Workshop Time Yet Again

Well, hello all.  Here it is May 20 and I haven't posted since April.  It's been pretty busy with a lot of work at the office (can't WAIT till we retire).  We will celebrate 40 years in business this September.  I can't believe that as the years seem to have flown by.  It's been fun, a headache, and an experience for sure.  I wouldn't trade any part of our life being self-employed for all the tea in China!  

The past week I've been at yet another workshop in Arkansas.  This was billed as a portrait workshop but started off as still life.  Linda and I were a bit confused but I think he just needed to see what he had to work with as far as students.  I usually go into these workshops very antsy and unsure of what I can do.  I can't seem to get started and end up frustrated by the end, but this time, WOW!  I don't know if he was just blowing smoke, but by the end of the first day of drawing and painting these globes and drapes, I felt like the golden child.  He was constantly taking my effort to the front of the room or telling the other students to come look at what I had done.  He seemed very impressed by my drawing capabilities.

 

At one point I put a stroke as he was standing behind me and he scared me to death as he said "FANTASTIC", then quickly grabbed the painting again to show the class my "perfect" stroke.  He said my drawing was STELLAR and that at the end should be framed!  Wow, usually the workshop stuff ends up painted over and in essence trash.  

I won't deny that by the end of the day I had a big head.  It felt really good.

Day 2 and we finally were on to actual people but quickly realized the portrait workshop was a figure workshop.  I was okay with that but I know Linda really wanted the portrait side, to learn how he gets the beautiful skin tones in his portraits, as I did too.  But, I got some practice I needed in figures. 

So Rebecca was first up.  I HATED that damn hat but it is what it is and again he kept coming around and praising my drawing.  Usually I'm not open to criticism and my responses send the instructor on to other people but I decided, with a lot of encouragement from Linda, to be different in this workshop.  I even let him put strokes on the canvas, which I DON'T like.  But, he really put very few and again my drawing was trotted out to the front of the class for praise.  It was getting a bit embarrassing, but exciting.

I HATE THAT HAT!

Day 3 and sweet Nick came to sit for us.  I loved his hair but we were yet again painting red or a shade of red.  Reds are hard to get because if you touch white it can turn pink so quickly.  

The praise was again dolled out and I was beginning to think people may hate me but it really helped me feel as "I can do it!"  He really liked how I did the pants on Nick. 

This is where I really NEEDED the portrait side of the class for skin colors and facial features.  He said my colors were fine but boy did I struggle getting them.  

Day 4 and Rebecca was back and so was the damn red tones.  She was a beast modeling for us.  She sat and sat and sat.

The drawing was a bit tougher but he liked it. 

Finally, paint, and I ended up really liking this painting and where it was going.  Of all the days this is probably my favorite.   

I don't know if I will keep any of these paintings or just paint over them but it was a great exercise and I can't wait to do a real painting of someone I know.  I feel that my drawing skills are really stepping up and that gives me a boost of confidence.  

Hopefully I won't be away so long but seems that life is just so busy lately I don't have a second to share here.  My blogaversery, 13 years is quickly approaching in June.  Can't believe I've been sharing here for that long.  So onward to the day.  Have a great day and stay safe in Tornado Alley as the weather is a beast today.

Week Wrap Up

Here I am again, yet a week later.  Life has been busy, busy, busy...

Between work, painting, high school reunion stuff, Daddy stuff, work, work, work...It's been hard to slow down to enjoy some beauty.  Easter cactus starting blooming and the funny thing is the first bloom was RED, then these white ones.  It has never done that. 

Then leaving workout on Monday while the sun was barely rising I saw the flowerbed and just had to snap a photo.  Just beautiful...maybe a painting...

Now for a bit of nostalgia.  The Hubby, or maybe Bri found this photo in a pile.  Wow oh wow, look at those YOUNG people.  Hard to believe, and SKINNY!  Those were the days.

I was back from LA for a week then it was travel time again to Rogers, Arkansas for a workshop with the fantastic Lori Putnum.  What a generous, gracious and genuine artist and person.  Some workshops can be a bit of a let down and you don't learn a thing but this one was awesome.  I am also a better student which helps.  I don't get so frustrated and put up a block anymore.  I struggle with letting my guard down to let the teaching come into my brain.  Learned a lot this week and I am pooped, a good pooped!

Plus we got to meet so many wonderful artist and made new friends across the United States. 

She taught us to use only four colors, ultramarine blue, titanium white, napthol red and cadmium yellow light.  Amazing the colors were able to make and use.

THIS little lovely now resides in my home!  I love it when I get to buy art from "FAMOUS" artists.   

Then it was our turn to create.  

I'm very please with my painting but will tweek it a bit in the studio. 

The last day was self portraits.  Woo boy.  No really it's fun and every artist needs to be challenged to do it.   

I struggle with get colors right in portraits.  Actually, this one got scraped off but I will try it again.

I have to because next month Linda and I travel yet again to Rogers for another workshop with PORTRAIT artist, Tim Tyler.  We hear he is awesome as an instructor.  Can't wait.

