Portrait Workshop Recap!

This was my demo. :) Didn't get very far.

watercolor work in progress 10" x 14"

Well, the portrait class is over and it went very well! Thanks for all the good luck wishes and tips you guys gave me, it helped a lot!

I decided to paint a step by step and stop in between each step so that everyone could follow along on their own paintings. I had every one use the same photo reference because I thought this might be a more effective way to show my techniques in such a limited time period (it was only three hours) instead of everyone painting something different. I think it worked out pretty well. 

me painting the demo

(thanks so much to Patricia Christensen for sending me these photos of the class! I brought my camera only to realize I had left the battery at home. D-oh!!) 

I was so nervous for this class. I have never really taught painting before, I've given a few demonstrations, but never actually taught so I was worried that I would be very incoherent about how to actually use my techniques.

This is what I was afraid would happen:

Student: "So how exactly do you do that??"

Me: "You just, sort of , like, put paint on your brush and then kinda move it around the paper. . . "

:D

Me again. :) And some lovely, wonderful, talented students. :))

Everyone was so great, really passionate about watercolor, with lots of talent, and willing to learn whatever I had to share with them. They were a very cool group. I mean, they even laughed at my lame jokes! :)

Here they are hard at work.

And more of the class! I was really excited because fellow Utah Daily Painter and blogger Patricia Christensen was there! (That's her in the blue shirt in the back) I instantly felt more at ease knowing I had a friend there. :)

And here's the whole class. Except for the two men who somehow managed to slip away when we announced 'Group Picture'. Next time Mike and David, next time!

It was a lot of fun and a great experience. Teaching this class really helped me understand why and how I paint the way I do, and also how to articulate that for others to understand (hopefully!). And it's been good practice for that how-to portrait book I've been thinking about doing. 

I think the class had a good time too because they asked me to come back. Huzzah!

Until Thursday my friends. Have a great week! :)

P.S. I talk a lot on this blog about being true to yourself as an artist and painting what you love so I thought I'd direct your attention to two fantastic posts that I read in the last week about the very same thing.

Sandra wrote a beautiful post that you just must read. If you don't know Sandra hurry on over there because she is not only a truly talented artist, but one of the loveliest and kind hearted people in the world. Literally. :)

And the always inspiring Carol Marine wrote about how she feels about her most recent project. Inspiring stuff for sure.

K, bye for reals now. :)