Linda Kemp was here last week getting her students to let loose their inner “mad scientist.” The medium was acrylics and the subject was negative painting techniques and strategies.
“Linda definitely exceeded my expectations! She was well organized, articulate, and made the workshop exciting & challenging!!” – B Wickham
This is one of Linda’s demo pieces. 
It was a joyful week with a misty-eyed ending. Karen Rosasco was here to teach her last workshop on the road. Karen taught her first workshop with us in 2007 and has taught every year since 2009. Karen has been coming to the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops as a student since the early 1980s! So it was definitely with misty eyes we bid farewell to Karen on the last day of the workshop. Karen, formerly of New York, is now making her home in Virginia and will still be teaching but only locally to her home and also private lessons out of her home studio. You can learn more about this on Karen’s website. Enjoy this glimpse into the activity and creativity of the 5 days of Karen’s workshop. 
This is the Chili Verde that was served one of the nights as the alternative dish for the vegetarians. Many requested the recipe, so I’ve added it to our recipes page. 
The grounds of the inn are looking lovely and the weather was beautiful all week, making the lawns a perfect place for spreading out painting to dry or when experimenting with a particular messing technique! 
This past week David Shelving was here to teach a 5-day workshop on Alla Prima Figures. There was a mix of students, some using oils, some using acrylics, and one using water-based oils. 
This week we have a 3-day alcohol inks workshop with Cathy Taylor and next week a studio watercolor workshop with Don Andrews (there is still time to sign up for this workshop!)
“Patti was the best – she had a clear plan and was very encouraging to all students” – Karen H.
“Patti is an amazing teacher. I learned more than I could have imagined.” – Carolina D.
“This class exceeded my expectations! Patti had so much content with related projects to get her point across that it was a fabulous learning experience. And the meals were simply terrific” – Joan P.
What more can I say about Patti Mollica’s recent workshop with us. It was a great group and everyone had a wonderful time! 
The weather during the week was also lovely and the back lawns were a great place to stretch your legs during breaks from class. 
Here is the joyful crew posing for a class photo on the final day. 
It seemed like a week-long party during Robert Burridge’s Abstract Acrylic Painting and Collage workshop.
” Bob makes it fun – very informative, his color wheel made the process easier to understand. I’m very excited to continue and experience Bob’s class!” – Diane D.
They also worked hard in the studio. Bob started each morning with a short lecture and demo, then assigned a warm up exercise to the students to get them going. After that everyone could work in the their own direction, if they chose. 
Chef Mark got to step out of his chef-ing duds and into his painting gear for a little side trip into abstract painting. He enjoyed working in a series themed around cellos (he has recently taken it once again) and other musical instruments. 
Then there was the Bob and Mark after-dinner entertainment show! Both Bob and Mark come from a tradition of entertainment and magic and they traded off with each other presenting fun close-up magic tricks, to the delight of the audience! 
This is one of Bob’s famous floral demos. 
More of Bob’s morning demos. 
Mark with his vintage card trick duck! The duck was his fathers, who was a comedian, vaudeville entertainer, and musician. 
More rope tricks by Bob! 
At the final night’s dinner, the student’s presented Bob with a card and gift. 
It was sad to see such a happy group leave at the end of the week, but Bob will be back again next year in June. Before Bob left, he and Mark had their heads together quietly scheming about an even more elaborate after-dinner show for next year! Don’t miss it, sign up now.
John MacDonald worked as both a full-time freelance illustrator and landscape painter for nearly twenty years. He won awards from Print Magazine as well as having work appear in the Society of Illustrators annual show. Since the late 2000’s, he has been painting full time. His paintings can be found in private, corporate, and museum collections throughout North America.
Professional memberships have included the Society of Illustrators, the Illustrators Partnership of America, the National Association of Plein Air Painters, the Graphic Artists Guild, and the Oil Painters of America. John is certified through the Creativity Coaching Association as a creativity coach and brings his coaching experience to his workshops.
We are looking forward to John’s return to the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops July 6 to 10, 2016, to teach his class From Plein Air to Studio, working with acrylics and oils. This Workshop has 3 full days of hands-on painting and instruction – it should be a spectacular and inspiring time of year to be painting on location in the scenic Catskills!
How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?
