Workshops Menu
Contact Jim to determine cost for your choice
Acrylic Pouring Workshop - We begin by preparing our surface by masking sides of surface to be poured. I will have cradled panels or stretched canvas for you to use. Another option is for you to provide a suitable surface such as an old record album, or any agreed upon surface. I will demonstrate different methods of pouring and show examples. Pours can be done all at one time or in multiple layers with multiple sessions. Brushwork can be applied between layers. Drying time necessitates picking work up at a later time we can arrange after the pour. We will use highly pigmented soft body acrylics mixed with liquid acrylic pouring medium. More options are available when do multiple layers. After drying, a final clear coat of pouring medium will give a polished effect. I will pour the final clear layer if you would like to schedule only one session and pick up. Guidance will be given to achieve something you can appreciate for a lifetime, or give as a gift to someone dear.
Abstraction and Non–Objective
strategic workshop
Non-objective art doesn't portray the recognizable material world. What we get as a viewer is an interesting starting point from which to engage the imagination and activate associations; abstraction can begin from this or come from the other direction. Representational art can be abstracted through the elements of design (line, color, texture, etc) used with exaggeration or distortion.
In the workshop, we will explore motivation first. By making decisions based on the essence of motivation, you front load energy in to the initial process. Once a beginning strategy is employed, periodic reflection on original intent may change the motivation. That's okay.
I will briefly demonstrate possible techniques and then monitor your process as you begin. As the work develops, obstacles must be viewed as opportunities. I will observe and suggest techniques to deal with the changing canvas. How will you know when you are finished? I have some strong ideas that I'm willing to share on this, but the ultimate decision lies with you.
Making Non-Objective or Abstract Art can be a very satisfying doorway into areas of creativity expression.
This partially finished painting is being done as a demonstration of one approach to Non-Objective art.
Painting in Progress
Landscape Painting Workshop
Many complex landscapes can be captured by understanding how to employ sequence, color theory, and placement of visual elements. I'll have a whiteboard with a list of strategies that I will go over with you in an initial demonstration. You will start with a photo you bring, or from imagination, either of which will work fine. If you bring a photo, look for objects in the foreground, middle ground, and background. Check to see that there is some balance between the darkest dark and lightest lights. Using a picture with a powerful light source, creating some varying contrasts will help. Working from imagination, all these things can consciously be applied.
Painting techniques from palette knife applications to glazes will be demonstrated as needed. As in most cases, when using tools, the best tool for the job will work much easier and with better results than using tools less suited for the task at hand.
The canvases we'll use are stretched gallery style (thick underframe) and primed. These pre-primed canvases can become more interesting and friendly to work with if some tone is applied. This is not necessary, but I'll show you how if you desire.
Landscape painting has many moments where the magic of art making comes alive! Bringing a composition to new levels of vibrancy will get your inspiration kicked up a notch. Fearlessness in art making will yield rewards. As the work progresses, more opportunities to inject bold colors and strong values will arise. Now you are nearing the end of the painting, but the art continues for generations to come as your art activates imagination!
Drawing Perspective Workshop
Create a one point, two point, or three point perspective drawing and get DEEP into your art! Space is an element of design that can be dealt with by calling upon these methods of perspective. More can be done with color, but that's another workshop altogether! With knowledge of how and why linear perspective functions so well, you'll be able to create stunning illusions of depth! Interiors, exteriors, fantasy ... whatever you'd like to take on in your drawing, it is within your reach to do so.
Jim has many years of experience teaching perspective in which he has developed a sequence that reinforces itself along the learning curve. This workshop will change the way you see things!
Example of 2 point perspective from a 14 year old student of Jim's
Creativity Workshop
This workshop is all about learning to look past perceived limitations into boundless possibilities. You will be invited into a realm where how you deal with the act of creating is a present tense activity. If you have a specific idea for a final product, maybe a different workshop can get there. By not attaching importance or attention to what could be, what is becomes the focal point.
The processes we will uncover rely on courage and a fearless attitude. These are qualities that can be cultivated with doses of trial and error. The error part is where questions will arise. How these questions are formulated can be calculated to prompt the next breakthrough!
You will be provided with a variety of media to choose from or combine to create a meaningful work of art. More importantly, you will discover tools to overcome creative blocks, and you may use these tools as befits your creative endeavors from now onward.
Practical Color Theory Workshop
3-4 hours $120 per person
1 - 4 people
While you have probably seen a color wheel before, using a well designed one can yield profound results.
In this workshop, you will design a color wheel that will not only be an invaluable source of information, it will also be a stand alone work of art.
You will learn about how color can be used to indicated distance both near and far. Color can be used to bestow relative importance. Information like time of time of day and mood are affected by color use.
The design will be unique and somewhat kaleidoscopic. Useful vocabulary will be used to as a guide to fill in appropriate areas of the color wheel so as to render its functionality. Two formats will be available to choose from, round (with a separate sheet of vocabulary terms with definitions ... best suited as a stand alone piece of art) or rectangular (radial design that extends to a square filling most of the rectangle, leaving the rest for including the vocabulary in the design ... very practical for studio use.)
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