Tuesday, October 7, 2008

DAY 2 OF WORKSHOP WITH 45 MINUTE DEMO!


The day flies by when I am teaching. It is so much fun to share with others and have them appreciate and be excited about the new ideas and techniques I have developed. We will be taking the rest of the week off, and pick back up on Monday. Everyone will have time to work over the next five days. I saw some excellent starts. I can't wait till Monday to see the results.

I did this demo on Tyvek in about 45 minutes from sketching it on with an Oiler Boiler from Cheap Joe's filled with diluted Thalo Blue to the final brush stroke. It needs some additional work but it is a good start. Those that recognize my husband's face will attest to the likeness. I think I need to shorten his beard...made the face a touch long...but there is an advantage to working with a familiar face!

It is energizing to work this fast and loose. I think it also gives permission to others to relax a little and just have at it. "It's only a piece of paper" is the mantra. I work fast and I often do a painting many times, therefore, I am not all stressed out about ruining it. Doing a painting again, rather than reworking something to death, keeps it fresher and more spontaneous. Which brings me to one of my favorite quotes to close out the evening: "When the horse dies, get off."

6 comments:

Nava said...

True - I can attest it does look like him. you can either shorten his beard or just ask him to not shave it until the end of the workshop. :-)

Very unique color scheme - the yellowish green adds a wonderful sense of freshness to it.

"When the horse dies, get off" - hmm... I need to remember that, as I tend to keep riding the horse, awaiting its resurrection. How about "When the horse dies, gesso it"?

Gmar Hatima Tova.

milindmulick said...

Love your work!
very creative..fresh..and masterly
cheers..

Anonymous said...

Beautiful portrait. And good advice - not to work something to death - just start over. I'll remember that.

David Lobenberg said...

"When the horse dies, get off." Love it!! Who toldya that one pard?..Morris?

RH Carpenter said...

Great color scheme to use to make it fresh and clean and I love the quote - so true so true (but then Nava's take on it was pretty good, too! ha ha)

Sylvia Jenstad said...

this painting is so cool... I also love your gentleman with the hat...

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