Some of my works in progress.The Rebecca Crowell workshop ended today. I will be happy to sleep in, but will really miss the fun and camaraderie we had. It was a great experience. Rebecca is a wonderful instructor, low-key (in a good way) and extremely approachable, kind, and generous with her time, expertise and materials. I can't help but think that any other artist would try to keep these techniques to themselves, as a sort of trade secret to give them an edge in the art marketplace blah blah blah... But Rebecca is so not like that. I highly recommend a workshop with her if you are interested in abstract painting and curious about trying out the cold wax medium and new techniques.
A couple of commenters have asked me about the cold wax technique. Rebecca is the master, and I refer you to this page where she has written a wonderful description for the product manufacturer. It's not a medium only for abstract art, though it's obviously great for this purpose. (And Maggie, you have to use it on panel, not canvas, for reasons of structural stability.) Rebecca's website link is in the previous paragraph, and you can also visit her blog. If you pay her a cyber (or personal) visit, please say hi from me!
This is not a medium for those who like to be neat and stay clean. In fact, I don't think there is any other medium that approaches this one in full-out messiness. This was Rebecca's workstation that she demo-ed at:
Below: Here she is, though I have no idea why I happened to catch her when she had such an odd expression on her face. Behind her (i.e., to her right) are some of her smaller paintings on the wall.
(Forgive the quality of these workshop photos; they were all taken with my iPhone 3.)
Below, Phyllis (with whom I shared a large work table for the three days)--she was hilarious and we had a great time laughing together. Behind is Max, working intently.
Below, Ken (who designs outdoor furniture) and Anna. Ken was fairly quiet, and Anna quick to join in the giggles coming from my and Phyllis' table.
Below is Joe. He has a business doing that "faux" texture-type work on home interior walls. Apparently, he is known as "faux Joe." On our first day at lunch, I asked him what he did for a living, if it wasn't selling paintings, and he told me he was a "faux painter." I thought he was making a straightfaced joke--like, I'm not a real painter, just faking it.
You can also go see the lovely work of fellow participant Nancy Green at her link.The workshop was held in the KC Willis gallery in Longmont (Colorado). I live in Boulder, which is only half an hour away by car, but a million miles away in terms of lifestyle/philosophy. It felt so small-town-America to be here. For example, here on Main Street, just a door or two away from the gallery, we find a Christian Center...
...and directly across the street from it, we have this friendly and inspirational establishment:
Fortunately, things never went quite so badly during the painting sessions that anyone had to resort to popping over there to purchase anything.
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11 comments:
Wonderful posts on your workshop....great pieces of work too....and of course,,,the little darling with the tucked paws....
Cynthia Schelzig,,,a.k.a.Cynnie
This was a weeks worth of entertainment Jala.
Workshops really ramp up the creative momentum don't they. The live demos do much more than any books can impart.
Imagining the luminous by products you'll be coming up with after this.
Grandpas' pawn and gun. Whaddya know.
My grandpa dealt in Hersheys' Kisses.
Viva La Difference.
Rumi, oh Rumi.
PS- word verification: puppygo!
Only you could turn out good photos from a cell phone, Jala. Thanks for informing me on cold wax process, which I haven't heard of till now.
Next time I'm in Longmont, I now know where to go for a box of Grandpa's Pawns.
great post, Jala! I really enjoyed having you in the class...are you as tired today as I am?! I was so impressed with everyone in the class and the work that was produced, and I'll always remember this class as one of the most fun I have taught.
Hi Jala, those works in progress look great, but how in the world will you ever know when they are done?...rhetorical? The workshop sounds great, and you are obviously revved up with all the good stuff that you learned. I will do some exploring of the blogs you recommend, as I can see incorporating some of those techniques in more traditional paintings.
I think it's always wunderful if someone writes about their workshop experiences, especially when it was a great one. Thanks so much for sharing all this.
I really do like the orange and blue one!!!!!
Sounds like Longmont is a trip... of the alternate universe variety.
Looks like a great workshop! Messy and arty. Yes!
Looks like a great workshop, Jala, and your work looks like you've dialed up the color saturation some -- if that's even possible! Thanks for giving us a sense of it!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! The cold wax medium seems interesting. I can't wait to see how you incorporate it into your work back in your studio.
Love your blog.
I would LOVE to attend a workshop like this. You must have learned so much. Your works in progress look rich and wonderful! The sphinx at the bottom of your post has plenty to ruminate over.
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