HOMEWORK
(minimum 8 weeks prior)
1. Please send at least 2 fully digital painted, high resolution files for me to print sized to AT LEAST 8x10 at 300 dpi in either sRGB or Adobe RGB as Jpg format. I will send you a private Sharefile or Dropbox upload folder once we find dates for your workshop. I will need ample time to send these out to print, and varnish, pre-gel, and prepare before your arrival in multiple stages so we can optimize your time here.
It's best to send images that ideally target your optimal market. IE: if you are hoping to appeal to a high end children's market, send a child's portrait in studio. Really think about who your target market is with these paintings. Outdoor versus Indoor. Studio setup versus environtment, etc.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE DIGITAL PAINTINGS, let me know! I can provide files. You will not receive final pieces to work on during the workshop. The goal is to get you comfortable with the tools, and process of water soluble oils. Lifting the pressure of "getting it right" on the final piece has been found to actually hinder people from learning, so we will be tackling a more abstract approach. It's been extremely successful! I've had people study with me who have NEVER painted before in their lives leave with absolutely brilliant breakthroughs, and continue on to offer oils in their studios successfully.
2. Pinterest board. Please set up a pinterest board of paintings that you love. It helps me to look at brushwork that resonate with you. Please name the board with YOUR NAME ON IT as I get a bunch of these with all of the same name "Painter inspirations" and invite me (it helps when it's a "private" board) at https://www.pinterest.com/painterheather/.
If you're looking for names to get you started look up modern masters such as Pino Daeni, Richard Schmidt, Scott Burdick, Stanka Kordick, Jeremy Lipking, Tim Rees, Vidan, Romero Rodondo, John Singer Sargent, Richard Johnson, PortraitArtist.com, Robert Papp, Jeremy Mann, Garmash, and Brian Neher. The list goes on... Help me see what inspires you. If you have no idea, start looking now! Do you like smooth? Do you like chunky? Hard edges? Soft edges? Contrast? Etc.
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What You Can Expect
Your brain will probably hurt, if not just about explode. I teach very differently than most, the more feedback has been coming in. You'll find my background and influence in lean efficiencey and obsessive research has culminated into a different approach on education than other painter educators in the photography arena. It's methodical, scientific based, and my method of color matching "makes sense." I don't believe in using cheap tools, or using paint for the sake of using paint. If it doesn't work with your canvas, it needs to be dumped. We'll work on abstract worksheets, and color charts. You will probably not work on a "final" piece during your workshop.
WMO training (water soluble oils 2 days)
Day 1 - Hands on Golden gels, and talking about water based "varnishing" and canvas prep. Hands on color mixing for precision. Hands on brush selection and making marks. How to match your color to your canvas. How to correct mistakes. How to approach the canvas (with kind words and chocolates, of course!). How to layer correctly for proper adhesion and longevity.
Day 1 is really about mixing colors. I promise this will make sense the way I teach it! You're going to learn how to mix and match color for anything a canvas throws at you.
Day 2 - Hands on color matching, and layering continues. Discussion on final varnishing. Washing brushes, and cleaning up palette. Tools.
Bring a notebook. Bring a DSLR. There will be plenty of water and coffee on site!
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SKIN
Please note that unless you've had ample experience painting before, we will not be painting skin. Skin is advance painting. I'll show you how to embellish, and paint lips, eyes, hair, and everything else, but actual skin. In the final product, skin will have ample texture, so the final, varnished piece will appear fully painted.
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Solvents
We will not be using solvents. I work with water soluble oils, and Golden acrylic gels. The only solvents technically used, but we don't touch (we only really talk about) are the final varnish and varnish brush cleaner. Gels can be a bit noxious, but I can provide a face bask if needed. You will receive my full lecture in PDF format during the workshop.
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Bring your DSLR
While lengthy video, and audio recordings are not allowed (except for quick phone clips), you are more than welcome (and encouraged) to bring your DSLR to photograph "stock" and "behind the scenes" images of palettes, brushes, and you actually painting. I'm happy to photograph you while you paint. All of my students have used these in their marketing announcements, and social media.
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Equipment
I will provide everything from extra lighting to brushes to canvases. Just bring comfortable shoes, and clothing you don't mind getting paint on. We will be using real pigment. I have extra smocks. It gets warm in the summer months, so bring comfortable shirts, and layers as we'll have an extra air conditioning unit. Depending on your food preference, we can get "dressed up" and go out to various levels of foodie experiences in the evening. It's ideal to bring an extra notebook, and a DSLR for note taking. You will receive my detailed lecture on this process that should help fill in the more scientific gaps. After the workshop, you'll be added to my private Facebook group for embellishment students.