Summer 2015 : Workshop : Color for Painters: Traditions and Practice: Al Gury
This information-rich one-day workshop is for painters of all experience levels. The goals: better awareness of the history of color and color practices in art, improved color usage in personal artwork and use of color as an expression of personal style. The morning session will include lecture and demonstrations on the color practices and materials in western painting relative to figure, landscape, portraiture and abstraction. Instructor will demonstrate glazing and three basic color approaches: tonal color, Impressionist color and Modernist color. In the afternoon students will paint in the style, subject and color approach of their choice. The class will finish with a group critique. Bring materials for note-taking plus your usual painting supplies (oils, acrylic, watercolor, pastel welcome). A suggested materials list is available, with some materials available to borrow if needed. http://www.pafa.edu/faculty-members/al-gury
Summer 2015 : Workshop : Painting Animals with Confidence: Nancy Bass
Animals have been an inspiration for artists throughout history. This workshop will concentrate on how to bring animals to life with oil paints using color, light, and composition. We will be working with photographs, so bring several good photos of your animals or wildlife. During this intensive course, students will receive one-on-one instruction and insight into the techniques needed to master the art of the animal. Returning students will continue in advanced techniques of color and form in painting animals. www.nancybassartist.com
Summer 2015 : Workshop : Felting for Painters:
Painting with fibers has been going on for thousands of years. Students will learn international techniques for creating incredible works of art in wool and silk. Practically anything you can do with a brush, you can do with fibers. The flexibility of this medium is what makes it so enjoyable – and changing your mind is easier with wool than with paint. Color blending and wet and dry felting techniques will be used to turn your visual images into spectacular felted wall hangings. Instructor will provide an assortment of colors in wool and silk and pre-felt for canvas. Various grades of wool from many different breeds of sheep will allow participants to experience differing effects. Raw silk in various forms will be used to enhance and accent the designs. www.artfulgifts.biz
Summer 2015 : Workshop : Modernizing the Techniques of the Masters: Jan Olsson
Flemish Renaissance masters used quick drying egg tempera to make underpaintings for oils. This gray layer (“grisaille”) established shadows and highlights. Oil glazes were then applied over the tempera to establish local color. This workshop introduces modern updates to these methods. Working from photographs and using acrylic paints, students create a tonal underpainting of their subject. Subsequent layers of colored transparent glazes are applied, followed by opaque brush strokes to complete the painting. This process quickly renders volume and depth, while preserving the texture and personality of the underpainting’s original brushstrokes. www.janolssonart.com
Summer 2015 : Workshop : Connecting With Nature and the Landscape through Watercolor: Shay Herring Clanton
In this weekend workshop students will spend mornings learning basic watercolor techniques including color mixing, washes, brushwork skills and methods for sketching in watercolor. In the afternoons, we will move outside to paint from nature and the landscape. Focus will be on creating a series of small to medium size watercolor paintings that reflect your experience of the landscape. Students will learn to make spontaneous and energetic sketches – a way of working with watercolor that is wonderful for nature journals or travel journals. Other paintings will be inspired by carefully observed textures in nature, and some by the particular sense of light in the landscape. Bring a packed lunch from home, so that we can move directly from the studio to the plein air location. www.shayherringclanton.com
Summer 2015 : Workshop : : Kathleen Craig
Art historian Arthur Danto said the contemporary art world is “a field of possibilities in which nothing is necessary and nothing is obliged.” With no limits, where do you start? How do you assess your work? This workshop helps chart a path for students who are interested in moving toward abstract painting. Planned exercises will be centered on a large colorful and complex still life, which will be the jumping off point for a series of experimental paintings. The goal is to become comfortable with NOT knowing what a painting is “supposed” to look like, and enjoying the investigational process of abstract painting. Students may work in oil, acrylic, watercolor or pastel. www.facebook.com/Kathleencraigpainter
Summer 2015 : Workshop : Drawing with Bold Value and Extreme Texture: John A. Hancock
No more wimpy drawings! Using brushes, ink, paint, shoe polish, markers, and chalk on a variety of textured gray and brown surfaces, students will create energetic drawings with rich darks, solid mid-tones and brilliant lights. Starting with direct observation, we will learn simple techniques to get a bold range of values and texture, branching out to explore traditional and contemporary methods for playful and creative drawings that really “work.” Bring your sketchbook and maybe a few pencils and a paintbrush. All other drawing supplies will be supplied. www.JohnAHancock.com
Summer 2015 : Workshop : Jewelry Making and Metalsmithing Techniques: Sarah Lock
Instruction will focus on the concepts and skills required to design and work in metals. With four days to explore designs and techniques, students will be able to better master the skills to achieve their own designs. Techniques covered include hard soldering with a torch, simple chain making, metal forming, sawing, cutting, chasing, stamping, and finishing. With the instructor’s guidance, students will use jeweler’s saws, pliers, hammers, stakes, files, and polishing wheels, to create wearable sculpture (jewelry items), or small free-standing compositions. All tools and materials are provided, including brass and copper sheet wire. Silver and semi-precious stones will be available for purchase at cost. Students may bring their own stones or other materials to use in their designs. www.oasisfineartsandcrafts.org
Summer 2015 : Workshop : Drawing for Advanced Beginners:
Charcoal is certainly the most ancient of art media and remains one of the most versatile. Its adaptability in creating line and shading allows the artist unrivaled freedom of expression. Whether your preference is for quick sketches or polished renderings, charcoal does the job. This class is for those who have some background in drawing, but want to explore (or further explore) the potential of chalk and charcoal, while experiencing the pleasure of taking time to draw on a summer morning. We will tackle a different project in each class meeting: working indoors in the studio on still life and figure, and venturing forth for street scenes and vistas in the park. Throughout, we will review and reinforce sound technical practices and critical thinking.
