Workshop Finishes

After returning from the Tom Christopher http://tomchristopherartist.com workshop, I have been busy trying out some of the techniques Tom presented to us.  I really enjoyed working large and have to figure out a way to accomplish more large paintings.

I did not work anymore on the snow painting.  It is from a photo by Tom and will keep it around here for inspiration.  I may get Gene to frame it an put it up in my studio.

Iowa Snow

Pastel on Wallis Sanded Paper

36 24 inches

I accomplished my goals from the workshop.  You can read about how I choose a workshop in Part I of my report.  http://goo.gl/z5tNgk     (I'm using the short URLs so they are easier to copy and use.  Hope you like the idea when the links get sooooo long.)

First the goal and the result:

• To learn new techniques - Tom uses a very light touch and builds up slowly, starting and developing the painting with value and then color.  I often put down my highlights early on and work with a heavy hand.
• To refresh your skills - We worked on some things I already do like do an under painting, do thumbnail sketches, stand to paint, step back often, show depth with cool colors and less detail in the distance and more.
• To travel - We enjoyed Eureka Springs, Arkansas, very much.  We had been nearby in Branson, Missouri, and Poteau, Oklahoma, but never Eureka Springs.  A beautiful area and the Eureka Springs School of the Arts  http://essa-art.org/  was a great location for the workshop.
• To meet and socialize with other artists with similar interests - I especially had fun with Lou.  We have been blogging buddies for several years and this was our first workshop together.  We have painted/sketched in Angel Fire and visited her and Toby in Oklahoma.  It is always good to meet and be around artists with similar interests.  As artists, we work alone much of the time.
• To be inspired - Tom Christopher is a great artist and inspiring to see him work and see how he handles his "business". The whole workshop experience is inspiring

The first painting I started there was from a photo I took in Montana when I went to the Wanda Mumm workshop in 2012.

 The watercolor under painting.

The finish at the workshop.

My finish here in my studio.  

Twighlight Pines

Pastel on Pastelbord, 16 x 20 inches

The second painting from the workshop is from a photo right around the corner here at home in the Loblolly pines.

This was at the workshop.  I wanted to change the palette a bit, so I brushed this off and washed the U-Art paper back to the watercolor under painting before I reworked it.

The watercolor underpainting.

The finish here in my studio.

Daybreak Pines

Pastel on U-Art Sanded Paper

12 x 18 inches

Sendero

Pastel on Pastelbord

11 x 14 inches

This painting from my studio the first part of this year, Sendero, is also near the same area as Daybreak Pines above.  The same but different, I always use more saturated color.  I think there is more distance in the new version and it feels less closed in.  What do you think?

I might be able to copy one of Tom's paintings (if I really tried) but  I was working toward learning and then incorporating some of the new ideas into my own skill folder.  Each artist has their own "handwriting" so to speak.  As a result, my paintings look like my paintings.  I'm starting to enjoy painting again!  Woo hoo!

Sometimes we like an artist and try too hard to change our "handwriting"  Enid Wood http://enidwood.com, friend and artist, sent me this advice, "Often, a painter that we emulate has a brain that works completely differently from ours. Then we beat ourselves up for not being them, when we could have been enjoying being ourselves all along."  Thanks, Enid, for your comments and inspiration.

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Art Link for the Day

A new museum in San Antonio for western American art is opening this weekend.  Looks wonderful:

The Briscoe Western Art Museum

http://www.briscoemuseum.org/

An additional art link for this post is a "new to me" artist that I have seen around the web someplace and may have seen his horse in Santa Fe.  In fact I'm pretty sure I did see it when Regina and I painted there this past summer.  His name is Mark Edward Adams  http://markedwardadams.com  His sculptures are amazing.  He also wrote a very nice blog post about  changing our persona as artists.

I think we should all start out by saying, "I'm an artist!" and go/grow from there.  I still make light of my artwork sometimes by saying I have fun with it or I just like doing it, etc.  I get better results when I say it is my job and how hard I work and how I invest in the best equipment, classes, etc., to improve so that you can enjoy my work, too!  Gene is great, he always introduces me as an artist.  Think about how you present yourself.  I don't think the old "starving unorganized artist" works anymore.  Artists that get ahead are organized, work regularly, and are professional.  Don't you agree?