The Artist
Botanical
Birds
Mammals
Insects & Feathers
Workshop Outlines
BASIC NATURE DRAWING
Graphite Pencil. 5 day intensive workshop.
Fundamentals of Nature Drawing has been created to teach the basic fundamentals of graphite pencil technique: contour drawing, smooth graduated tonal value scales that will accurately render any surface contour, consistent description of a single light source to describe three dimensional form on a two dimensional surface. Everything we see can be created with just a few basic shapes: spheres, cylinders, cubes and cones. Identifying these simple shapes and knowing how to render the accurately takes the mystery out of complex subjects.
This class is ideal for everyone; beginner, more experienced artist and professional wishing to review technique.
COLOR INTERACTION
Watercolor, gouache or color pencil. 5 day intensive workshop
Through as series of demonstrations, exercises and practice worksheets there develops a clearer understanding of how colors interact with each other. Limiting the palette to only 6 primary colors, secondary hues and complex tertiary hues will be created.
A method of painting with multiple glazes of a single primary will be used. This method creates colors of great depth and complexity. However if the preferred method of painting is to mix the knowledge learned in this class will to enhance a chosen method of painting. This is not a class to learn a new method of painting, just a clearer understanding of color.
BASICS OF PAINTING WITH GOUACHE
Gouache. 5 day intensive workshop
Through a series of demonstrations, exercises and practice worksheets a clear understanding of how to use gouache paint. The palette will be limited to 6 primary colors. Rather than mixing a desired color on a palette, thin glazes of a pure primary are overlaid until the desired color is achieved, secondary hues and complex tertiary hues will be created. Glazing with thin glazes of gouache has been used since the early fifteenth century creating colors of great depth and complexity rather than the more contemporary application of gouache paint which results in a rather thick pasty effect.
PAINTING WHITE SUBJECTS
Watercolor, gouache or color pencil. 18 hr. workshop
Detailed materials list will be sent with registration confirmation
Painting a white subject: what a terrifying proposition! That is until you begin to look closely and realize that ‘white’ is indeed a color, it is in essence any or all of the primaries, secondaries or tertiaries.
Learn to use simple techniques to identify these 'colors' of white, use complimentary colors in the areas of lack of light and how reflected colors influence a white subject, and most importantly how to render this information on paper.
DRAWING AND PAINTING FLOWERS
Graphite pencil, watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop.
This workshop will introduce students to the wonder of flowers and how to render that beauty accurately in graphite pencil and watercolor or gouache.
Through a series of simple exercises students will learn how to look closely, understand floral structure, and most importantly learn a variety of techniques created to remove the mystery of how to depict botanical subjects realistically.
This class is ideal for everyone; beginner, more experienced artist and professional wishing to review technique.
DRAWING AND PAINTING LEAVES
Graphite pencil, watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop.
Leaves: flat, curly, shiny, hairy, textured, pigment patterned. Green: are they really all the same green? These are just a few of the many challenges that occur when painting leaves. Flowers tend to become so much the focus of many botanical artists that the leaves tend to be somewhat ignored.
During this workshop there will be no flowers in the room!
Techniques for drawing well observed and accurately rendered leaves will also be reviewed. Capturing just the ‘right’ green, surface texture, be it shiny, matt or velvety of a leaf can be intimidating, but through a series of simple exercises students will find these mysteries less daunting. Everyone will be encouraged to keep a ‘leaf journal’ for future reference. This class is ideal for everyone; beginner, more experienced artist and professional wishing to review technique.
MAMMAL ANATOMY
Graphite pencil. 5 day intensive workshop
In order to draw and paint mammals accurately it is important to understand their underlying skeletal and muscular structure. While there are certain elements that all animals have in common it is important to observe and understand the more subtle differences. During this class the anatomical structure of felines, ungulates - (hooved animals) and canines will be studied.
SKETCHING AT THE ZOO
Pen, brush or colored pencil on paper. 5 day intensive. Sketching is an essential tool to enhance the understanding of a subject, one that should become part of the every day life of an artist. Zoos afford an artist a unique opportunity to closely study animals otherwise difficult to see.
Students will learn how to observe and quickly render the posture and movements of vertebrates - herpetiles, large birds and mammals.
Emphasis will be on quick, efficient sketching and note taking techniques as opposed to the fine drawing and rendering skills used up till now.
DRAWING MAMMALS
Graphite pencil. 5 day intensive workshop
Rendering the complexities of a mammal, be it a mouse or an elephant, can be intimidating. Drawing skills required to render muscle and skeletal information accurately, a variety of graphite pencil techniques to create the texture and pigment patterns of mammal fur will be demonstrated.
Once these fundamental techniques have been learned and practiced this process will be less daunting.
