Doug Dawson Workshop
MIXED FIGURE/LANDSCAPE PAINTING WORKSHOP
Day one: I give a 1 1/2 hour demonstration of pastel painting working from the model. (working from large to small shapes) Students spend the rest of the morning and afternoon practicing the skills demonstrated, working from the live model. During this time, I go from student to student offering help and answering questions. At the end of the day we have a critique and I introduce students to 3 different types of design.
Day two: I give a 1 1/2 hour demonstration of pastel painting working from the model (Puzzle painting). Students spend the rest of the morning and afternoon practicing the skills demonstrated working from the live model. I work individually with the students. At the end of the day I describe what every artist should know about painting the features of the face. At the end of the day we have a critique
Day three: I demonstrate the use of color thumbnail sketches to solve problems of composition and color (1 hour demo and discussion). The remainder of the morning students do thumbnail sketches. In the afternoon, we look at pictures of landscapes and I describe how to separate space into planes. I describe the 7 principles used to create the illusion of depth in a painting. I then give a 1 1/2 hour landscape demonstration. At the end of the day we have a critique.
Day four: Students do a color thumbnail sketch in preparation for a landscape painting. When they have a good thumbnail sketch they then develop it into a larger painting. I give a short talk on using edges to create the illusion of texture and pattern. At the end of the day we have a critique
Day five: Students start work on another landscape painting. At the end of the day we have a critique. The last hour of the day I talk about what every artist should know about painting water. I illustrate the three zones in water. I talk about separating water into plains and the nature of reflections. I also cover the problem of painting running water as in a stream, waterfalls, and waves rolling in on a beach.
Color and composition are two topics which will be discussed continually throughout the 5 day workshop.
I invite students to bring in 3 to 5 pieces of art any time during the workshop for a personal critique.