Tools for Making Impressionistic Paintings with Cynthia Rosen

This workshop will focus on the use of color and a variety of tools in creating impressionistic paintings. While some may go more representational and others more abstract the basic tenet of impressionism relies on broken color and most often a heightened sensitivity to color. I am known to rely on the palette knife to help generate highly colored images. Tools for the workshop will range from palette knife, to brush to wedges and spatchers.

Generally, daily introductions will make use of the technology afforded by Hudson River Arts (HRA) to tie in historic references to the day’s lesson as well as illustrate how I wish for you to proceed with the particular activity. There will be some accompanying demos to illustrate specific skills.

Day 1: We will go from a 3 value notan of particular subject to a complementary color representation, making use of warm and cool colors of the same. This will involve pre-mixing specific colors to broaden our range and adjust values of extreme complementary colors. We will use a process similar to that of buildng a hybrid limited color chart to help in the understanding of color relationships. We will then use these colors to create a few different small studies from still lifes set up at different stations with varying light sources.

Day 2 will address specific use of a variety of tools and the various affects you can get from them. You will choose 3 tools to use in order to create a more impressionistic painting with broken color. I will introduce glazing (in acrylics) and scrumbling as well. It will be a day full of experimentation for which you will be presented with more involved still lifes, providing a lot of options, and the time to complete your first full painting. The evening of day 2 will provide a tutorial on perspective for those interested.

On days 3 and 4 we will focus on completing quality paintings using the tools and knowledge gained from days 1 and 2. On Day 3 you will focus on interpreting a landscape applying what you have learned. You may bring your own photos to work from or use provided photos. Day 3 will see you produce a final painting applying impressionistic techniques that you find comfortable. But we will use colors more appropriate to your chosen landscape, once again pushing warm versus cool boundaries and broken color. You will premix the proper colors needed to address your particular scene. Day 4 is your day to produce whatever image you want, be it from your own photo, a still life. or an image/s provided. It is the last day of instruction and it’s goal to expand your range of colors and techniques in creating vibrant impressionistic paintings.

Supply List

 

About Cynthia Rosen

My work is a reaction and response to the quiet amenable youngster growing up.  It is the adult who found her passion for color, expression, and individuality portraying her own love of creativity and way of seeing the forever changing world.

In 2015 I picked up the palette knife in order to learn more about color; in doing so I unwittingly discovered a new visual language. More recently I have included new tools which still afford me the use of vibrant color but add to the range of textures in my work With the success this knowledge has afforded me and my passion for teaching, I look forward to helping you incorporate similar skills in your own work. The benefits of the palette knife and related techniques are the immediacy and application of clean broken color. My goal is to enhance one’s own artistic vision with greater understanding of color relationships and technique options. Through specific skills I work to help attendees bring excitement and sense of movement to their work.