My online classes at The Winslow Art Center ended this week so I’m feeling that summer holiday anticipation that I always got when I was a student, and, later, when I actually taught school.
The weeks ahead will be filled with painting, gardening, sunshine, and no schedule. And yet, for the first time, I’ll miss school😳
My online workshop participants have really been inspiring. Whether it was a floral, series, portrait, or figurative class, I’ve found the level of work that people produced to be high, and meaningful. They’ve really thrown themselves into the homework assignments and participated during the weekly zoom lessons.
Most importantly, the painters had courage. They took risks and willingly dove out beyond their comfort zones, trusting that something interesting would come of that vulnerable approach. They made paintings that felt new to my eyes and that’s really saying something because I’ve looked at A LOT of art.
Below are the steps for my final demo in The Painted History workshop. We explored colour thumbnails that simplified our photos to their most basic shapes. It was a way to reimagine the photo reference rather than simply reproducing it in paint.
Next, those thumbnails were turned back into the actual objects in the photos. In this case, a group of kids from an faded photo in one of my albums. I encouraged the workshoppers to avoid naming the things that they were painting (arms, legs, etc) and, instead, to think only of the shapes, their value, and colour. When we don’t label, we see and paint very differently - more abstractly.
The next teaching I’ll be doing is in person in Italy this September (which is thrilling for me!) but I’ll get right back to my online workshops after my return with great pleasure.
I’ll let you know about upcoming workshops via this blog, but you can also add your name to my waitlist at The Winslow Art Center and you’ll be contacted first when I post a new workshop.
Happy painting!
Final online demo of the season
Ingrid, you are a master teacher! At least for me. I think art can never stand on talent and/or feelings alone. One has to have a philosophy of life and knowledge to be able to delve deep into what is it we want to bring to the world. While I do not possess the talent I would have wanted to have, I try compensate with all the other stuff. You assist me in bridging that gap. It is a highly frustrating process for me but, in a more peculiar way, it is also very rewarding. a Big Humongous Thanks
Ingrid, we have all been blessed with the opportunity to study with you. Thanks for your clarity, great lesson plans, commitment, creativity, humor, and tenacity. I am looking forward to more workshops after your break! Had thought I was going with you to Italy, but am having hip surgery instead.....I know which I'd rather do, but, oh well! Have a fabulous trip and see you "on the other side"..... Barbara