After sporadically teaching for years, in the last five or six years I’ve been scheduling a yearly calendar of workshops, usually limiting it to a half dozen so as to give myself as much painting time as possible. I’ve always enjoyed teaching and it seemed to be a natural extension of my art.
What is your favorite part about teaching?
Seeing students grasp a concept, apply it to their paintings, and then seeing their joy as they see the quality of their work leap forward.
What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop?
Workshops give students an uninterrupted period of time in which they can focus solely on their painting. Such times are rare. Our lives are so busy.
We only learn when we’re trying something new. Workshops are an ideal environment–supportive and safe– in which to put ourselves on our edge, try new techniques, make mistakes, and learn.
Art making can be a lonely activity. It’s wonderful being in a group of fellow painters as everyone struggles, learns, and celebrates together.
What are you currently working on in your own art?
Lately, I’ve been doing fewer small, plein air paintings and more larger , studio canvases, attempting to inject some of the spontaneity, simplicity, and freshness of plein air work into my larger paintings.
Where is your art currently being exhibited?
Currently, I’m in five galleries:
The Iris Gallery. Boston, MA; Aspen, CO
Warm Springs Gallery, Charlottesville, VA
Sorelle Gallery, New Canaan, CT; Albany, NY; Saratoga Springs, NY
Christopher-Clark Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
Rich Timmons Studio & Gallery. Doylestown, PA
What hints would you give to artists looking for gallery representation?
Create a body of work that is of your best quality, that is consistent, and of a subject matter that you’re passionate about.
Do your research. Find galleries that sell work similar to yours and in your price range. Study the gallery’s website.
Contact them for submission guidelines. No cold calls.
Be patient. Don’t get discouraged. Finding the right gallery is often a long process.
Do you sell your work in any online gallery?
I don’t sell through online galleries but have begun to offer a few paintings for sale directly from my website. It’s important not to compete with my galleries and so I’ll be selling only small paintings directly.
What is your favorite art quote?
I have many. Here are three:
“Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes, work never begun.” – Christina Rossetti, poet (1830-1894)
”If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful after all.” – Michelangelo, sculptor, painter, architect, and poet (1475-1564)
“Art enables us to find ourselves and to lose ourselves at the same time.“ – Thomas Merton, monk. (1915-1968)
Describe your studio.
Too small. Now that I’m working larger it’s a bit tight but it’s cozy, warm, and an enjoyable place to spend the day painting.
Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products.
Prussian blue. I love it. If it weren’t unhealthy for me, I’d probably eat it.
Worn and disheveled brushes that give unique and accidental effects.
Frames. I can’t tell if a painting is finished if it’s not in a frame.
My 50% gray palette. It’s so helpful when judging the value of paint mixtures.
Mellow, moody background music and a pot of black tea.
We finished off our 2015 workshop season with a fiber art / painting party in the form of Katie Pasquini Masopust’s Stitched Paintings workshop. Some amazing works were created with this fun process that mixes painting with stitching. Here is a peak into the studio during that workshop. The first step of the process was painting gesso’d canvas to create a “palette” of colors to use in abstract landscapes and still life compositions. 
All sorts of stamps and recycled materials were available for making marks on the paintings. 
Here you see an assembled abstract landscapes coming together made with strips of painted canvas. 
Throughout the days, Katie would introduce new techniques for adding interest, texture, form and line to the painted canvases. This is a drip technique use to good effect. 
Shadows and lines was another fine possibility. 
A composition by Cindy Heath. 
An amazing landscape by Kathy Nurge. 
A great composition by Sherry Shine. 
Katie also showed the group how to put together a fun abstract floral still life. This one is also by Sherry Shine. 
Here is Katie’s still life arrangement. 
Next Katie brought out the power tools. She showed the group how to construct their own frames for the stitched paintings. 
One the frame was assembled, Katie demonstrated how to attach the stitched painting to the frame. 
This pieces was created with a “stack and whack” to create the pieces which were then shuffled to create abstract blocks. It was made by Kim LaPolla. 
Manon Boisvert is hard at work creating some amazing abstract compositions. 
These are book covers that Katie showed everyone how to make with the painted canvases. 
Another thing to do with the painted canvases was to create mini zippered bags for holding stuff! So if you didn’t like the way your painted canvas turned out, Katie showed the group that there were lots of ways to make use of them. 
On the final day of class every one put all the work on display and we all went around the studio on a tour. This is the work of Sherry Shine. 
