100 Drawings on Cheap Paper

I am offering my "100 Drawings on Cheap Paper", an interactive online class, this fall, starting September 4. I use the term "drawing" loosely, to include painting and collage, and any other kind of marks you make. This class is designed to cultivate a habit of working in series, working in quantity, to delve more deeply into a visual inquiry than we may typically do.

Each of the ten weekly lessons has a particular focus, and you get to explore that focus over the course of (at least) ten pieces. We emphasize the exploration, the process, and don't aim for "finished" pieces. Read more details and register here.

In one of the lessons we do the speed painting exercise shown in this video (this is not the lesson video, just me doing the exercise in a workshop).

Here are some examples of student work from the class. All works are done on 9"x12" cheap drawing paper. Find it here. Or use Blick Bristol for a heavier, but still inexpensive, substrate.

Enjoy the work!

Workshop Openings

I am offering 100 Drawings on Cheap Paper again this fall, beginning on October 4.  This is a ten-week online workshop that focuses on working in quantity.  It is not about working quickly, but about investigating an idea over the course of ten small paintings or studies each week.  I am limiting the enrollment to a smaller class size than previously.

100 Drawings on Cheap Paper Online

One feature of this class is that you are asked to make observations about the work that you post, to really look at it as it stands on its own.  This is surprisingly challenging, because when viewing our own work, our default seems to be to describe how we made it.  You will develop a vocabulary for identifying visual content, apart from technical process.

My workshop at Hudson River Valley Art Workshops this spring has a few openings available.  "Visual Improvisation" is about taking a more inventive and playful approach to composition.  The web site describes the dates as May 7 - 13; that is is if you arrive on the Sunday prior to the workshop and depart the Saturday afterwards.  The workshop days are May 8 - 12, a Monday through Friday, full days.

Visual Improvisation in the Hudson Valley

For other 2017 workshop see my full Workshops Schedule here.

Another Group of Work

I am really drawn to work that is more spare than I can seem to manage.  In several of my workshops this year I have had students working in this way.  Maybe 'spare' is not quite the right word.  Central cluster, breathing space around all four sides.  Here are just a few images of student work ('student' isn't quite the right word either, as these are all experienced artists)
 

These are gel prints by Leslie Fry, who is a sculptor.

One of many "studies" or "starts" by Sarah Bunker.

Ann Crain worked so fast and furiously in my workshop, I could not keep up with her!  Fascinating to see her process, and the pieces definitely capture her loose, free, expressive style.

These are studies done by Kate Webster, who kindly assisted me in Gloucester and at Omega.  I just loved these bold and confident collages.  She doesn't have a web site.

The above two images show the work of Linda Hazell, who was at the Omega workshop.  She doesn't have a web site either; I hope she makes one soon, as I would love to see more of her work!

I am actually TAKING one of my own online workshops - 100 Drawings on Cheap Paper.  It is actually a continuation of the one that began last August, for a small group of students who wanted to continue in a self-directed way.  We have two-week blocks in which to make our own lesson, and then make ten pieces that address the parameters of that lesson.  I am thinking of exploring this central cluster + breathing room for my next "lesson", but I have to define it a little more clearly. I'm taking some time to play with the idea freely.

Sixteen starts. This is the easy part.

One of the starts, unadulterated

The piece above with a bit of collage and spattering

This one might be even finished!  Beginner's luck.

All of the above are 30cm x 30cm (10"x10"). 

Eye Candy from 100 Drawings on Cheap Paper

This is student work, from various lessons in the course.  Just wanted to share, as I am blown away by it.  This is the tip of the iceberg!  I post student work anonymously.  PLEASE DO NOT RE-POST, or it will look like it is my work.  Thanks.

Back from Blog Break

I was in Portland, Oregon, last week teaching at Art and Soul.  What a fabulous time!  I had, as usual, great students in my two two-day-plus-one-evening classes, Dynamic Composition and Layering and Excavating.  Plus I got a little time to tool around Portland and visit some family.

Meanwhile, I have a couple of online classes in progress.  Here are some fabulous works by students in my class "100 Drawings on Cheap Paper", which started in February.  I do have a couple spaces left in my 100 Drawings that starts August 31.  Read about it here. 

Student Work from 100 Drawings on Cheap Paper:
PLEASE DO NOT RE-POST, or it will look like it is my work, not that of the participants.

The above images are from a few different lessons.  Most of them are 9"x12".  Enjoy!

I will post some student work from my workshops in Portland soon.

Student Work from Pacific Northwest Art School

Just checking in from Whidbey Island, where I've been teaching "Abstract Painting: Series as Process" at Pacific Northwest Art School.  This is just a little eye candy:

Next year at Pacific Northwest Art School on Whidbey, I am teaching "100 Drawings(/Paintings) LIVE", May 16 - 20.  An intensive five day workshop!

Please do no re-post these images anywhere. It is student work, posted here anonymously.