Stuart Street Atelier Workshop II, Day 5

Last week we talked about possibly doing landscape or cats today. But the last two classes have been so much fun and quite a few of you have missed one or the other. So today is a combo class. I showed you the iris I painted over last week and how satisfying that was. I'm sure you have numerous unfinished works to splash and smash some paint on! Bring them. If you missed the cow, hound or rooster day you will see the links below to find reference photos. 16x20 inch canvases are proportion for many of the photos. 20x20 inch canvas is nice too if you happen to have one.

Last week, last weekend, yesterday you may have been in the mood to paint something specific. Consider what you feel like today as you pull the plastic off your canvas. Inspired action is worthy of following. Keep that planned painting in the back of your mind and start with a doddle that jingles. Possibly you noticed something driving to class. A herd of black angus yearling bulls playing head butt, light falling through the dew dressed trees or a pair of riders on the gravel road out on their morning hack. Keywords, inspired action! Allow yourself to truly be inspired. I watch all of you paint and find inspirations from your color choices, drawing lines, compositions and unique styles. Learn from each other and follow your own paths to true self.

I do think a landscape day would make nice contrast to what we have been working on. Finding just the right composition and matched canvas size makes a landscape painting extra special. Of course landscape is a great challenge for plein air. We can paint plein air from my studio in Unison this summer. But next Monday let's come to class with a dry underpainting! That gives you the time to decide ahead and bring it in for the middle and finish. What color do you ask? Look at the highlights. Is the sparkle a soft purple? Maybe peach? Find that color in nature before the camera. Your camera often lies. While traveling our gorgous counrtyside keep a small notebook with you and consider what colors you are actually seeing. Use your photo as a value scale and composition memory then choose your palette based on your notes. If you see purple, use a bright purple in the direction of your highlight color. Balance it warm or cool for some variation in your wash drawing. You can add a touch more blue or red depending on what direction you feel. Next week when it is dry, you can change your mind completely and go the opposite direction leaving your initial inspiration showing through. There are no rules. If you paint fast, bring 2-3 dry canvases for our last class, day 6.

Starting in June, summer courses will be in Unison on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons 1-4pm with a come as you please schedule. I'll set up a login system to sign up. Sign my notebook with your phone number since email has not be reliable. Classes will be limited to 6 but with two days a week available that should not be a problem. There are stairs so plan on packing light. Each will get your own course to help you follow your unique direction.