PAINTING MAMMALS
Watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop
This workshop is specifically tailored to learn and sharpen the fundamental painting techniques required to paint texture, long and short, pigment patterns, stripes and spots and all those in between found on all mammals. How to use photography as a necessary tool for painting mammals large and small, who do not remain still for long.
DRAWING BIRDS - Beginning Bird Drawing
Graphite pencil. 5 day intensive workshop
Birds do not sit still and are not happy posing for long periods. Sketching, collecting observational field notes and taking good photographs are essential preparation for a good bird drawing. During the morning of this one-day workshop we will have the opportunity to closely observe live birds. Back in the classroom, sketching, note taking and photography techniques will be discussed as well as the step-by-step process for creating a finished drawing. Through demonstration and actual exercises we will learn specific techniques to render feather textures and pigment pattern in graphite pencil.
DRAWING AND PAINTING MAMMALS – FELINES – wild cats only NOT domestic
Felines are challenging to paint, often the specific pigment patterns is the only thing that clearly defines their muscle structure and form and define one species from another.
In order to render accurately it is necessary to study them closely if study in the wild in not an option, time at the Bronx Zoo give artists the opportunity to sketch, photograph and take field notes of a chosen species which will then be used to develop into a finished painting.
By learning and practicing fundamental skills this process becomes fun and
exciting.
Examples of the various techniques will be displayed with the use of PowerPoint a presentation, original fine art works will be brought in also for close observation.
DRAWING AND PAINTING BIRDS
Watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop.
A botanical painting is a work of beauty on its own, but the addition of a bird visiting a blossom to feed or resting on a branch adds much to the appeal of the painting.
To render a bird's flight and feeding postures, it is necessary to understand bird morphology, learn painting techniques that capture plumage pattern information, iridescence, texture and detail. Learn to position feet and wings accurately, and understand the special interdependency that has evolved between many species of birds and the plants on which they feed so as to place a bird in a landscape true to its natural environment.
PAINTING HUMMINGBIRDS AND THE FLOWERS THEY VISIT
Watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop.
One of the most beautiful sights in nature is the sudden bright flash of color of a hummingbird as it feeds, hovering for a moment, to feed on a flower’s nectar.
In order to accurately draw a hummingbird’s flight and feeding postures, paint the magic of the iridescence colors of these little ‘jewels’ which John James Audubon compared to the “glittering garment of the rainbow”, one must understand as much as possible about their morphology, understand the special interdependency that has evolved between hummingbirds and the plants on which they feed, and learn special painting techniques necessary to render the iridescence of their feathers and the details of the flowers.
BIRD PAINTING – WADING BIRDS AND WATERFOWL
Medium: watercolor, gouache or color pencil. Classroom hours: 20
Birds such as ducks, herons, egrets present unique challenges for the wildlife artist. Colors range from all white to pigment patterned brown. From glossy sheen to spots of pure iridescent color, these birds will test any artist’s technical ability.
Birds do not sit still posing for long periods of time, so quick sketches, collecting observational field notes and taking good research photographs are an essential part of a good bird painting. The collected personal research material, learned drawing and painting techniques will be used as the basis for creating a fine art painting.
PAINTING BIRDS: RAPTORS
Medium: watercolor or gouache. Classroom hours: 20
Owls, hawks and kestrels are just a few of the birds that fall into this category each with its own unique challenge.
Techniques will be demonstrated to render realistic pigment patterns and textures of feathers. Special attention will be paid to the eyes, the most engaging part of any bird, though the hardest to render realistically.
PAINTING BUTTERFLIES
Watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop.
A butterfly alone can create an exquisite painting, but when added to a botanical work it not only enhances the image, it can also inform the viewer of the role butterflies play in some of the intricate inter dependencies of nature.
The workshop will include a discussion on how to take good research photographs, how to create sketches and record study notes. Students will learn how to spread a butterfly specimen, see demonstrations and practice painting techniques required to render the detailed patterns and iridescence on a variety of butterfly specimens.
PAINTING THE MAGIC OF BUTTERFLIES AND THE FLOWERS THEY VISIT
Watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop
A butterfly alone can create an exquisite painting, but when added to a botanical work it not only enhances the image, it can also inform the viewer of the role butterflies play in some of the intricate inter dependencies of nature.
The workshop will include a discussion on how to take good research photographs, how to create sketches and record study notes needed to accurately render the posture of a butterfly flying or feeding on a flower. Students will learn how to spread a butterfly specimen, see demonstrations and practice painting techniques required to render the detailed patterns and iridescence of butterflies.
Intensive workshops 5 consecutive days 9.30am – 4.00 pm 1 hour break for lunch
Local workshops 3 hour sessions.