This is what it looked like to the person standing next to their art work and talking about it. The paparazzi in action! 
This is the work of Kim LaPolla. 
This is the work of Jane Pinchuck. 
A fun landscape by Alison Chandler. 
The work of Manon Boisvert. 
The work of Kathy Nurge. 
The work of Donna Dynes. 
The work of Cindy Heath. 
Earlier in the year, Katie also taught her Log Cabin Abstracts workshop and Alison also attended that workshop and brought back her finished piece to show to everyone. 
It was such a fun workshop that the group formed a “Painting Monday” challenge to motivate everyone to keep on painting! Katie will be back again teaching in 2017 and will teach her fabulous Fractured Landscapes class. Don’t miss it!
This year Robert Burridge taught a workshop in the Fall for the experienced painter, having fun with acrylics, collage, and more. Each day started with a demo and some suggested exercises to get the creative juices flowing. 
One of the morning exercises was simple figures, working with just one color plus black and white. 
In case you can’t read what is on the back of those figure’s jackets, it’s “Bobette.” Those who have taken a workshop with Bob before know what this means! 
The weather for the week was spectacular! 
Our staff likes to have some artistic fun in the kitchen! This was the first night’s meal that we were holding for someone who was going to be arriving late and couldn’t make it in time for the dinner time. 
This was a fun class and a great group of artists. If you missed your chance, Bob Burridge will be back again in the Spring of 2016. Sign up now before it fills up.
It was another memorable week with Skip Lawrence this year. Skip said is was one of the best groups of students he has ever had. 
Everyone had fun painting and eating the wonderful meals, including this delicious Apple Pie made from local NY apples. 
This is one of Skip’s demo paintings. 
The tables themselves were pretty interesting! 
Skip will be back next year, as usual, and it is not too early to start thinking of signing up for this popular workshop, as many of the people in this year’s class has already signed up for next year.
Lots of paint was flying around the studio during Patti Mollica’s 5-day workshop, big gobs of it. Well, not actually flying around, but being lavishly applied to board in wonderfully colorful compositions. 
Every day Patti had the class focusing on a different stepping stone to good paintings – value, brush work, and color mixing. 
Before long the studio was filled with vibrant little paintings. 
Patti had people work on specific image exercises each day, but participants still had plenty of time to work on images of their choice. 
Outside the studio the huge and ancient lilac bush was putting on it’s own color display. 
The pool is open and beautifully clear, but, yeah, still a bit cold! 
Chef Mark is stirring up some great dishes this year. This one looks like the yummy Beef and Broccoli stir-fry. (Alternative dishes for special dietary requirements are always available with advance notice.) 
It was an amazing and fun workshop. If you are one of the many who didn’t get in this year, Patti will be returning in 2017, so sign up early!
“The class exceeded all expectations – fabulous & the classroom experience was practically perfect in every way. The meals were outstanding, as usual!” – Diane E.
Known for her stunning whole cloth painted art quilts, Judy Coates Perez recently taught a three day workshop for us at Hudson River Valley Art Workshops. Everyone agreed that three days were not enough time for all the gems that Judy had to offer. They kiddingly asked if maybe the next incoming class wouldn’t mind if they stayed in just one corner of the studio for a few more days! Unfortunately jobs and schedules prevented this from being a serious option.
These two photos are close ups of some of Judy’s work. Luscious color!
These are some of the great stamps that Judy has made and brought for the class to experiment, but she also showed them how to make their own.
You can read more about Judy’s work in the interview on our blog.
The next workshops coming up are “Expressing Yourself: One Piece at a Time,” a 5-day class taught by Sheila Frampton-Cooper (still time to join in even though it starts on Monday, April 27th!) and then “The Artful Log Cabin,” a 5-day workshop taught by Katie Pasquini Masopust.
Leah Lopez’ dynamic, evocative art has been exhibited in many prestigious national shows. She teaches drawing and painting at the New York Academy of Art, and at her Union Square Studio. We are thrilled that Leah will return to the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops to teach a Workshop in oil and acrylic, Still Life to Landscape, March 15 to 21, 2105.
How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?
I’ve been teaching over 15 years. I was offered a great teaching position and really enjoyed it. I continued to teach through the years wherever I went, and discovered that there is always more to share and so many ways to help students develop their own personal artistic goals. Eventually, it made the most sense to open an atelier style school, in my studio, enabling my to truly share my personal experience and help others to develop their own unique work. It is an enriching experience for both mentor and student.
