Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Getting your money's worth from a workshop

Workshops are a great way to remove yourself from your day to day routine and really focus on your art for a while. No cooking, no mail, no interruptions – just you and your art and other people who love to paint.

Last week I attended a pastel painting figure workshop with Master Pastelist, Margaret Dyer. This wasn't my first class with Margaret, but it was the first one in six years.

When I attended her class in 2006, I was new to figurative work and Margaret gave me a great start. Her teaching method consists of a few simple steps which she outlines at the beginning, and you must trust that she knows what she is talking about to succeed!  Follow the steps and see what unfolds.

She is also a lot of fun, gives each student plenty of individual attention and is very straightforward, which I appreciate.

She works with three values and a limited number of pastel sticks, a method which allows you to create luminous pastels with beautiful contrast and clean color. You can also achieve wonderful color harmony and exciting colors built by layering the pastels when you limit your colors in this way.

I trusted her in 2006, followed the steps and was thrilled with the outcome. I trusted her in 2012, followed the steps and that, coupled with the experience I have gained since 2006, allowed me to reach a new level of understanding. I saw my work progress and improve each day of the four-day class.

My advice to anyone investing in any workshop is this:
  • Buy the best class you can afford – a cheap workshop may not be a bargain.
  • Choose your instructors carefully – find artists whose work you admire and can identify with. Don't just sign up because your friends are going.
  • Do what they say even if you're not sure you agree with it. Why pay for a class and ignore what is offered?
  • Remember that you are there to explore and learn. Break out of your comfort zone and don't be concerned with the quality of your work during the class. It probably will not be your best work, because you are trying new things and learning, which is what you paid for!
Day 1 - Lucky for me, I got the back view which always makes it easier!


Work from Day 1

Day 2 - We had a lovely young girl who was modeling for the first time, so I  decided not to post drawings of her in the nude.

Day 3 - I was pleased with this start, but I didn't feel like I really finished this one.


Work from Day 3

Day 4  - This final piece may need a little finishing work, but overall I was pleased and the model was so beautiful – who doesn't love a ballerina?

Work from Day 4

I feel that the workshop brought me back to the basics, which is something I need to do every so often to awaken a more precise understanding of what I am doing when I step up to the easelMargaret's workshop was worth every penny, and I had a great week with my artist friend, Kathy Phillips, and all the talented artists I met in the class!