FINAL PAINTINGS CEDAR HILL WORKSHOP

We finished up the workshop with some great work! It was a jam packed week with lots of fun, laughs, bonding and of course lots of drawing and painting. I have posted the rest of the paintings, most are finished but some are in progress. We worked on different surfaces ....diluted matte medium, gesso, clear gesso and Tyvek, not to mention traditional watercolor paper.

Plans are in the works for a return visit to Texas next year to do a workshop in Ransom Canyon.

The return trip turned into a marathon of travel hell. I left the art facility at 4 PM and I finally arrived home after midnight SF time which equated to 2 AM Dallas time and headed out the door Saturday morning at 8 AM to teach another class. I will post those paintings tomorrow.

CEDAR HILL TEXAS WORKSHOP PROFILE DEMO

The week is flying by. Tomorrow is the last day and then back to California. I am posting my demo I did today. Everyone has been so enthusiastic and working fast and furious, producing a good body of work. I will have a wonderful slide show Saturday night. By the end of an intense day, it is hard to do a lot of writing, so I will let the work speak for itself.

CEDAR HILL TEXAS WORKSHOP DEMO #1

This is the demo painting I did this morning for the workshop here in Cedar Hill, Texas. The facility here is brand new and beautiful. Everyone has been so welcoming. Genuine Texas Hospitality. Wonderful energy is flowing from the participants and we are having a wonderful time. There is some exciting work being done. I am hoping to post a slide show tomorrow night with everyone's first painting.

I was excited to meet Nancy Standlee in person! What fun to meet someone through this internet and become friends and supporters and then finally be able to spend time in each other's company sharing our passion for art. Nancy was instrumental in making this workshop happen. We all need enthusiastic supporters as we move ahead in our art. I am finding wonderful new friends and boosters all around the country now through the blog world. The internet has allowed us to grow closer together and support each other in our artistic endeavors.

STUDENTS' SELF PORTRAITS AND MORE!

Saturday we worked on self-portraits by doing modified blind contour drawings looking into mirrors. Everyone was inspired by the work of Elizabeth Layton. I had two posters of her work and a special "Coloring Book" version of her work. "Grandma" Layton took up art at the age of 68 and cured herself of lifelong depression through her amazing contour drawing self portraits. She is an inspirational figure that speaks to the power of art on our spirit. You can read all about her and see some of her work by putting "Grandma" Elizabeth Layton into the search. There are many web sites to explore regarding her life and work.

Everyone worked quickly and finished at least one self portrait. I loved them all! I am thinking now how I should have taken the photo of the painting with the person so everyone could see how they really captured the essence of each person.

The slide show also has some completed bozzetto sheets of "expressions" and several full size paintings based on one of the bozzettos.

Right now I am in Cedar Hill, Texas. The art school looks wonderful and I am excited to begin the week long workshop. I will be able to share our progress throughout the week.