I just taught a workshop for the Art Society Of Strathcona County (ASSC) in Sherwood Park.  It was a fabulous experience and I was treated like royalty.  I would like to thank everyone involved for inviting me and also for looking after me during the weekend.  I was very excited to teach this workshop because I love teaching but also because I have been greatly inspired since my experience this summer as illustrated in the past 3 posts.

The participants were a very friendly and enthusiastic group and from a teacher’s point of view you can’t ask for more than that.  I have been impressed by the way that the ASSC is supported by the local government.  The city has given them control of this wonderful facility, the Red Barn, as a permanent art centre.  It’s great to see art groups supported in this manner.

Everyone worked really hard over the 2 days as we covered a lot and did a lot of painting.

Here are some photos from the workshop. Many thanks to Faye for taking the photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the 2 demos I did.  This first painting is another version of my painting St Mary’s which is inspired by a Calgary street scene.  In this version I wanted to make the scene even more monumental and I also wanted it to have a bit of a feeling of Gotham.  I’m really happy how it worked out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In terms of critiquing it, I’m very happy with everything.  There are a few minor changes I would make if I did it again, mainly in terms of straightening a few building edges and next time I would make the building in the background (which is based on St Mary’s Church) a little narrower so that it would appear to be a bit further back.  The big change I did make to it had to do with the 2 large figures on the left.  They, along with the other main figure were too short and dumpy.  So I enlarged the  figures on the left and  had them go out of the frame.  Much better.

Demo #2 was a version of the porch in the  Officers House from the ex military base in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.  I did this painting originally as a demo for the Watercolour Symposium held there about a month ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really like the sense of warm light inside the porch.  Your eye is very much attracted to this centre of interest.  In terms of changes I would make next time I think I would make the part of the main building that shows at the left edge  a little smaller or a little less defined.  The main change I did make once I got home  has to do with the foreground shadow.  During the demo it ended up a little light so I went over it again when I got home and then it was a little too dark.  So I had to wash  some of it out. I don’t like to correct paintings but in this case it is better with this adjustment.  I really like the bright reds in the flowers, the sparkle on the water and the entire tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So it was a great weekend in all respects and it was a pleasure to meet everyone.