Fee structure upon request.
Graphite Pencil. 5 day intensive workshop.
Fundamentals of Nature Drawing has been created to teach the basic fundamentals of graphite pencil technique: contour drawing, smooth graduated tonal value scales that will accurately render any surface contour, consistent description of a single light source to describe three dimensional form on a two dimensional surface. Everything we see can be created with just a few basic shapes: spheres, cylinders, cubes and cones. Identifying these simple shapes and knowing how to render the accurately takes the mystery out of complex subjects.
This class is ideal for everyone; beginner, more experienced artist and professional wishing to review technique.
COLOR INTERACTION
Watercolor, gouache or color pencil. 5 day intensive workshop
Through as series of demonstrations, exercises and practice worksheets there develops a clearer understanding of how colors interact with each other. Limiting the palette to only 6 primary colors, secondary hues and complex tertiary hues will be created.
A method of painting with multiple glazes of a single primary will be used. This method creates colors of great depth and complexity. However if the preferred method of painting is to mix the knowledge learned in this class will to enhance a chosen method of painting. This is not a class to learn a new method of painting, just a clearer understanding of color.
BASICS OF PAINTING WITH GOUACHE
Gouache. 5 day intensive workshop
Through a series of demonstrations, exercises and practice worksheets a clear understanding of how to use gouache paint. The palette will be limited to 6 primary colors. Rather than mixing a desired color on a palette, thin glazes of a pure primary are overlaid until the desired color is achieved, secondary hues and complex tertiary hues will be created. Glazing with thin glazes of gouache has been used since the early fifteenth century creating colors of great depth and complexity rather than the more contemporary application of gouache paint which results in a rather thick pasty effect.
PAINTING WHITE SUBJECTS
Watercolor, gouache or color pencil. 18 hr. workshop
Detailed materials list will be sent with registration confirmation
Painting a white subject: what a terrifying proposition! That is until you begin to look closely and realize that ‘white’ is indeed a color, it is in essence any or all of the primaries, secondaries or tertiaries.
Learn to use simple techniques to identify these 'colors' of white, use complimentary colors in the areas of lack of light and how reflected colors influence a white subject, and most importantly how to render this information on paper.
DRAWING AND PAINTING FLOWERS
Graphite pencil, watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop.
This workshop will introduce students to the wonder of flowers and how to render that beauty accurately in graphite pencil and watercolor or gouache.
Through a series of simple exercises students will learn how to look closely, understand floral structure, and most importantly learn a variety of techniques created to remove the mystery of how to depict botanical subjects realistically.
This class is ideal for everyone; beginner, more experienced artist and professional wishing to review technique.
DRAWING AND PAINTING LEAVES
Graphite pencil, watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop.
Leaves: flat, curly, shiny, hairy, textured, pigment patterned. Green: are they really all the same green? These are just a few of the many challenges that occur when painting leaves. Flowers tend to become so much the focus of many botanical artists that the leaves tend to be somewhat ignored.
During this workshop there will be no flowers in the room!
Techniques for drawing well observed and accurately rendered leaves will also be reviewed. Capturing just the ‘right’ green, surface texture, be it shiny, matt or velvety of a leaf can be intimidating, but through a series of simple exercises students will find these mysteries less daunting. Everyone will be encouraged to keep a ‘leaf journal’ for future reference. This class is ideal for everyone; beginner, more experienced artist and professional wishing to review technique.
MAMMAL ANATOMY
Graphite pencil. 5 day intensive workshop
In order to draw and paint mammals accurately it is important to understand their underlying skeletal and muscular structure. While there are certain elements that all animals have in common it is important to observe and understand the more subtle differences. During this class the anatomical structure of felines, ungulates - (hooved animals) and canines will be studied.
SKETCHING AT THE ZOO
Pen, brush or colored pencil on paper. 5 day intensive. Sketching is an essential tool to enhance the understanding of a subject, one that should become part of the every day life of an artist. Zoos afford an artist a unique opportunity to closely study animals otherwise difficult to see.
Students will learn how to observe and quickly render the posture and movements of vertebrates - herpetiles, large birds and mammals.
Emphasis will be on quick, efficient sketching and note taking techniques as opposed to the fine drawing and rendering skills used up till now.
DRAWING MAMMALS
Graphite pencil. 5 day intensive workshop
Rendering the complexities of a mammal, be it a mouse or an elephant, can be intimidating. Drawing skills required to render muscle and skeletal information accurately, a variety of graphite pencil techniques to create the texture and pigment patterns of mammal fur will be demonstrated.
Once these fundamental techniques have been learned and practiced this process will be less daunting.