What is your favorite part about teaching?
Seeing another person really let go and begin to create art.
What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop?
The Three-I’s are the best reasons: workshops are an Intensive, Inspiring and Interactive learning experience.
What are you currently working on in your own art?
I like to work on a variety of things at once, while maintaining a harmonious thread so that what I learn in one piece can help in the development of another. My painting subjects are still life, landscape, cityscape, and figurative – all often revealing a hint of allegory. Composition is the thing that always ties them together. More than subject matter, I’m primarily focused on Composition and the fascinating uses of color, texture, value, and edges.
Where is your art currently being exhibited?
Throughout the year I exhibit nationally. I have gallery representation in Portland, ME, Carmel, Pasadena and Oklahoma City. I exhibit frequently in New York. As a member of esteemed organizations like American Women Artists, my artwork travels across the states to new galleries and museums every year.
Is your work represented in galleries, and if so, what hints would you give to artists looking for gallery representation?
Yes and a very good topic. A few hints to get started are
Do your research…
Get organized and be prepared
Plan to make an impression
Follow through professionally and develop a mutually beneficial alliance.
If it turns out that it isn’t a good fit, don’t waste valuable time, find the right fit.
Do you sell your work in any online gallery?
Occasionally, my work is a part of an online auction or exhibition. The next auction is the Salmagundi Club’s “Spring Auction” at www.liveauctioneers.com. The auction schedule is:
Friday, March 13, 2015, 8:00 PM
Friday, March 20, 2015, 8:00 PM
Friday, March 27,2015, 8:00 PM
What is your favorite art quote?
“Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” – Oscar Wilde
Describe your studio.
People say, when they enter my studio, they feel as though they’ve been transported to a distant place and time or an old world master’s studio. I absolutely love it. I don’t like to leave at night, and toss around the idea of sleeping over just so I can awake and immediately start painting and catch every minute of the light. It has a high ceiling and a big wall-to-wall skylight window that faces north, from Union Square toward the Empire State building. It’s up on the 11th floor so unless I decide to leave I almost forget there is a bustling city outside. The wooden floors are a dark walnut. My walls are a warm olive grey and my paintings hanging about. I have floor-to-ceiling thick black drapes which I use to control the amount and direction of the North-light that washes in, which creates atmosphere that cannot be duplicated artificially, and has long been sought by artists and photographers alike.
Name five of your “can’t” do without tools/products.
Flake white
Old Masters Maroger Medium
Italian Wax Medium
Rosemary & Co. Ivory flats and filbert brushes
Real hog’s hair filbert bristle brushes
Read more of our recent Instructor interviews:
An Interview with Frank Francese, Watercolor Artist
An Interview with David Daniels: Artist in Watercolor + more
An interview with Judy Coates Perez, mixed media textile artist.
Interview with Liz Kenyon, Pastel Painting Instructor
Patti Mollica discusses creating her art, and teaching
An Interview with Kim English, Oil Painter
An Interview with Barbara Nechis, Watercolor Artist
An interview with Hollis Chatelain: Fiber Artist
An Interview with Natalya Aikens: Computer + Stitch = Art Quilt
Judy Coates Perez is an International award-winning mixed media textile artist, traveling globally to teach painting and mixed media techniques on fabric. Her three-day Workshop, Acrylic Inks on Fabrics, will be held at the Hudson River Valley Fiber Art Workshops April 9 to 12, 2015.
How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?
Before I began teaching painting about 7 years ago, I home-schooled my kids who are now 21 and 24 years old. Having kids with very different learning styles, I learned a lot about teaching and that my main goal was to facilitate the process of learning by helping my children learn how to learn.
I often see my role as an instructor is to be a guide for creativity, by teaching techniques that will help others create the work they visualize in their head, because they have not yet gained the skills to transfer those ideas to fabric on their own.
What is your favorite part about teaching?
I love it when students get excited about their work, when they surprise themselves with what they’ve accomplished.
I am a very relaxed teacher, and want students to also feel comfortable and enjoy the process, otherwise what’s the point? It’s about doing what you love, because when you love it, you’ll do it a lot, and when you do it a lot you will improve. The important thing to remember is, you won’t master a new technique in a day, but you might be surprised at just how much you can achieve.
What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop?
