Masterclass in Figurative Art:

The Creative Process with Patricia Watwood and BJ Parker
This class has been WAITLISTED

August 21-25, Monday – Friday
10:00 am to 4:30 pm daily

What is it?  This is a small group class for intermediate to experienced students who want to learn more about the creative process for developing a unique work of art.  We will explore the stories woven into a figurative work with considerations of  personal meaning, interpretation, metaphor and expression of our ideas through images.  Learn how experienced artist work through a process of evolution in building a painting.  We will consider invention of pictorial space, stylistic language, and how to nurture our individual voice.  Ten students will work alongside two instructors, Patricia Watwood and BJ Parker, with a figure model posing each day with a week-long pose.  BJ and Patricia will each develop a painting, while sharing strategies, process and ideas. Participants will work alongside developing their own painting.  Group critiques, problem solving, slide presentations and collaborative discussion will help each artist make a unique piece over the week.  The week also includes an excursion to the St. Louis Art Museum, and a group dinner.

REGISTER HERE for this workshop

Registration is $750.
Payment can be sent via check to our studio at:
4814 Washington Blvd, Suite 322, St. Louis, MO. 63108
or you can use Zelle with our email: gacastudio.info@gmail.com

Workshops take place in the GACA’s studio, located in the Pierce Arrow Building,
4814 Washington Blvd, Suite 322, St. Louis, MO. 63108

Patricia Watwood at GACA

REGISTRATION for this workshop
For more information on Patricia Watwood, please visit her website at:
http://www.patriciawatwood.com/.


Time flow: 

Daily 10 am-4:30 pm

Please note:  we will have a long model session in the middle of the day.  You will want to plan to eat lunch before or after this model session.  We will have model breaks during the posing session as well. Plan ahead!

Monday

10-11 am:  Welcome, Intro, Presentation of themes and structure:
Concepts:  observation, perception, imagination, expression
Concept sketches, thumbnails, notan.  Multiple essays to work out ideas

11:30am-3:30 pm: Model posing
3:30-4:30 pm: slides/ looking at images/ concept sketching/ creative compost
Working from memory, imagination, concept

Mood board/ concept board:  16 x 20 to 18 x 24 sheet of Foam-core for each participant.

Tuesday

10am-11 am:  St. Louis Art Museum.  Looking at narrative works and compositions:  foreground, middle ground, background; considering how these works were built and resources as far as figures, props, costumes, etc.

Concepts:  Key, chroma, design, planning
11-12 pm: transition to CAGA, set up, eat
12-4 pm: model
4-4:30 pm: looking at projects underway—What can you bring in to add to your own project?  (pictures, ideas, additional props or resources).

Wednesday

10-11am: myths/ narrative/ meaning – what we are doing/ what we are thinking about
11-3 pm: model posing
3-4: pm: critiques—problem solving--- what are the problems you are struggling with, share ideas and input. (Pair up folks to start?)
Panel Discussion night. Patricia Watwood, B. J. Parker, and TBA

Thursday

10-11 am: Pictorial space and worldbuilding
11-3 pm: model posing
3-4:30 pm: model photo session options for participants.
Dinner/ Drinks with the group

Friday

10-11 am:  style, handling, abstraction, realism, surrealism, painterly, expressionist, hyperrealist, photo realist…..
11-3 pm: Model session
3-4:30 pm: Group critiques and wrap up.

Materials List:

This is an oil painting workshop.
1 medium to large stretched linen canvas
20 x 30 to 30 x 40 inches in size
2-3 small supports for sketches about 8 x 10 to 9 x 12 inches.  This can be prepared paper (gessoed paper, Stonehenge Oil paper, or canvas paper), or small canvas/ linen panels.
Black or white artists tape and support board
Personal Sketchbook for sketches and notes

Paints :  Patricia’s palette colors—feel free to adapt to your preferred colors.

    • Gamblin FastMatte Alkyd Oil Colors—Titanium white 37ml or Winsor Newton Galkyd White   (great idea to have a fast drying white!)

    • White (Gamblin Flake White Replacement)

    • Radiant Yellow – (Gamblin) or Brilliant Yellow/  Jaune Brillant

    • Yellow Ochre (Deep, Michael Harding)

    • Cadmium red light

    • Venetian Red

    • Quinacradone Magenta or Alizarin Crimson (permanent)

    • Burnt sienna (Michael Harding or Gamblin)

    • Raw umber (Gamblin)

    • Viridian (Gamblin)

    • Sap Green (Gamblin)

    • Ultramarine Blue (Gamblin)

    • Prussian Blue (Michael Harding)

    • Manganese violet (Gamblin)

    • Ivory Black (Gamblin)

Brushes:

    • 3-4larger bristle long filberts size 8-12,(i.e. Rosemary Brushes Ultimate Filbert, size 12)

    • ¾ to 1” wide flat bristle or white nylon for laying in large areas

    • 1 badger fan brush, medium size or other soft mop/fan brush

    • 2-3 white nylon filberts from ranging in size from 2-8, (ie.Rosemary Brushes Ivory Long Filbert size 6)

    • 1 white nylon round size 2 (small and pointy)

    • 3-4 gold nylon or sable brushes in filberts (i.e. Rosemary Eclipse Longer Filbert size 10)

    • 1 small sable or gold nylon round size 4, (i.e Rosemary Series 99 Pure Sable size 4) (small and pointy)

Other Materials:

Palette (mine is a “New Wave Art Salmagundi Palette” 10 x 15 wooden handheld)

  • Palette knife, like diamond head shape ~2 ½ inch long.  (Holbein, Blick)

  • Medium aluminum palette cup- or empty 2-4 oz jar

  • Brush tank, like a Silicoil or mason jar with lid

  • Paper towels and at least one painting rag (old t-shirt!)

  • Odorless mineral spirits, like Gamsol (recommended)

  • Stand oil- (small bottle)

Also welcome:  Photo inspirations, quotes and texts you like, “creative compost”.