Workshops
Paint Oglebay 2011, Sept. 30, 10 – 4
Register here: http://www.oionline.com/paint/artists.htm
I give a few workshops each year. The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts offers one just about every quarter. http://www.pittsburgharts.org/school_index.php
Next year I’ll be offering at least two new workshops. Since my studio space is going to be much larger soon I’ll be able to accommodate classes. This will be a huge benefit because a lot of my teaching materials are here. Work in progress will also be available to see. If you want to pre-register just email me and I’ll send you the info. Long weekends work best for most students. In addition I have started to give private instruction and critiques on a limited basis. If you would like to schedule something please let me know. Price is $80 an hour.
Learning to paint takes a long time. And I don’t think I can pass along everything I’ve learned in a short workshop. Usually if you learn one good thing it can be worth it. I teach basics the way I wish I had been taught. Breaking down the complex process into bite size pieces of information is the best approach. Everyone is at a different place in his or her journey. That’s OK. We all have to start somewhere. Don’t expect miracles. Be patient and persistent and your progress will follow.
Here is more advice. Find a painter whose work you admire and get to know them. Get to know what inspires them to produce constantly. It is good to find a mentor, and if they give workshops, take them. In fact, take workshops from lots of artists. You will learn something new each time. Don't copy their work. Find your own voice by looking deep inside yourself. Paint what you know and look at the world with a curious eye. Paint from life as often as possible. Judge your progress over time – every couple years. Be kind to yourself. Painting is a worthwhile activity and the time spent looking carefully at nature is time well spent, even if the painting is unsuccessful. I personally like to read artist biographies. They give valuable insight into methods and motivation. It helps to know other artists faced similar problems.
Remember, "Art is not what you see, but what you make others see."
– Edgar Degas, 1834 - 1917
The above image shows the painting, Ghosted Sign, in nine stages. It is difficult to stop painting to record the progress because you can lose your concentration. But I think it is useful to see this process. Notice that I worked on a toned canvas. The light values really become obvious. Also, the sky was painted in after the main masses were in place. I find it easier to mix and apply the sky color last. That way the edges can be treated in a thoughtful way. So much of a landscape painting happens where the masses meet. In other words, the top of a tree has soft edges as it reaches into the sky. By contrast, the top of a chimney has a more distinct edge. Look sometime for yourself.