Is Attending an Art Workshop like Riding A Rollercoaster? - Painting & Drawing Tips

This past week I was SUPER excited.  I was going to an Art Workshop.  You may think this a strange comment as I often go to workshops. But as a Teacher.  

This time I was a student!

Our Class Throwdown - Can you pick out Mine??

I am the program organizer for our art group and I arrange a special 2-day workshop each year. I don't usually go to the workshops but this year's instructor really caught my eye.  

Linda Bell, SFCA and her topic: Playing with Abstraction.  

You're surprised, I am sure.  Me, a realist, wildlife artist that loves to paint nature and all its elements.  What am I doing 'playing with abstraction' with dishes, and tables and vases. 

I found I really liked her work and I loved what she did with her colours, patterns and shapes.  She really grabbed the eye with her pieces and kept it in the frame.  I thought that there were things there I could learn.  And I felt with completely different subject material I would not be distracted by my usual detail. I felt I was ready for the challenge. 

Linda and some of her work in the background

When our supply list and handouts came, I could hardly wait to open the email. OMG!!! There was so much STUFF.  I didn't understand half of it: Mediums, Glazing Liquids, Open and Fluid Acrylics.  I deal in watercolour, pens and pencils.  This was way over my head!  

I felt like that Roller Coast had taken off without me firmly planted in my seat.  . . .  What have I done!!

Abstraction with collaging needs Lots of Stuff

Fortunately a friend talked me off the edge and I got over the first bump.  Although the Art Store, certainly benefited.  

First Day started. . .

Got set up, scribbled like mad while she explain how abstraction principles worked and then FROZE!!  

It seemed easy as she used words like: simplify, distort, flatten, fracture, exaggerate.  But now take a bird, a vase and a wine glass and draw 6 different ways of applying abstraction to them.  

Try it! . . .

It's hard if that is not your way of thinking.  One or two ways come to mind but 6.  This was a BIG BUMP on that rollercoaster.  My confidence was shaken.  Maybe this isn't fun.  Maybe this is not for me.  (Should I mention here that I have a problem with heights and riding any rollercoaster is scary) 

I am feeling like I have a Plan

We pressed on.  We sketched a few things.  We studied examples.  I felt better.  I began to see a way.  I had a plan.  I was good to go.  Definitely starting to enjoy the ride.  

I started painting.  

This was a bit of bumpy patch on that roller coaster ride.  I haven't much experience with acrylics and they didn't always want to do what my watercolours did.  I asked questions and moved along.  I expected trouble in this area.  I wasn't totally confident but I moved on.  

At first we started small and slow

Day 2, Thank heavens there is a DAY 2. . . .

When I got home after the first day I felt overwhelmed.  I could think of 100 better things I could have done with my painting.  I couldn't remember half of what she had told us.  I was tired.  

As I entered the classroom I could feel the surge of power in the room.  New energy.  New resolve.  Lots of Questions. The need to attack the problems was intense. 

Head down and focused - We were on the winning path

We all painted on.  Some new and some over the old.  We all seemed empowered.  Linda demoed a few more examples and ideas and we toiled on.  

By noon, I knew the Ride was nearly over.  

I felt confidence creeping in to my every stroke.  I knew I was ready for the BIGGEST Bumps at the end of ride.  Life was good again. 

My Flower Pot - Did you find mine in the Throwdown? 

Takeaways:

1. I don't know a thing about colour!!  When you paint from your imagination, there are no colours there.  I normally paint from life, so colours are suggested.  I can push and pull them but there is at lease a starting point. 

2. I can understand more how pattern, value and shape controls the movement. Even as you work with flat shapes, your mind tells you when more is needed and where.    

3.  I certainly understand more how My students feel, as they start new things in their art.  I need to be more conscience of not overwhelming, what is straight forward to me is not always to others.  

4. 2 Day workshops are Great.  Having that second day to go back and pull things together made a big difference to me and from my observations, to others as well.  Several years ago, I switched to 3 class packs for my lessons.  As the teacher, I found it more rewarding to teach something and then have time to practice and review with my students. 

5. It was like a holiday, spending a few days focused only on my art. Everything else slipped by the wayside.  Despite the challenges, when I was finished I was tired but somehow refreshed. 

My next Rollercoaster ride will be in April. I am off to Italy to study with Karen Stamper for a week.  We will be doing Urban Sketching but in an Abstracted Way.  Another big Challenge, I expect there will be a few big bumps on this ride as well.  

Coming Up:
Online Drawing Classes -  February 15, 22 & 29, 2024
All inclusive 4 Day Art Retreat,  June 21-24, 2024
Outdoor Sketching Classes this summer 2024

Enhance Your Drawing Skills

Come Draw with Me 

“I attended an online drawing class from Wendy. I loved it and learned so much. She is very thorough and provides terrific feedback on your works of art. I highly recommend it.” Debbie

Ready to Enhance your Drawing Skills and Explore new Mark-making Techniques in a relaxed, fun setting? 

