Description

Facing your fears - scaling the walls that keep you from growing as an artist.

We all have a tendency to stick with what we are good at. This does help us to further develop our known skill sets but it also limits our ability to stretch and grow as artists. We will spend four 2 1/2 hour sessions tackling techniques and situations that hold many of us hostage and exploring the opportunities that our " mistakes" present. 

This class will be led by Lori Stetson.  Lori's artistic talents developed right alongside her furred and feathered obsession and for thirty years she painted animal portraits. Stepping outside of her comfort zone in 2002 she began producing works from her head and heart and exploring new mediums. Wire sculpting, oil painting and the study of trees and water are all current areas of interest.

Week 1  - Letting go of the detail bug.   Do we really need to faithfully include every little line and shadow ?   Which details are vital to the subject and how can others be just suggested or omitted completely without losing the subject's individuality?

Week 2 -  Leave  it be!   You create the painting and it's almost perfect.   Just smooth this line a bit - and maybe that side needs a little more color - and lets blend this a bit more - and then you stand back and realize that you have completely lost everything that was good about this piece.    Learning to use a pallet knife is a great way to break away from not only overworking a painting but also builds some resistance to the detail bug.

Week 3 -  Sometimes size really does matter.   Using the pallet knife we're going BIG and will also experiment with using both hands to paint.

Week 4 -  Mistakes aren't always mistakes.   Plan and begin a painting using the techniques that we have learned but be open to changes that occur as you work on it.   Trust your instincts and don't let your brain lock you into ignoring a new direction that may be evolving as you proceed. 

supplies needed:

•                   basic acrylic paint set - medium quality
•                   brush set and  medium width pallet knife
•                   2 canvas boards ( not stretched canvas ) at least 9 x 12
•                   1 stretched canvas 16 x 20