Having someone to guide you and answer questions as they come up when trying something new, or find out where the problems lie when you haven’t been successful with a technique on your own.
Trying new things with others can also be a wonderful source of encouragement when you’re feeling out of your element.
Working within a group is a great opportunity to see how others approach the same task, learn from one another’s successes and mistakes, which can often lead to new ideas.
What are you currently working on in your own art?
I have been taking mixed media samples left over from one of my classes, cutting them up and sewing them together to use as a base fabric to paint imagery on top of.
Where is your art currently being exhibited?
My house, lol. I am not the best about regularly entering exhibits.
Is your work represented in galleries?
I haven’t pursued working with galleries, my focus for the last several years has been on teaching.
What is your favorite art quote?
I love this quote by writer Neil Gaiman, it applies to every creative pursuit:
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.”
Describe your studio.
It’s a good sized room off the back of the house with a 4’ x 8’ table in the center that my 25 year old Pfaff sits in. My daughter usually sews on my Bernina 1630. I have old school lockers that I keep my batting and bulky supplies in, flat files from my days as a graphic designer, several large shelving units, and cupboards, an old dresser to hold my hand dyed fabric and a few small filing cabinets.
Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products.
Paint: acrylic inks and Setacolor textile paints
High thread count white cotton fabric
A mechanical pencil
Mistyfuse
A camera (usually my phone now)
Some of our recent Instructor interviews:
Interview with Liz Kenyon, Pastel Painting Instructor
Patti Mollica discusses creating her art, and teaching
An Interview with Kim English, Oil Painter
An Interview with Barbara Nechis, Watercolor Artist
An interview with Hollis Chatelain: Fiber Artist
An Interview with Natalya Aikens: Computer + Stitch = Art Quilt
Ruth Powers: Designing and Sewing for Picture Piecing
Patti Mollica will be back at the Hudson River Valley Art Workshops this spring to teach her enormously popular Workshop in oils and acrylics, Loosen Up and Get Painterly May 17 – 23, 2015.
Patti is a very successful artist and instructor, and we recently asked for her insights about her work and teaching.
How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?
I teach a painting method of “loosening up”. So many people get caught up painting small details at the expense of a bigger, more gestural approach. My method teaches them a step-by-step approach for painting with more confidence and “swagger”.
What is your favorite part about teaching? Three things: Watching people get excited about breaking new ground with their work, hearing their testimonials that I’ve helped them achieve certain goals, and meeting new people and forming friendships. It’s very rewarding!
What would you tell your prospective students are three best reasons for taking a workshop? Workshops are a targeted way of learning a lot of information in a short amount of time. They are very goal oriented, and having lots of personal time with the instructor, who can coach the student when they get “stuck” is key.
What are you currently working on in your own art? Staying loose, experimenting with different color schemes, abstraction exercises and incorporating collage elements into some work.
Where is your art currently being exhibited? Simie Maryles Gallery in Provincetown, Nancy Dodds Gallery in Carmel, and I sell a lot of work on my blog and website.
Do you sell your work in any online gallery? I have a presence on Daily Paintworks and sell work there as well.
What is your favorite art quote? “The art of painting will survive and thrive because it is easy to do and difficult to do well.” (Robert Genn, 2012)
Describe your studio. It’s my sanctuary – where all my artistic ideas come to life, in full color!
Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products. Sketch pad, Charcoal, Paint, Brushes, canvas… the basics.
Some of our recent Instructor interviews:
An Interview with Kim English, Oil Painter
An Interview with Barbara Nechis, Watercolor Artist
An interview with Hollis Chatelain: Fiber Artist
An Interview with Natalya Aikens: Computer + Stitch = Art Quilt
Another super week with Bob Burridge where a marvelous time was had by all. The magic of “Oops” was that even mistakes can be turned into successes with a little “magic” and imagination.
At dinner on the final night, the group of students presented Bob with a little moment gift. One was a book titled “Beautiful Oops” by Barney Saltzberg. This delightfully illustrated children’s book was a perfect example of the things that Bob Burridge was talking about in the class – how “oops” can be transformed with imagination and creativity into something beautiful.
Bob will be back again next year in October!
Bob Burridge was here for his annual party . . . I mean workshop. Although around the dinner table each night it was definitely a party atmosphere, maybe because we have 3 people celebrating their birthdays on different nights.
