by Gail Ribas, Director of the Acadia Workshop Center, Southwest Harbor, Maine

Taking a workshop is a wonderful way to improve your painting skills. The intense week long learning process means that you’re able to concentrating totally on the business of painting and not worrying about putting that next load of laundry in before starting dinner, etc. Being pulled in many directions dilutes your focus. Traveling to a workshop allows you to leave your cares, chores and the guilt from taking time for yourself, back at home where they belong.

We’ve seen many students come through our doors. Most students are prepared but some are not. Being unprepared interferes with your precious time to learn and disrupts the other students too. Before you set off to a workshop consider this:

First and foremost… always be on time! Keeping the instructor and the other students waiting is not only discourteous, it wastes everyone’s precious painting time. If you are always tardy, try setting your watch ahead by at least 15 minutes to keep you on track.

Don’t sign up for a class unless you are at the level specified. Unless stated otherwise, “beginners” level usually doesn’t mean it’s OK if you’ve never held a paint brush before. When in doubt, email or talk directly to the instructor and be honest about your ability.

If you’ve just bought a new easel and have never used it, practice setting it up and taking it down many times at home to become familiar with it.

Check to see what type of equipment/supplies the instructor recommends. Their years of experience will make your learning easier and it will help you be fully prepared.

Learn the basics! There is plenty of information available through books and the Internet on every subject imaginable.

Know the colors on your palette and how to mix them. There is nothing more irritating for an instructor to hear than “What color blue is that?” or “How did you mix that color?” Unless it is a beginner’s class, these are the things you should be learning on your own time. If you seriously want to be an artist, then do your homework.

Be open to trying new ideas or methods. Whatever a former teacher taught you was their way of doing things and there are many ways to solve the same problem. If you come with a closed mind you will not learn anything new and you are just wasting your time and money.

Keep your chatting to a minimum in the studio or on location. Those around you are trying to concentrate and don’t need to be distracted. There’s plenty of time to socialize during meals, etc.

For Plein Air classes:

Be sure you are able to carry your equipment outdoors without making numerous trips to the car. Lighten your load – cut down on your equipment until you have only the necessities. Paint outdoors a few times, even in your own yard or terrace, to see what you actually do use and what you can leave at home. Extra weight becomes burdensome when you have to walk to a location. It’s also much easier to pack up in a hurry if you have less with you when a rain storm pops up.

Bring or rent a folding chair or stool for outdoor demos. Everyone will be able to see better and you’ll be more comfortable.

An artist’s umbrella will also come in handy for providing shade or protecting you and your painting from a sudden rain shower. Working with sunlight glaring on your canvas will produce dark and somber paintings when brought inside. Always position your easel with your canvas in shade.

Bring a pad for taking notes and a camera.

Remember that you are there to learn. You will usually not be able to “finish” a painting in one sitting unless you are an advanced painter. Because so much information is communicated during a workshop, many students find that much of what they learned actually makes sense weeks or months after taking a workshop.

Be flexible about locations. You can always find something to paint when you learn how to “see” like an artist. Try to “zoom” in on something instead of painting a whole panorama with too many elements.

Dress for success. Unless you want bees and other stinging insects bothering you, don’t dress to look like a flower. Wear neutral colors only. Bright colors also reflect back onto your canvas and distort the paint colors. Very dark colors attract mosquitoes.

Bring and wear a good brimmed hat. Don’t forget to pack insect repellent, water to drink, sunscreen, sunglasses, a small garbage bag and hand wipes. Leave the location the way you found it and leave nothing behind but footsteps.

Bring your sense of humor and be prepared to have a good time!

Gail Ribas
Workshop Director
http://www.acadiaworkshopcenter.com

by Gail Ribas, Director of the Acadia Workshop Center, Southwest Harbor, Maine

Taking a painting workshop is the best gift you can give yourself. No matter if you are a “Sunday” painter or you are lucky enough to paint everyday, taking a workshop will improve your skills and give you confidence. Books and videos can only go so far in learning and they can’t answer questions. Studying with an instructor will give you a much better learning experience.

As the Director of a workshop facility I’ve seen many students and instructors pass through our doors. Here are some tips to help you find the right workshop for you:

Pick an instructor whose work or style you admire. - Check with other artist friends for referrals too.

Pick a workshop that has a maximum of 20 or fewer students. In larger classes you will probably not get the attention you are paying for.

Be honest about your ability. If the workshop information states that it’s for intermediate students you will be cheating yourself if you are not up to that level.

Bring what’s on the supply list – leave the rest of your art supplies at home.

Bring your “play” clothes or a smock– I’ve seen too many students dress as though they were in a fashion show and then get upset when they’ve gotten paint on their clothing.

Don’t be afraid of going alone. You’ll make new friends along the way.

Preparing for a workshop:

If the instructor has instructional books or videos, they will help you get a head start.

Be on time, in fact, be there early and ready to go at the appointed time. Being late interrupts the flow of the class.

Get to know your colors – it is very disheartening for an instructor when students ask “what blue is that?” in an intermediate class.

Be open to learn new things and techniques. If you keep doing things the same old way you won’t learn and isn’t learning something new the reason why you’re taking a class?

Don’t expect to bring home masterpieces – occasionally it does happens but not as a general rule.

Keep your conversations to a minimum – you will not only miss something important the instructor is saying but you will annoy other students.

There are many workshops out there to choose from. Unfortunately, not all are good. For the most part instructors are ready to freely share their knowledge, methods and techniques. Others just want to sell you their “signature” supplies or demos – their workshops somehow seem to always fill but they don’t usually get repeat students. We don’t hire the latter type of instructor for obvious reasons. Talk to artist friends about whom they studied with or ask for recommendations.

Gail Ribas
Workshop Director
http://www.acadiaworkshopcenter.com

Sign up today for the September 23-29 workshop at the Acadia Workshop Center. This will be a special week for beginning and intermediate watercolorists who enjoy nature and an encouraging, friendly workshop atmosphere.

Sharon Himes Painting the Experience of Nature is a watercolor workshop being held September 23 - 29 in Acadia national park in Maine. Explore the wild and beautiful Mount Desert Island, Maine, and learn techniques for drawing and painting this dramatic location.

Pencil, ink and watercolor techniques make this workshop appropriate for beginners and intermediate level artists. Learn to paint natural textures and wildflower details as well as glazing loose and expressive backgrounds. Paper and some materials included.

This was a popular workshop in 2006. You can see a scrapbook page of photographs at http://www.woodlandwatercolors.com/acadia