Fall 2015 : Workshop : Essentials Workshop II: Demystifying Color: Ron Boehmer
Painters of all experience levels seeking a more confident and competent use of color will benefit from this intensive workshop focused on the perception of color. Instructor will address many common issues that even professional and advanced painters experience in their paintings – including insecurities about color and color mixing – especially with regard to plein air and landscape, figure painting and other forms of representational painting. Expect no formulas or recipes for “better” color which can hinder perception. Participants will paint from direct observation, engaging in a series of exercises covering various approaches to the interpretation of perceived color, constructing and developing a color theme and choosing an approach to painting. Instruction and information covered are appropriate for all modes of painting and imaging, including abstraction. For anyone with serious intent and at least a basic experience of painting from direct observation, working in oil, acrylic, watercolor or pastel. Students must contact Ron in advance of enrolling to discuss the class and obtain a personal supply list. Call 434-528-4795 or email boehmerart@yahoo.com. www.ronboehmer.com
Fall 2015 : Workshop : Finish the Unfinished!: Karen Rosasco
Resolving unfinished and “problem” artwork is the focus of this workshop for artists working in pastel, watercolor, acrylic or mixed media. Instructor will guide students toward solutions based on the elements of art: an interesting and creative use of composition, a command of the full range and linkage of values, and use of compatible color schemes. Bring in at least six to eight unfinished pieces and some blank canvas, paper or panels (depending on your preference) plus your usual supplies, and leave with completed work and knowledge that will help you finish pieces on your own in the future. Instructor will provide both individual and group instruction. www.karenrosasco.com
Fall 2015 : Workshop : Painting with Fire: Vitreous Enamel on Copper: Janly Jaggard
This weekend workshop will focus on the painterly aspects of working with colored vitreous enamel on copper panels. Students will develop drawings and designs on paper, then translate their designs to enamel. Work will be raku fired to develop a reduction lustre that is rich and vibrant. Instruction will focus on the aesthetics of developing images as well as “framing” and displaying the completed work. www.janlyjaggard.com
Fall 2015 : Workshop : The Language of Space: Frank Hobbs
As words are to the writer, so space is to the visual artist. From infancy, as we instinctively learned the sounds and meanings of our native language we also absorbed another language – the language of space. Every day, we all use this second language effortlessly and unconsciously to “read” our environment and to successfully navigate through the world. What distinguishes the artist, both in the literary and visual arts, is how he or she uses the language. In this workshop we will deconstruct the language of space and learn to play with new possibilities for creating stronger, more expressive compositions. Workshop exercises and discussions will investigate: the basic vocabulary of spatial signs (how visual sensation becomes meaning), the power of your viewpoint, the “dance” of volume and void, the fundamental “problem” of representational art and how to solve it, rhythm and interval, how each of the formal elements (line, shape, value, color, texture) impacts the expression of space, and more. All fine art media accepted. http://frank-hobbsart.com or https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankimbodenhobbs/albums
Fall 2015 : Workshop : Transitioning to Abstraction: Janly Jaggard
A weekend course for those who have experience with drawing and painting and feel ready to explore abstraction. Instructor will discuss and present various approaches as starting points for this challenging way of creating image, and will provide individual guidance as students experiment in class. Insights and ideas gained from Janly’s recent sabbatical study at the Norwich University of the Arts will be shared. Participants will be given guidance about source materials to bring to the workshop. Any drawing or painting medium or support may be used, including collage. www.janlyjaggard.com
Fall 2015 : Workshop : Colored Pencil Workshop:
Colored pencils provide artists with the ability to control brilliant color and blending effects, and are inexpensive, non-toxic and clean. Waxy and water soluble colored pencils will be featured on white and toned backgrounds. Instructor will give demonstrations and exercises to show how to mix color and use it to suggest three-dimensional form, share step-by-step techniques for rich blended color, and will show how to develop naturalistic compositions and abstract designs. Techniques include layering and burnishing to create bold effects or delicately nuanced transparencies. Participants can use their own subject matter drawn from still life and flowers or use photographic references as aids. Some drawing experience is helpful, but beginners are always welcome. www.janeskafte.com