This is Lil Masten, who has been coming to our workshops for years. She started the birthday celebrations right by buying wine for everyone that night.
Here are the two entertainers – Bob and Mark, during one of their evening “shows!”
The party continued in the studio. This is what one of the students had to say:
“I’ve never laughed so hard at a workshop & had so much fun!! Bob is so knowledgable & wants to share everything he can with his students. I’ve attended many workshops over the last 8 years, I felt that what Bob taught me brought everything I learned previously together & I feel I can start out fresh again. Thanks to a wonderful instructor full of heart, soul, passion and amazing knowledge about art & the meaning of a true artist.” – Mary Fran
Meanwhile outside the studio, the weather was confused. We had 80 degrees the first half of the week and then rain and 40 degrees on the last half of the week! But the lilacs didn’t seem to mind.
Back in the studio, Bob presented many mini demos and lectures each day to keep everyone inspired, thinking, and laughing!
It wasn’t long before the walls of the studio were filled with some amazing and unique works of art.
The pool was “open” but somehow no one was tempted to brave the chilly winds and rain to dive in!
Dinner on the final night was the topper. Everyone loved the Chipotle Chicken and the Tirasmiu dessert, but the final act was a magic show by Bob including turning a napkin into a rabbit and making a salt shaker go right through the table to appear on the underside.
Here is the group that was responsible for this wild week-long party.
Bob will be returning again in May of 2014, so don’t wait to long to sign up because the workshop is sure to fill up quickly, as usual.
Bob Burridge sometimes like to refer to his demos as magic shows — probably because he worked his way through college performing as a magician! Now a days Bob works magic with acrylics and collage!
Always a fun workshop, here is a photo tour of the studio during the class:
Bob will be back again in 2013 at around the same time in May. Don’t delay in signing up for this super popular instructor!
Where has the time gone? 2012 will be our 8th workshop season, although Hudson River Valley Art Workshops has been at this location since the 1980s!
We are enjoying a brief bit of snow, which is due to melt away tomorrow. Today, however, it is gorgeous.
Every year is exciting but as I start to put together everything for the current season, it always seem that THIS year will be the best ever!
This is the line up for 2012:
We had an impressive lightening storm during Bob Burridge’s workshop and Bob was thrilled with it! It turns out that he loves spectacular displays of weather, so during the storm some of us sat out on the front porch sipping beer and watching the show.
The weather during the rest of the workshop was beautiful which was great for experimenting with CitraSolv. CitraSolv is a natural cleaner and degreaser that many artists have begun to use for artistic purposes — so much so that CitraSolv has an entire section of their website devoted to artists using CitraSolv.
Bob took the class out on the lawn in back of the workshop studio to show how CitraSolv can be sprinkled on National Geographic magazines to create wild and wonderful collage papers.
The class also celebrated Lois’ birthday by requesting a specially decorated chocolate chip cookie at cookie time!
And Bob lead everyone in a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday.
Meanwhile everyone continued to produce some amazing work all around the studio. In this corner we have John, Elizabeth, Peggy, and Dale. Most people worked standing up and were able to use the table risers we provide to raise the height of the tables.
In this corner is Cristina and Louise. You can see out the windows how green the landscape around that inn has become.
That big grin on Tanya’s face is probably because she got into the class 2 days before it began due to a last minute cancellation by someone else! Bob had a long waiting list for this years class and already his next years class is starting to fill.
On Friday night after dinner everyone gathered for a group photo. What a happy crowd!
Robert Burridge, the charismatic artist and instructor from southern California, is here all this week teaching abstract painting and collage to a full workshop.
You think he could be a little more enthusiastic?!!
It is day two of the workshop, but already the studio is bursting with wonderful painting exercises and experiments. Bob says “come prepared to paint your stuff” and he means it.
Elizabeth M. got a special surprize this afternoon — a lovely bouquet of white flowers “sent” by her three dogs, who miss her very much. Elizabeth said they must have gotten worry about her coming back when they heard what a fantastic time she was having at the workshop. Those dogs sure know how to pick a great bunch of flowers!
Outside the studio there is plenty of action with color, too. The trees are filling out with leaves, the lilacs are blooming, and the peonies buds are just about ready to burst open. Remember a couple of blog posts ago when there was a photo of Paul George doing a painting demo of this very same view? Now you can barely see the inn behind the oak and maple trees!
