Two Day Workshop 

Photos are a terrific tool for a painter. They provide reference and angles that would be difficult to get, including action. 

The key is to know how to work from a photo and the FOCUS of this workshop.

This two day workshop is divided into THREE parts. 

PART ONE. I’ll talk about what type of camera equipment I use, including cell phones, still and video cameras and some things to look out for including taking photographs at night. One tip - most cell phones tend to shoot images that are slightly distorted, very wide angled, creating distortion in your painting if you’re trying to copy it exactly.

PART TWO. In the second part of the workshop I'll be talking about how to prepare the photo, either as a print or working from a computer image. In the workshop we’ll be working from printed still images that I’ll provide. (If you have an image you’d like to paint from that’s fine). I encourage you to try and work from a photo with strong lights and dark values and sufficient color information. Most photographs tend to wash out the color and the dark areas tend to go overly dark. For example, shadow areas in an image have a lot more color in them (from reflected light) than the photographs reveal.

PART THREE. I’ll focus on the actual process of painting from the photograph including tips on transferring the image to your canvas. I’ll also cover probably the biggest problem working from a photo - Focus. Unlike a photograph, which is generally all in focus, the human eye sees roughly 20% in focus and the rest is peripheral vision and slightly blurred so the key is to paint like your eyes see and not what the photograph is telling you.

It’s also best to work from your own photographs. Not only do you own the rights to the image but since you’ve taken the picture, you’ve already pre-composed the image.

I’ll begin the workshop with a short slideshow and a simple demonstration painting from a photo. To see more of George Scribner's work visit: scribnerart.com

$250 for CCA members, $275 for non-members

Does your heart sing when you see a light-drenched still life painting? 

Do you hit roadblocks when you paint, or are you overwhelmed by all the considerations in creating a well-designed and executed painting?  Do you get stuck, not knowing what to do next? 

Are you a painter who has some familiarity with basic painting concepts and skills, such as understanding values, mixing color, and paint application? 

Come join Debbie Mueller for a 3 day still life workshop where she will break down the creation of a painting into simple steps that allow the painter to focus their decision making and efforts on one thing at a time leading to two successful pieces of art during the weekend.

The techniques taught during the workshop will be practiced using still life, but are completely appropriate and useful for any subject- landscape, portrait, interiors, etc. This is primarily an oil painting workshop. Acrylics or Gouache may be used as well, though certain techniques may not work as well with these mediums.

Bio: 

Debbie Mueller picked up a paintbrush for the first time in her 50s and has become an award-winning artist with recognition for both her still life and landscape paintings. Her story, her passion and success could encourage those of us who might think we are too old, or too something, to try a new pursuit, and find our next chapter in life. She is a juried artist at the Rockport Art Association and is represented by a number of wonderful galleries in New England and Texas. She has exhibited in numerous national juried exhibitions and was the first-place winner of theArt2Life National Exhibition in 2023. She lives in Durham, NH and practices medicine in Wolfeboro, NH. 

Learn more about the artist and see her work at debbiemuellerart.com.

Fee: $350 for members, $375 for non members