Spring Workshop with Elio

Twice a year I travel to Amelia Island, FL to attend a 3 day workshop with Elio Comacho.   Elio is a wonderful instructor, and it is always a hard working, but fun few days. 

He has a fabulous color sense and brushwork, and is very knowledgeable in all art related subjects, from art history, to technical aspects of paints and brushes.

I love the colors he chose in this three hour demo above.  He always does a large demo, usually 36x48", which is a highlight of the workshop. Please click on the picture to enlarge it and see the brushwork and color changes.

This painting and the one below are mine, from the workshop. 

Elio spent a year working only with  the color yellow, another with green, blue etc.  He did set ups to challenge us.  This one was green and blue.  The theory is, you will learn to see all the nuances of color when you paint objects that are the same hue, but different temperatures and saturation.

I don't think my workshop paintings are really showing any improvement for me, but I do feel improvement when I paint at home.  His instructions jump into my head, and I find I am much more critical of my finished pieces.  That has to be a good result!

I am already booked for his November 2017 workshop in Fernandina Beach.  Want to join us?

Carol Schiff
www.CarolSchiffStudio.etsy.com
www.CarolSchiffStudio.blogspot.com

Painting a Masterpiece (in 2 hours?!) with Cindy Michaud

When I was approached by an organization I support to lead a fundraising/painting event based on those franchises springing up all over now (where non-painters leave with a ready-to-hang painting after only 2 hours), I was challenged.  Before I would commit I knew some experience would be helpful.  A cry for help resulted in 15 willing ladies who all agreed to be guinea pigs in my "Masterpiece Painting Experience."  The mission was to take a gathering of non-painters and walk them through the creation of a frame-ready painting they would be proud of.  Game on.

I gathered supplies, made handouts, set up tables, dreamed up an approach and got prepared.  After talking to lots of people who had been to the "paint and wine" or "sip and dip" places I decided that I wantedeveryone to paint their own version of the subject matter...no cookie cutter paintings for us!

I am not a real teacher and while I don't mind public speaking I quickly learned that this process meant I was the teacher, the coach, the demonstrator, the cheerleader, the fixer and the hostess!  Yikes, a lot of hats to wear at once: my brain was buzzing...

I could not have asked for a nicer group of guinea pigs...they were enthusiastic, eager learners and willing to leave their comfort zones and give some new things a try.  I know for a fact that the effort was a real stretch for several of them but I also have it on good authority that they had fun.  The evaluation sheets were full of helpful advice and compliments.

My buddy Cheri won't mind if I share some of the steps everyone went through:

 #1 - hmmmm, this is a tad harder than it looks, gee I hope I am getting this right.  Now what was I supposed to do with the large flower???

#2 - who me?  did you say to "pause" or paint faster?  I love these colors.  What do you mean 'no leaves yet'?  Ah, yeah, I think I'm enjoying this.... 

#3 - Woo Hoo! I do like this style of painting, and I did have fun and hey...when can we do this again?











I learned alot during this class, namely that 2 hours is a real short time for anyone to learn anything!  But as I believe that art should be a positive experience for any and all I think we at least accomplished that goal.  Can't wait to try this again.  Will let you know if I need anymore test subjects!

Just a few of the delightful participants!

Smiles and masterpieces +

one exhausted teacher!

ART FULLY yours,

Cindy