Monday, September 27, 2010

A Great Workshop

Last Thursday, Friday and Saturday I attended the best workshop ever.  Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry have very different painting styles so having these two teachers instructing was like going to two workshops at once.

The first day, Dreama demonstrated her painting style and we all used a photo she provided and did a painting using her palette colors.  She has such a beautiful, loose style and her paintings just glow.  Trying to create paintings like hers would take years of practice (for me) but I was pretty happy with the looseness I achieved with my attempt since my painting style is so literal.
Here is the painting I did that first day.


That first night, after teaching all day, Leslie and Dreama cooked a wonderful dinner for us.  It was so nice to spend time with everyone and get to know Leslie, Dreama and the 19 other people in the class  better in such a beautiful, relaxed setting.

On Friday, Leslie showed us her palette knife painting technique.  She put a very detailed photo of 2 boats on our easels for us to paint.  I thought she was crazy!  I was a bit stressed wondering how I was going to paint such a detailed photo, being the "I've got to paint everything I see" artist that I am.  It was easier than I thought and I'm pretty happy with the result.
That evening, Leslie and Dreama cooked another delicious dinner for us.  I must admit, when I first heard about this workshop, the fact that 2 gourmet meals were included definitely sealed the deal and I knew I had to sign up.

On Saturday, Dreama and Leslie had us play musical easels.  They set up a different photo of one of their paintings at each easel and we started at our own easel to begin the painting on a 6" x 6" canvas.  Then, after a couple of minutes, the music stopped and we moved to the next easel, taking only one paintbrush, a palette knife and a roll of paper towels with us.  This continued until all of us had worked a little on each painting.
At the end, we went back to our own easel and they let us do 3 strokes on the painting and then we had to stop.
All of the paintings turned out really well.  I love that I have this painting as a souvenir of this wonderful workshop.
If you have the chance to take a workshop from them, I would definitely recommend it.  They have one coming up in Atlanta in February 2011.  Also, check out their blog, Artists Helping Artists  and listen to their weekly radio talk about marketing your art.

14 comments:

  1. So so so way COOL! I just might try to go to one of their workshops - I would be so intimidated though... but two gourmet meals. hmmm. I think your paintings are AMAZING. Thank you so much for sharing about this class.

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  2. Your paintings are beautiful! It was a fun workshop and I'm so glad I got to meet you!

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  3. Margaret, you should take their workshop. It is such a warm, relaxed atmosphere that I think your intimidation would disappear.

    Thanks Theresa. You paintings from the workshop were equally nice. Are you going to post them? It was really nice meeting you too. I always like meeting blogging buddies.

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  4. You've always been interested in painting looser - and it looks like it was the perfect workshop! I love your first painting!

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  5. Thanks Hillary. I hope I can keep up the looseness outside of the workshop and try it in watercolor too.

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  6. Beautiful flowers , Nancy . Love the way you have painted the glass bottle.

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  7. Your new paintings remind me of the french impressionists, this loose style suits you!

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  8. Thank you Rishi. The glass was the most fun part to paint. Maybe that shows.

    Thanks Robin. The impressionist period is my favorite. I hope I can paint some more in this style. Maybe a glass of wine would help.

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  9. Loved meeting and painting with you at the workshop. Your paintings are great.

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  10. Thank you Jerry. I really enjoyed meeting you and Ray and hope to keep in touch. Your paintings are beautiful also.

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  11. Sounds like such a great experience. I love, love, love listening to their radio show. I get so much terrific info. I'm so happy you posted about the workshop, it's very cool to read your perspective. If only I painted in oil, I would take their workshop in Feb.

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  12. Lucky you to be at Dreama and Leslies's workshop! Gourmet meals and all! Your paintings are fantastic!

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  13. I noticed your boat painting at the house the other day and forgot to say something about it. It is stunning - has the real one-two punch. I love it.

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  14. Thanks Carrie. I love their radio show too. It's very informative.

    The workshop was a wonderful experience Nancy. Thank you for your kind comment.

    Hi Cheryl, thank you. I'm glad you liked it.

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