Workshop Up Next
Laura Pollak - Above and Below
Richmond, VA - May 17-19,2024 (In-Person)
In this workshop we will begin with the landscape. Loosen up and drill down to the foundational aspects that create successful and dramatic paintings: design, value, color, edges and mark making. As we move forward we will take what we’ve learned and look down… below our feet to the cracks in the sidewalk and mine beneath the surface; gemstones, pearls, metals.
This is a 3 day IN-PERSON workshop.
Each day there will be 1-2 Demos with several exercises. Laura will use Powerpoint presentations to share information and demonstrate concepts.
We will begin with foundational aspects of a strong painting in the landscape- Design, Notans, Value, Color, Mark Making and Edges. From there we will try to pull out our individual ‘voice’ and move towards looser more abstract towards abstraction as we move below the surface and work in various textures and shapes.
At the end of each day we will have 'art reviews’ where we discuss student paintings and possible directions for improvement.
A couple weeks before the workshop Laura will ask each artist to download the free App called PADLET and upload some of their favorite paintings and discuss what they wish to glean from this workshop. Each artists will have their own ‘column’ in PADLET where they can upload photos of works in progress during the workshop.
During art reviews, Laura will offer instruction directly on the student’s painting OR she will use an app called PROCREATE where she will make ‘live’ suggestions as to how the painting might progress without touching the actual painting.
Laura will share simple tricks to attain textures and interest in a paintings as well as exercises for loosening up; whether landscape or abstract.
Included will be several PDF art books that she will share via email.
For more information about Pollak, visit her website at www.laurapollak.com
To see Supply List for workshop click here.
For information about Lodging options during the workshop click here.
Richmond, VA - May 17-19,2024 (In-Person)
In this workshop we will begin with the landscape. Loosen up and drill down to the foundational aspects that create successful and dramatic paintings: design, value, color, edges and mark making. As we move forward we will take what we’ve learned and look down… below our feet to the cracks in the sidewalk and mine beneath the surface; gemstones, pearls, metals.
This is a 3 day IN-PERSON workshop.
Each day there will be 1-2 Demos with several exercises. Laura will use Powerpoint presentations to share information and demonstrate concepts.
We will begin with foundational aspects of a strong painting in the landscape- Design, Notans, Value, Color, Mark Making and Edges. From there we will try to pull out our individual ‘voice’ and move towards looser more abstract towards abstraction as we move below the surface and work in various textures and shapes.
At the end of each day we will have 'art reviews’ where we discuss student paintings and possible directions for improvement.
A couple weeks before the workshop Laura will ask each artist to download the free App called PADLET and upload some of their favorite paintings and discuss what they wish to glean from this workshop. Each artists will have their own ‘column’ in PADLET where they can upload photos of works in progress during the workshop.
During art reviews, Laura will offer instruction directly on the student’s painting OR she will use an app called PROCREATE where she will make ‘live’ suggestions as to how the painting might progress without touching the actual painting.
Laura will share simple tricks to attain textures and interest in a paintings as well as exercises for loosening up; whether landscape or abstract.
Included will be several PDF art books that she will share via email.
For more information about Pollak, visit her website at www.laurapollak.com
To see Supply List for workshop click here.
For information about Lodging options during the workshop click here.
Upcoming Workshops
Colette Odya Smith Workshop - Richmond, VA (Fall 2024)
Adrian Giuliani Zoom Workshop - Richmond, VA (Winter 2025)
Aline Ordman Workshop - Creating Dynamic Pastels - Richmond, VA (May 2025)
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Painting is learning to see. Often, we paint what we think we see because we all have preconceived notions of what something looks like. However, to really paint what you see, you must break down everything you are looking at into just abstract shapes. Don’t see a “house”, see a series of interlocking shapes.
Working from their own photo references, students will transform these into pastel paintings using the principles of color, value and design. Along with a painting demonstration, Aline will talk about understanding color in terms of temperature, intensity and value while translating those ideas using pastel technique. She will also emphasize the concept of creating shapes and carving back on them in order to achieve a painterly finish. Her demo will be figures in an environment.
Aline grew up outside New York and received her early education at Cornel University in Ithaca, NY graduating in 1975 with a BFA. She subsequently moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and eventually attended The Academy of Art College (now University) in San Francisco receiving an additional BFA in illustration. Upon graduation she taught figure drawing there for about 8 years before moving to New England, specifically the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire.
Aline is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America, an Eminent Pastelist with the International Association of Pastel societies, A Signature Member of The American Impressionist Society and a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America. Her work has appeared in various publications, receiving Awards in the Pastel Journal’s including the Founders Award. In 2017 she received the Prix de Pastel in the International Association of Pastel Society’s National Juried Exhibition.
Aline currently lives in Vermont and teaches workshops throughout the country and Europe. Her studio is in Quechee, Vermont and her work can be seen in Camden Falls Gallery in Camden, Maine and The Blue Heron Gallery in Wellfleet, Massachussetts. Her website is www.alineordman.com
Karen Marguis Workshop - Richmond, VA (Fall 2025)
Barbara Jaenicke Workshop - Richmond, VA (May 2026)
Barbara loved drawing and painting as a child, but her artistic journey was launched more so from stubborn determination rather than any innate giftedness. Her grandmother was an accomplished oil painter, and although she didn’t directly encourage Barbara to follow in her footsteps, Barbara’s childhood was surrounded by her beautiful paintings.
She studied painting outside of her regular classes during high school and college. However, not realizing that a career in fine art could be a possibility, she steered her initial career choice toward another art-related field, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 from The College of New Jersey, majoring in Art with an emphasis in Advertising Design. Her early career was spent in advertising as an art director, then later in corporate marketing communications. Without much time for painting during these earlier careers, she always knew she would eventually continue her original artistic passion, and in 1999 she gradually but intensely began to do so. Finally, in 2002, she was able to turn her focus to a fine art career, pursuing it full steam ahead.
Working in oil and pastel, Barbara strives to capture light-filled landscapes in a painterly, impressionist style.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Barbara also lived in Atlanta, Georgia for many years until she yearned for snow and mountains for her landscape subject matter, which prompted her family’s move to Bend, Oregon in 2015.
She studied painting outside of her regular classes during high school and college. However, not realizing that a career in fine art could be a possibility, she steered her initial career choice toward another art-related field, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 from The College of New Jersey, majoring in Art with an emphasis in Advertising Design. Her early career was spent in advertising as an art director, then later in corporate marketing communications. Without much time for painting during these earlier careers, she always knew she would eventually continue her original artistic passion, and in 1999 she gradually but intensely began to do so. Finally, in 2002, she was able to turn her focus to a fine art career, pursuing it full steam ahead.
Working in oil and pastel, Barbara strives to capture light-filled landscapes in a painterly, impressionist style.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Barbara also lived in Atlanta, Georgia for many years until she yearned for snow and mountains for her landscape subject matter, which prompted her family’s move to Bend, Oregon in 2015.