Sunday 16 April 2017

Preparing for an 'Open Studio' workshop in August

I don't know where the time is going - and I just don't seem to have enough to do all things I want to do (versus 'have' to do)!

The workshop with Brian Atyeo was wonderful. I will do a short writeup as soon as I go through my notes and photos. Brian is coming back to the Calgary area the end of August and I was fortunate to get the last available space. He will be doing a 5 day workshop at the beautiful River Rock Studio near Cochrane, Alberta. It will be an open studio workshop - lots and lots of painting in a small group (12 participants) with daily discussion and critiques. I have started thinking about what I would like to paint and doing some research into my subject. This was suggested by Brian - you don't want to show up without some ideas and pre-planning. The subject I want to explore is 'abstracted/interpretive landscapes'. I am leaning towards the prairies - uncultivated native grasslands and cultivated 'scapes' - although I think the Foothills will probably appear as well. I will be working large - again at Brian's suggestion....30"X30" and larger! Now that is a little scary, but could also be very freeing. I will be starting a journal filled with sketches, small landscape studies, colour swatches and some favourite artist's thoughts on painting and subject matter. I am a bit of a research junkie so this will be right up my alley. I am looking forward to lots of painting between now and the workshop and at least a couple of trips to the prairie grasslands. I will leave you with some inspiration from some of my favourite artists.



**These paintings are done by the artists listed under the images**

*Kurt Jackson*




*Richard Diebenkorn*



*Barbara Rae*



4 comments:

  1. These are wonderful, thanks for sharing them with us! Have fun in the workshop :)

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  2. August will come around way to fast I am sure! Good to hear from you Sheila

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  3. Janet, loved this post and I'm so intrigued by prep you'll be doing for your August workshop. Makes me realize how little instructor-led study I've undertaken. Can't wait to see what evolves for you. Thanks for thinking to share photos of paintings by favorite artists.

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  4. Hi Dotty. Good to hear from you. I am hoping that I will be able to follow through with the 'prep' side of things - think I will get a lot more out of the workshop. I don't necessarily think one needs to go the workshop route but I seem to thrive (in most cases) in a workshop. Don't get me wrong - I come home with some pretty awful looking work,have cried my fair share of tears in the frustration of 'not getting it' and have vowed never to paint again. But - here I am signing up for another! I love your work - the fearlessness of it and your openness to experimenting. Don't ever loose that - I think that is something that can't be taught!! Looking forward to seeing more of your art.

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