Workshops and Other Events 2015

Date Location/Title  Contact
Mar 13-15 "With an Eye for Design"
Lake Zurich, IL
Frankie Johnson
Frankie847@aol.com
847 550 0016
May 18-21 "With an Eye for Design"
Cazenovia, NY
Drayton Jones
bjones3@twchy.rr.com
315 637 8049
July 8--10 "With an Eye for Design"
Mid Valley Art League , Arcadia, CA
JoAnn Formia
aimrof@aol.com
626 797 8562
July13- 15 "With an Eye for Design"
Schroeder Studio Gallery,Orange,CA 
Judy Schroeder
judy@schroederstudio.com
714 633 0653
Aug 16-26 "A Tuscan Sojourn"
Lucca, Italy
Paula Sullivan
abbondanzatoscana@gmail.com
Oct 5-9 "With an Eye for Design"
Hermiston, OR
 Watercolor Society of Oregon
Mary Corp
mkcorp@eoni.com
541 720 3859
Oct 13-16 "Findhorn Experience"
Reedsburg, WI
Ratindra Das
RatindraDas@sbcglobal.net
630 665 4148

Ten glorious days in Tuscany
What better venue could an artist have than enchanting Tuscany with inspiration at every bend in the road or cobblestone walk! For the second time I am partnering with Dick Helland and lead the group for the Tuscan sojourn. The estate of Selva about 20 minutes from Lucca, is your home during the workshop. The rustic country home has been lovingly restored yet retains all the charm of its origins.  Our agenda includes painting sketching, some journaling and traveling. Food fun and wine are in abundance with unforgettable home cooking meals by wonderful Selva chef. Yes, you will also participate and don't be shy about it. We have all done it! We will divide the time between casual journaling, sketching and painting and leave enough time to relax and enjoy the ambiance. Imagine stepping outside your room in the morning with views of rolling vineyards, majestic chestnut forests, olive groves and quaint farmhouses with terra cotta tiled roofs. Wander around a bit and you'll find walls of tumbling roses, rosemary and bay hedges, iconic cypress and colorful pots of flowers and lemon trees. Excursions away from your home include the walled city of Lucca, Porto Venere and Bagni di Lucca, and winery visits and more. Each day includes instruction and personal guidance from both instructors as well as ample time to share and discuss. Price of this is incredible 2490 Euros. The price includes everything from the time you are picked up at Lucca airport or train station until you are returned there. Instructions and guidance, meals (excluded are three lunches during excursions away from Selva), wine, off-site excursions with guides, an evening's cooking course and accommodations are all part of the base fee. Airfare is not included. Complete course descriptions, details and booking forms at www.abbodanzatoscana.com or contact abbondanzatoscana@gmail.com


Personal philosophy and commentary about my workshops

Every artist paints with some personal convictions and philosophy .A painting is a personal reality. Through my teachings I attempt to emphasize some simple truths . Some of these are:

  • there is life beyond perspective. Cézanne didn't care much about it. Accurate drawing does not necessarily make winning watercolors.
  • you do not have to stay within lines. It discourages the inherent fluid and dynamic characteristics of watercolor as a medium.
  • limited palette can produce beautiful paintings .
  • if you relinquish some control watercolor can do wonderful things for you.
  • to make changes is not as difficult as everyone tells you although there are limitations
    stretching paper is an unnecessary step and you don't have to use 200, or 300 pound paper
    sky does not always have to be blue.
  • photographs don't tell lies, they just don't tell the truth.
If any or some of the above  had ever kept you away from painting in watercolor, join the workshop to learn how to beat the clichés which have long been associated with watercolor. You don't have to make swatches to learn about color. Every day you will learn a new approach to a painting. There will be plenty of demonstrations geared for all levels of experience.


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