Request For Qualifications) and applying with ETCH. I came up with about 3 ideas for them and they chose “Bunny World.” This idea inspired me because it tells a story. My concept is that I paint a “window” on the wall where the viewer looks out to the fields, that are clearly Knoxville (you can see the Sunsphere and the skyline), and watch the bunnies running about or resting. Some of them notice the bunny shaped cloud above which also reflects in the water below. Inside the hospital are 3-D bunnies who climb up stairs to view bunny world for themselves. Bunny painters are busy painting the wall next to them and one little girl bunny is hiding below it all reading a book called, “Bunny World.”
I painted the large painting in oil on wood panel whilst creating the sculptures out of wet clay. I then took those bunnies to a foundry where I had them cast in resin. I painted the resin and treated it in a way that it would be archival. I procurred (which wasn’t easy) a piece of canvas large enough to cover the 9′ x 12′ wall and painted the “Painter bunnies” and the little “Reader bunny” onsite. I was there a week painting and talking to the patients who came in and out of the waiting room. It was very rewarding to discuss art with them.
The layers of this installation are meant to give the children and parents something to discover and think about. Since I installed this in August of 2017, I have received lovely letters from people who have said they get so much from this piece each time they visit. That means the world to me!
I wrote about the process of creating this installation in Nashville Arts Magazine. Please check it out. This article with more photos is also on this site under “Published Writing.”
This installation was funded by Nina Bowling-Milner and Mike Milner of Knoxville. Thank you for your generous support! And thank you to Kim Wood and Carlton Long for all their encouragement and support throughout this process.
I am busy working on an outdoor piece for the same hospital. This will be a 3-D sculpture cast in bronze. Thank you again ETCH for giving me this opportunity to make a difference with my art.
Rachael McCampbell
All images and concepts are copyrighted © 2017