PAINTING MAMMALS
Watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop
This workshop is specifically tailored to learn and sharpen the fundamental painting techniques required to paint texture, long and short, pigment patterns, stripes and spots and all those in between found on all mammals. How to use photography as a necessary tool for painting mammals large and small, who do not remain still for long.
DRAWING BIRDS - Beginning Bird Drawing
Graphite pencil. 5 day intensive workshop
Birds do not sit still and are not happy posing for long periods. Sketching, collecting observational field notes and taking good photographs are essential preparation for a good bird drawing. During the morning of this one-day workshop we will have the opportunity to closely observe live birds. Back in the classroom, sketching, note taking and photography techniques will be discussed as well as the step-by-step process for creating a finished drawing. Through demonstration and actual exercises we will learn specific techniques to render feather textures and pigment pattern in graphite pencil.
DRAWING AND PAINTING MAMMALS – FELINES – wild cats only NOT domestic
Felines are challenging to paint, often the specific pigment patterns is the only thing that clearly defines their muscle structure and form and define one species from another.
In order to render accurately it is necessary to study them closely if study in the wild in not an option, time at the Bronx Zoo give artists the opportunity to sketch, photograph and take field notes of a chosen species which will then be used to develop into a finished painting.
By learning and practicing fundamental skills this process becomes fun and
exciting.
Examples of the various techniques will be displayed with the use of PowerPoint a presentation, original fine art works will be brought in also for close observation.
DRAWING AND PAINTING BIRDS
Watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop.
A botanical painting is a work of beauty on its own, but the addition of a bird visiting a blossom to feed or resting on a branch adds much to the appeal of the painting.
To render a bird's flight and feeding postures, it is necessary to understand bird morphology, learn painting techniques that capture plumage pattern information, iridescence, texture and detail. Learn to position feet and wings accurately, and understand the special interdependency that has evolved between many species of birds and the plants on which they feed so as to place a bird in a landscape true to its natural environment.
PAINTING HUMMINGBIRDS AND THE FLOWERS THEY VISIT
Watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop.
One of the most beautiful sights in nature is the sudden bright flash of color of a hummingbird as it feeds, hovering for a moment, to feed on a flower’s nectar.
In order to accurately draw a hummingbird’s flight and feeding postures, paint the magic of the iridescence colors of these little ‘jewels’ which John James Audubon compared to the “glittering garment of the rainbow”, one must understand as much as possible about their morphology, understand the special interdependency that has evolved between hummingbirds and the plants on which they feed, and learn special painting techniques necessary to render the iridescence of their feathers and the details of the flowers.
BIRD PAINTING – WADING BIRDS AND WATERFOWL
Medium: watercolor, gouache or color pencil. Classroom hours: 20
Birds such as ducks, herons, egrets present unique challenges for the wildlife artist. Colors range from all white to pigment patterned brown. From glossy sheen to spots of pure iridescent color, these birds will test any artist’s technical ability.
Birds do not sit still posing for long periods of time, so quick sketches, collecting observational field notes and taking good research photographs are an essential part of a good bird painting. The collected personal research material, learned drawing and painting techniques will be used as the basis for creating a fine art painting.
PAINTING BIRDS: RAPTORS
Medium: watercolor or gouache. Classroom hours: 20
Owls, hawks and kestrels are just a few of the birds that fall into this category each with its own unique challenge.
Techniques will be demonstrated to render realistic pigment patterns and textures of feathers. Special attention will be paid to the eyes, the most engaging part of any bird, though the hardest to render realistically.
PAINTING BUTTERFLIES
Watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop.
A butterfly alone can create an exquisite painting, but when added to a botanical work it not only enhances the image, it can also inform the viewer of the role butterflies play in some of the intricate inter dependencies of nature.
The workshop will include a discussion on how to take good research photographs, how to create sketches and record study notes. Students will learn how to spread a butterfly specimen, see demonstrations and practice painting techniques required to render the detailed patterns and iridescence on a variety of butterfly specimens.
PAINTING THE MAGIC OF BUTTERFLIES AND THE FLOWERS THEY VISIT
Watercolor or gouache. 5 day intensive workshop
A butterfly alone can create an exquisite painting, but when added to a botanical work it not only enhances the image, it can also inform the viewer of the role butterflies play in some of the intricate inter dependencies of nature.
The workshop will include a discussion on how to take good research photographs, how to create sketches and record study notes needed to accurately render the posture of a butterfly flying or feeding on a flower. Students will learn how to spread a butterfly specimen, see demonstrations and practice painting techniques required to render the detailed patterns and iridescence of butterflies.
Intensive workshops 5 consecutive days 9.30am – 4.00 pm 1 hour break for lunch
Local workshops 3 hour sessions.
Fee structure upon request.