What does this mean? For me, it is what I take away from an art experience. I recently went to Minnesota for a photography and art workshop with Jan Martin McGuire. We spent a couple of intense days taking reference pictures for future paintings. Plus, there was lectures, painting demonstrations and paint time.
I generally work in pastel but over the last few years have re-introduced oil paints and acrylics. There are plus and minuses to both. During the painting demonstration Jan showed techniques for working in acrylic paint; doing rocks, tree bark, grasses and under-painting. There was instruction on composition, using technology to help with layouts. All of these were great take aways.
Back in Arizona I had a painting that needed a rock. It is a oil painting that will go in a show in February. I decided since I had the under-painting for the rock and it was dry I could try the rock technique Jan showed the group. It worked very well, the down side, it needs to dry before adding shadows and other details.
While in Minnesota I had time to paint with Jan. We used that same type of technique to create a wood branch for a chipmunk to sit upon. The painting is in acrylic, waiting to be finished. It was good practice for the wood, the fur of the animal, in which I discovered a new brush (thank you Eric Rice for that lovely gift) and will try adding grasses in the background. This piece won't be for sale but it will be a reminder of the workshop and working with Jan on these take aways.
Here are a few photos from the workshop and Minnesota Wildlife Connection. Along with a couple detail shots of works in progress with fur, wood and rocks.
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| Take Away - Watching Jan Martin McGuire demonstration |
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| Take Away - technique with new brush for fur |
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| Take Away - technique to create bark on tree |
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| Take Away - Wolf photos at Minnesota Wildlife Connection |
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| Take Away - creating rock textures |
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