STILL LIFE WORKSHOPS ~ Feb. 22-24, 2008 and April 18-20, 2008 in Clinton, CT (http://www.sylvangallery.com/)  This is a  still life painting class from life (not photographs) emphasizing painting in mass, composing in rhythms, and understanding the 5 planes of light.  Value relationship, spatial relationship, form, temperature, edges and keeping the painting moving towards a unified harmonious light effect will be practiced.   We will be using our gray scale with limited or muted color, focusing on form and light first, and color second.  This class is suitable for all levels, and I paint along side of my students demonstratin and explaing the "how" and "why" of artistic principles that make a painting read as an illusion of light, form, space and depth.

FLORAL PAINTING WORKSHOP Working from life, students will be taught to simplify and compse a flower painting by: seeking rhythm and overall design; using the principles of aerial perspective and value control; and creating an impression of atmosphere and depth.  Painting in mass (instead of filling in lines) and keeping the painting moving towards a unified relative light effect will be developed, along with color, compostion, planes and edges.  Special attetntion will be given to rendering a variey of textures including glass, metal, china and drapery, as well as capturing the characteristics of particular flowers.  Instruction focuses on demonstrations and repeated one-on-one and group critiques.  This class will meet indoors and possibly outdoors in the garden (weather permitting),  Karen always paints alongside of her students explaining the "how" and more importantly the "why" of artistic principes, as well as sharing years of experience on technical aspects of painting and art history.   Lyme Art Association - May 3-4, 2008 (http://www.lymeartassociation.org/)

STILL LIFE ~ PORTRAIT CONNECTION ~ A Comparative Approach - April 5-6, 2008 - Lyme Art Association (www.lymeartassociation.org)  Portrait Painting frightens new artists.  After all, there are eyes and noses to deal with.  So, to take the fear out of , at least, attempting a head study, I have devised a way to transition from still life to portrait.  We will begin by painting still life.  The same forms, values and planes that we see in still life are applicable to the head, and once the artist sees this connection, it is much easier to handle a portrait. Light, form, space, depth, bone structure, skin tones and planes will be emphasized.  We will use a tonal scale to keep our value/color relationships in check, and you will be given extensive instruction on mixing skin tones and painting in mass (not filling in lines).  Demonstrations and one-on-one critiques, as well as group critiques, will be employed.  Oils & Pastels.  All levels.

OIL PAINTING WORKSHOP - 3 DAY INTENSIVE - May 31-June 2, 2008 - Easton, MD - South Street Art Gallery (www.southstreetartgallery.com;)  plein air landscape painting, still life, and portrait studies. 2 painting sessions each day.   This workshop is intended to make artists aware of the connection between landscape, still life and portrait painting and to improve their ability to paint an illusion of light, form and space.  Still life painting is one of the best ways to practice painting form which, in turn, enhances the ability to do portraits and figures; and  landscape painting increases the awareness of space, atmosphere and depth. All painting will be from life.  Planes, values, perspective, color, and composition will be practiced. Learning to paint in mass (instead of fill in lines), compose in rhythms and see beyond the factual rendering to uncover the invisible qualities of beauty, grandeur and dignity to inspire a lifetime of pleasure and discovery as an artist will be our goal.  Appropriate for all levels. Oils or pastels preferred. I will also be doing this workshop at my studio in Cambridge, VT, October 3-5.

ELEMENTS OF LANDSCAPE PAINTING ~ Painting outdoors, directly from nature, is a challenge.  Dealing with changing light and weather cn be frustating to the beginner as well as the seasoned artist.  In Karen's class you will learn to mange these challenges and learn to paint quickly and efficienctly by:  1.  Organizing your palette and premixing color/value scales; 2  Painting in mass (instead of filling in lines);  3.  following rhythms to create movement;  4.  Simplifying design into 5 basic planes of light; 5.  Striving to maintain the unity of the "whole" and 6.  Contolling details.  all work will be small, fast and loose to capture the illusion of outdoor light, color, depth and mood.  The goal of this clas is to learn to use universal artistic principles that see beyond copying to compose a painting that has a unified light effect.  All levels.  Oils & Pastels   Lyme Art Association - June 28-29, 2008 http://www.lymeartassociation.org/;  Southern Vermont Art Center - August 8-9, 2008 http://www.svac.org/;  Sylvan Gallery - TBA http://www.sylvangallery.com/.

WALK & WATERCOLOR  - This is a unique outdoor painting class that exercises the heart, mind and spirit.  We will be producing small plein air studies from nature using both opaque and transparent watercolor on toned paper.  Atmospheric perspective, color, composition, design and movement, as well as working in mass and creating an illusion of outdoor light and depth will be our goal.  Bring a hat.  Material list will be provided.  Helen Day Art Center - TBA

ALLA PRIMA ~ Loosen Up!   September 16-18, 2008 ~ Southern Vermont Art Center (www.svac.org)  Alla prima painting is the most spontaeous and challenging form of painting from life.  It is direct painting done in one session, start to finish, and it forces the artist to work quickly and see the "whole".  It is the best way to capture the essence and mood, and it keeps the work fresh, not picky, or overworked.  This workshop will focus on learning how to simplify and organize your paintings, as well as discovering the "how" and "why" of universal artistic principles, so that the artist can paint with understanding.  Value relationships, spatial relationships, progressions, edges, color harmony, brushwork, transparencies, opacities, and mass to detail relationships will be employed to the best of the artist's abilities to make the painting read as an illusion of light, form, space and depth.  Alla prima painting is the best way to loosen-up, improve your brushwork, increase your understanding, and create a unified harmonious statement.  All painting will be from life (not photographs), and we will practice still life, floral, head studies or ,weather permitting, landscape.