October 24, 2012

     Spent last week in a workshop with Jane Angelhart.  This was a great workshop.  If you get a chance to work with Jane - do it!  Jane is a generous and giving teacher and a warm person.  The way she organizes her class is the best I have ever experienced.  First, you don't have to waste time putting guidelines on the paper - it is already done for you.  Brilliant!  I don't want to spend a lot of time on mechanics for work that is someone else's vision.  The pieces are small, 1/8th of a page, so you complete a painting a day.  The benefit, besides a relaxed atmosphere, is this is the first workshop I have left without experiencing a migraine.  The last day you are on your own as far as subject matter and thus the only day you need to draw your own guidelines or provide paper.  Jane delved into the camera, drawing, photo shoots, judging, pricing, marketing...everything really.  The atmosphere of her class is so positive, you experience a "safe place" to explore and tackle your painting issues.  I can't say enough good things about her or her class.  Thanks Jane!  
     Also, if you get a chance to do a workshop with the MSW group - do it!  We had 21 focused and hardworking  artists in this workshop.  I believe we all had fun and all walked away with a better understanding of portraiture.  It was amazing how every painting was different when we all started with the same guidelines.  Eventually our personalities began to show in our work.  As Oscar Wilde said, "Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter".  A statement which was born out in this class.  
     On a personal note, my niece is visiting today and we will spend the day at the museum.  Back to my brushes - tomorrow.  

"Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye."  - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.