Winter Workshop

It seems that anyone over six feet tall is destined to twist their back every once in a while and stretch something beyond its default setting. That's me this week. I can still crawl anyway.

I found a great old farm building in a small valley to paint yesterday. This still needs some work but is getting close to what I'm after. I'll post the finish later.


I am starting to re-arrange my landscapes to serve my intentions rather than just replicating what is presented to me. The trap of "painting what you see" is that nature does not often offer us great compositions. It has taken me a few years of plein air painting to learn this. So many times I found myself painting some weird looking rock or branch not because it helped my painting but because it was there. Some kind of twisted integrity thing? All good for honing my observational skills but it's time to grow up a bit.

In this case there is a fence blocking the foreground that would restrict your eyes from entering this scene. I would need a much wider aspect ratio to accurately describe this pasture but just needed to move some contours about to get what I'm after.
Notice that I've tied all my dark values together. Squint down to see that. If I broke them up as they are in nature this composition wouldn't be as pleasing.

Some people have recently asked if I would be doing a workshop anytime soon. I think I should put some energy into that if there is some interest. I have been studying and experimenting with the working processes of some great long gone painters and learning some valuable lessons. A workshop may be an efficient way to pass these ideas on.

I can put forward a detailed curriculum outline later but I'd be interested in two days of exploration; how we create our paintings, regardless of medium, with an emphasis on composition and subject selection. We can look at a bit of historical and contemporary art to understand some principles of artmaking that will inform our personal work. This would be a hands-on "WORK"shop for those interested in making a breakthrough in their own artistic journey.

If I get any response I will dedicate some time into developing something worthwhile.

I will be painting on location at the Penticton Lakeside in the lobby I think on November the 13th, 10 to 2. If you are in the area drop in for a chat. It would be good to see you.