Art Workshop

Yes I have been at yet another art workshop and it was SOOOOoooo well worth my time and effort.  We (my art buddies) and I, had the opportunity to attend a Daniel Keys workshop and I LOVE his work, so it was, YES!  He is young, so very young and talented.  I'm on a mission in my lifetime to own one of his paintings and a Jeffrey T Larson (I have 3 of his prints).  

We drove to Oklahoma City, six of us in three cars.  Three cars to accommodate all of our painting supplies and a little bit of clothing!  When he sat down at the easel I was a bit star-struck as he is big, really BIG in the art world and I was about to learn from him.  

He begins his demo...  

Each of the four mornings we sat and watched as he created.  It is an amazing time to see art appear on his canvas. 

From 9:30 to 12:30 we watched in awe and knew we would be up next to try and be as creative as he was. 

Stunning, absolutely stunning, and it would be up for sale, if your name was drawn out of the cup to purchase.  I wanted SOooooo bad but alas my name was not drawn. 

Our turn...

It is a little scary to know that as you apply paint, he is watching, others are watching, the pressure is truly on. 

My attempt at our set up.  

I was paired with a lady from OKC, Peggy, a sweet older lady.  We drew numbers from a cup to find our station in the room and most shared a set up.  Peggy set this still life up.  I was not fond of the purple corn husk.   I struggled a bit and he actually asked me if I have done the "color charts" which I replied, "YES!" I was a tad offended because color I can do and know.  RATS!

Day 2 and 3 was pumpkins and dry corn.  It's one of his favorites to paint. 

The lessons begin again. 

Amazing how he can make that stuff appear.  

Our turn.  This time I got to set up the still life and see the purple husk, I used it.  He loved the set up and what I created pleased me.  

I think I warmed it up a bit from what was there. 

Two days spent on this one and I'm not through, according to Daniel.  He wants me to do some more with the table which I hope to do today.  I hope I don't mess it up.

We were exhausted as creating is mentally exhausting.  The first night the six of us went to Macaroni Grill for a bit of bubbly (for me) and food then it was to bed to be fresh and ready.  The second evening was a treat at one of the ladies lovely homes that was filled to bursting with art from all kinds of people, including Daniel.  There was almost too much but she was very proud of everything and her house was beautiful.  The third evening four of our group found a wonderful authentic Chinese restaurant that we came back to the following night.  That last night we were so tired but we had wonderful food, lots of laughs with friends and the best time.  These four ladies (including me) are heading on a Mediterranean cruise next year, with hubbies in tow to take photographs to paint!

Finally, day four came and it was roses on the easel.  I paint flowers but not quite like his and I was wanting to learn.  Roses are probably the hardest flower to paint.  He makes it look easy, NOT!

Wow, wow, wow and we had to try THAT!

Our turn... 

Man, I struggled and struggled and in fact wiped it off a couple of times.  It was frustrating but I think I finally got it but of course he found the flaws but I like it! 

Day four, Friday afternoon 4:30 and we were packing up to head home to Tulsa in the pouring rain.  I guess we could have stayed but I knew the rain was about to end.  Not to worry too much about hydroplaning as we were at a standstill for half of the trip home from construction and a jack-knifed semi.  Nearly 3 hours later and we pulled up.  I was starved and tired and I had paint brain.  In fact most of my dreams for several nights are of painting and mixing paint.  It's over and I want to continue.  We were lucky enough to get him to commit to come to Tulsa in June and my friend Linda has already filled his class, and I AM ONE OF THEM, so I will get to continue to learn. 

Workshop Time

The past three days I have attended a fabulous workshop hosted by Rachel Wimpey from Willowbrush Studio and Gallery.  It was the first where she brought in an artist and I must say it was a 10!  She got Charles Ewing to come and spend time with us.  Wow what a fabulous guy and instructor.  He charges usually $300 a day and I think that is all we paid for 3 days.  It was well worth the money.  

It was magic watching him create using a totally new medium, india ink.  I am not going to go out and buy the stuff as I'm happy with what I do but it was awesome to watch. 

The next day we watched him paint this mountain guy with oils.  Charles had all kinds of photos we could paint from, photos he took.  My he has met some very interesting people over the years.  This guy was a true mountain man from Colorado. 

I almost always choose to paint from my photos or my girls.  

This photo is of my oldest when she was in college.  I've always found it beautiful and wanted to paint but not sure if I could.  

Well, there you go...I did it!

The final day, yesterday we had a live model.  One of the ladies that we paint with a lot was terrified.  We tried to tell her to do it more often, that the nerves would pass and it would be come easier.  She finally gave up.  I have a lot more to do on her but I love what I have done so far.  

This will be the last workshop for a bit as I recuperative from surgery.  My scheduled date is May 5.  I'm told that it is hard and recovery will definitely be about 6-8 weeks.  I certainly hope not.  I do not have time for down time.  I need to paint, work and watch snickle-fritz.