Oops! I hit the "enter" key and published before I was ready. Well, I'm almost ready.
I'm working on three things this week: shadow strength, stroke direction and quality, and brush work. All stuff I should know, but need to be strongly reminded of. I'll give you all the details as the weeks progress. But suffice it to say, I'm putting tape around all my brushes to remind me not to let my hand slip below the tape. Seems a good idea. I generally hold my brushes at the ends but forget a lot during the initial layin. David says it's important to start finishing a painting from the first stroke. Now that's something to think about.
More later. I need a shower and some sleep.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Day Three David Leffel Workshop
I'm pooped. I've been painting since 9:00 am this morning and my brain feels like mush. I'm definitely in workshop curve curse. I forgot how to paint fruit. Fruit!!! I totally forgot how. David said I've been going "down hill" all day. Certainly feels like it. At least it's not a surprise and it means that I'm trying to unlearn old habits and learn new ones. Of course I forgot how to paint fruit - he does it so differently than I do!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Day One of David Leffel Workshop
Aaaagh! I forgot to bring the gizmo for my camera that downloads the photos!!! But take heart...I'm taking tons of photos and lots of notes. I promise you all I'll start posting the workshop stuff as soon as I can following my return on Friday.
All my fears are put to rest. David Leffel is an incredible, humble, beautiful human being and an incredible teacher. We spent the first half of the day in a demonstration and the second half setting up and starting our own still life's. It's very exciting! There are about 20 students in the workshop and everyone is very intense about the work. Everyone is on a different level but it doesn't seem to matter - David meets everyone on the level they are working on.
Just as I feared, I'm in workshop mode. But David said that my set up was great and the painting is coming along great so I shouldn't worry. However, I'm attempting to do the entire panting in hog bristles which is a huge change for me. I generally lay in the painting with bristles and then switch to sables for the rest of the work. I feel like I've spent the day fighting the brushes. But so far I'm resisting the temptation to switch to my regulars. The palette is also a bit more limited than the one I generally use but so far that doesn't seem to be too much of a problem.
I'm pretty beat tonight and I'm going to hop in the shower and then snuggle into a comfortable bed for some reading. I'll check in with you all in a day or so.
All my fears are put to rest. David Leffel is an incredible, humble, beautiful human being and an incredible teacher. We spent the first half of the day in a demonstration and the second half setting up and starting our own still life's. It's very exciting! There are about 20 students in the workshop and everyone is very intense about the work. Everyone is on a different level but it doesn't seem to matter - David meets everyone on the level they are working on.
Just as I feared, I'm in workshop mode. But David said that my set up was great and the painting is coming along great so I shouldn't worry. However, I'm attempting to do the entire panting in hog bristles which is a huge change for me. I generally lay in the painting with bristles and then switch to sables for the rest of the work. I feel like I've spent the day fighting the brushes. But so far I'm resisting the temptation to switch to my regulars. The palette is also a bit more limited than the one I generally use but so far that doesn't seem to be too much of a problem.
I'm pretty beat tonight and I'm going to hop in the shower and then snuggle into a comfortable bed for some reading. I'll check in with you all in a day or so.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Learning with David Leffel
I've been rather busy the last couple of months and things aren't going to settle down anytime soon. My studio is undergoing re-construction this month and I'm taking a David Leffel workshop in Fall City starting this monday through Friday. I'm very excited. If you don't know who David Leffel is, I suggest you Google him. He's considered a living Master and his work has influenced every stroke of paint I've made in the past two years. He, above all, is considered one of the great teachers of our time. Here's a comment on someone's blog about him.
I consider it a great privilege to take a workshop with this painter and at the same time I'm terrified. I understand completely what my students feel when I approach their easels during a class. On one hand you are so hoping to get a kudo from the teacher, terrified they won't say anything (what's wrong with it????Is it that awful??? What am I paying you for?) and at the same time worried that they will. What I have resigned myself to being in "workshop curve". I seem to forget everything I've ever known and everything I've ever studied, my hands become absolute paddles, my brain gets addled and I totally do a brain freeze on mixing color. What is that anyway? Sigh. But I'm still excited to meet the Master. I'll be trying to post a few things to this blog during the week, but forgive me if it doesn't happen. I promise to share everything and anything I learn with you all. Many thanks to Rosa for calling me about this workshop. I didn't think at the time that I would be able to do it. My husband convinced me otherwise. What a gift.
I consider it a great privilege to take a workshop with this painter and at the same time I'm terrified. I understand completely what my students feel when I approach their easels during a class. On one hand you are so hoping to get a kudo from the teacher, terrified they won't say anything (what's wrong with it????Is it that awful??? What am I paying you for?) and at the same time worried that they will. What I have resigned myself to being in "workshop curve". I seem to forget everything I've ever known and everything I've ever studied, my hands become absolute paddles, my brain gets addled and I totally do a brain freeze on mixing color. What is that anyway? Sigh. But I'm still excited to meet the Master. I'll be trying to post a few things to this blog during the week, but forgive me if it doesn't happen. I promise to share everything and anything I learn with you all. Many thanks to Rosa for calling me about this workshop. I didn't think at the time that I would be able to do it. My husband convinced me otherwise. What a gift.
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