Celebrate Your Impressionistic Voice with New Tools

Impressionism provides a platform for stretching the boundaries of realism. In this workshop, I will focus on color while introducing some new tools for painting Impressionistic images.

While some may go more representational and others more abstract, the basic tenet of impressionism relies on broken color and a heightened sensitivity to color. I am known to rely on the palette knife to help generate highly colored images, but your tools will be of your choosing, be it palette knives, brushes, wedges, or spatchers. My goal is to help you cultivate your skills and use of color as you explore and enhance your personal visual voice (the unique way in which you interpret and reflect what you see in creating your image).

Day 1: After a brief introduction to composition and a variety of forms of representation, we will spend the morning exploring color mixing to better understand color relationships. This will include an explanation of and focus on how to elevate your use of warm and cool colors through pre-mixing specific colors. This knowledge will help you broaden your color range and values, to draw focus where it is wanted in a painting. Such is imperative in making quality paintings. We will then use these colors to create a few different small studies from still life.

The afternoon will begin with a super brief demonstration showing how I develop an image, making use of some of what was learned in the morning session. I will also be introducing the various tools, their pros and cons, and how I use them in creating an impressionistic painting as I discuss issues related to perception. How people see impacts what it is they see in your painting. It also relates to perspective and the use of spatial relationships and composition in your work.

Then off to work you go. It will be up to you as to which tools you use as you proceed to paint your complete still life. This will help you move towards impressionism while providing me with a better understanding of your personal approach and voice, and how to better help you build upon your natural gifts as you move forward.

Day 2 will begin with a quick demonstration of my approach while further delving into issues related to color. If desired by any or all attendees (and weather permitting) I will give a short plein air (outdoor) demonstration illustrating my approach to painting impressionistic paintings outside and the decisions that go into image making when you have the expansive outdoors to contend with along with the changing light which occurs as the sun shifts.

I will introduce glazing (in acrylics) and scumbling, as well as a short tutorial on perspective for those interested. It will be a day enhancing the use of broken colors and clean, beautiful colors in the pursuit of impressionistic paintings using your painting tools of choice.

Subject matter for your paintings will be of personal choice on days 2, 3, and 4, be it painting outside on site or in the studio from still life, landscape photos, or paintings from art history. For some, it may begin with finishing up their still life from day 1.

On day 3, I will provide a brief intro to the figure and how to block in figures in a painting for those interested in including figures in their work. I will also provide a quick tutorial on the structure of the face for those interested. Also, for those interested, I will give a tutorial on issues related to perspective.

On days 3 and 4, we will focus on completing quality paintings using the tools and knowledge gained from days 1 and 2. Once again, the subject matter is up to you. There are plein air options located right on the studio site.

Day 4 is the last day of instruction, and its goal is to broaden your range of colors, use of broken color, and various optional techniques in creating vibrant impressionistic paintings. It takes a lot of time and focus to execute quality paintings, and that is what we are after.

Just a note: I am totally open to spending evening time or so-called ‘off-hours’ time working with people. We can further explore portraiture, perspective, and any other issues or directions that individuals would like to pursue.