During your Lessons You will:

- Learn when it’s best to erase and when to wait

- Dive into the little Secrets that make drawing a success

- See how light can transform your subjects

- Make friends with your inner critic and make it work for you

- Nail down that perfect perspective and proportion

- Use lines, shapes, and shadows to guide your viewer’s eyes and keep them engaged in your work

Online Drawing Classes

Feb 15, 22, & 29, 2024, 5:30-7:30pm (PT)

Early Bird $75 Before Feb 12, $90 after

Contact Wendy toRegister 
Gift Certificates Available 

Always  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Private Drawing Lessons, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

  

Wendy

How to Make your Art Retreat a Super Experience? - Painting & Drawing Tips

Whippee!!! I am off to not One but Two Art Retreats this summer!!
Not only will it be fun to hang out and work with fellow Artists, but I will be the Instructor.  You probably already guessed what the topic will be, that's right.  Outdoor Sketching.  

Getting OUT THERE is half the FUN!!

 The Adventuras Retreat will be in Shuswap, BC, June 23-26 & September 15-18, 2023. It's a worry free event: Transportation (from the Lower Mainland), food, accommodation  and instruction are all included.  $450 Single Room $300 Shared Room.  More info at the bottom of this Post. 

 

This will be our Cabin on the Lake

An Art Retreat is a chance to get Out and Just Do It.  Can you imagine, no cooking, no planning, no mucking about.  A chance to be pampered and relax.  Of course for me that means settling down somewhere and sketching, reading or following a trail to see where it goes.  

But to really enjoy yourself there is PREP than needs to be done . . .

Albas Falls Trail,  not far from the cabin

Being prepared before heading out on a Retreats, really can add to the experience.  (Ok, I will admit it.   I was a Girl Guide when I was young.  "Be Prepared" is kind of my middle name.)  But when travelling away from your home base things go better with a few extra preparations. 

When packing remember the KISS theory- Keep It Simple

Ways to Make your Art Retreat a Super Success

1. Keep all your Organization Material Together: When you Register for an Art Retreat it is usually well in advance.  A year ahead is not uncommon for a long 10-14 Day Retreat.  And certainly 3-5 months is pretty common for shorter ones.  That means that lots of information is passed out at the beginning and you don't really look at it again until a few weeks out from the event.  

Set up a folder (ie. Art Retreat 2023)  in you email Inbox to store all the emails pertaining to the event. (Google can help you figure out how to do this)  Try and use the same email thread for all the correspondence so you have all the information in one spot.  

Heading out for walk and stopping to sketch is the Icing on the Cake. 

2.  Organize your Art Supplies:  You will get a supply list from the Instructor with both suggested and optional items.  Keep it Simple.  Less is Better.  It is no fun hauling a heavy container of 'art stuff' around.  Don't forget you also need things like water, snacks and weather gear.  

My Kit (4.5 x 7.5) & My Sketchbook

For my Outdoor Sketching Retreat let me show you what that looks like.  Supplies: sketchbook, 

2B Graphite Pencil, eraser – white vinyl & kneaded eraser, .03 & .05 Mircron Pigma Permeant Ink Pen,
pack of watercolours, water container, watercolour brushes – 10 & 6 round, paper towel, Container to hold everything.  

For more information see my Post: My Really SMALLmendous Art Kit   My art kit doesn't vary but the size of the sketchbook may get a bit bigger depending on where I am going. 

The beauty of Outdoor Sketching is you can do it Anywhere.    

3.  Give Your Art Kit a Test Run:  This is CRICIAL! Imagine Hiking up to Machu Picchu, Peru stopping to sketch the moment and your brand new pens are dry.  (Actually I always take extra pens as I find sometimes the air pressure when flying can upset them) 

Making a Title Page for your Book is a good way to give Materials a Test Run (of Course you need a gondola picture when going to Italy) 

Use your kit in the studio and take it out on a few local trips.  See how everything will work for you.  You might find a bigger/smaller water container is needed, a larger/smaller brush would be nice or the sketchbook isn't really working.  Certainly understanding how your paints work with your sketchbook is important.  I find books and paper all have their own quirks, sum papers grabs the paint and it is hard to do a wash and others float the paint so much it is hard to get a good dark.  There is no right or wrong but playing with things ahead of time really helps.  

Many have found this helpful:

Blog post: 5 Tips to Get Ready for Outdoor Sketching

YouTube:  5 Tips to Get You Outdoor Sketching with Joyfulness

4.  Get to Know Something about Where you are Going:  Maybe this is the Girl Guide in me but I like to have an idea of what things are like at the new place.  Things like: Sight Seeing Points; Weather; Terrain; possible hiking spots; history about the area.  These are things that can add to the experience.  When going to a different country I also like to collect images of symbols and common sights of things to decorate my sketchbook. 

This Gyrfalcon became my cover picture for my trip to the Northwest Territories

Whether you join me on the Shuswap Retreat or head off somewhere else, I wish you a great trip.  The camaraderie of a group with a common interest is so inspiring.  You will have great memories to keep you creating on those cold, dark winter studio days.   

Awesome Opportunity - 2 Artist Retreats in the Shuswap

June 23-26 or September 15-18, 2023

Join me for 4 DAYS of Outdoor Sketching, nature walks, deck and beach time, creative conversations, gourmet meals and simply relaxing 

Your Hosts, Joanne Denis and Myself
Cost: $450 single room or $300 shared room
Art instruction, transportation (from Lower Mainland), meals and lodging included (Bring your own art supplies.  

Space is limited to 8-10 attendees, Register Early 

  Contact Wendy for More info

Always  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Private Drawing Lessons, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy