Past-workshops – Page 3

Thursday December 7, 2023

Painting Outside: Understanding The Bigger Picture

UPDATE: This workshop was formerly called “Painting Here and Now” and due to a change in personal circumstances, Jeremy Herndl is no longer able to teach his workshop at MISSA this summer. At this late date, and with a confirmed class of registered students, MISSA is grateful to have found DEBORAH CZERNECKY to teach outdoor painting, adding her unique perspective to capturing our natural surroundings. Deborah has been a long time supporter of MISSA as a past instructor as well as a past member of the MISSA Board of Directors.

The term “en plein air” is a French expression that simply means being outside. Painting outdoors is challenging and combines the captivating practice of painting from life with all the physical and mental health benefits of being out in the fresh air. Plein air painting broadly means working outside in front of the subject. Because of the challenges of working from an ever-changing subject (moving light, changing weather conditions, etc.), en plein air paintings are characteristically looser and more spontaneous in style than studio work. The average painter does not do this naturally, as we have a tendency to focus on things we are comfortable with such as details and narrative.

This five day course will concentrate on simplification of the landscape, with emphasis on shapes, limited value range, looser brushstrokes and local colours. Simple shapes live beneath the details and, if we use fewer values, the shapes become more clearly defined and simpler. We will add blocking-in to the conversation, as time is short on location, with the light constantly moving . This will lead us to chasing the light and slowing down at the right times. How to paint in daylight with strong sunlight, dealing with shadows and reflected light. We experience a wide range of weather conditions here on the West Coast so we will address how to work with the weather and the effects of weather patterns
beyond clear sunshine.

The last topic is getting around with everything you need without bringing the entire indoor studio. This will include various new types of outdoor easels, newest types of panels, umbrellas, and what not to take when flying, plus other related equipment.

Possible topics, time permitting – painting people in the landscape, extremes of temperature, tips for painting snow, tips for painting in the wind or rain, nocturnes, making choices, sight-size method and suggesting distance in the landscape.

Thursday December 7, 2023

Throwing Smart Pots for Small Spaces

I delight in simple pots of clean design. Simplicity is complexity resolved. Sometimes it takes a while to get there. Should I add a handle, do I need one? Can I manage without it? How can I design it to look elegant and still be easy to pick up and use. I have honed some of my designs for small pots like butter dishes and soap dishes.

Design is endless, there will always be another way to look at it, another way to enjoy the daily rituals. For instance, I need a butter dish that I can operate with one hand. As in the other hand, I have the knife eagerly awaiting a dip in the butter. It must be easy. I love butter, I want it on the bread quickly, spread well and even. For that, there must be an ease to getting it on the knife. And on the knife in the right way, so it spreads properly. For me, the butter dish must be right.

Now take the same thought to all the other pots, lemon squeezers, stackable bowls and mixing bowls, a mortar and pestle, a soap dish. And to stackable lidded pots. Two pots that stack on top of each other, either one on top, with only one lid for them both, so they take up less space in the fridge.

Design with clay is fun and versatile. Design, build, test, revise.

Is it time for some new pots that work in your space?

Thursday December 7, 2023

A Deep Dive into Crystalline & Special Effects Glazes

This workshop will provide an in-depth exploration of crystalline and other special effects glazes. It is intended for potters with some previous experience with crystalline glazes. Detailed discussions of new techniques and materials will be accompanied by many of Holly’s crystalline and specialty glaze recipes and tips on the use of rare earth metals.

Participants will learn about strike firing methods in both oxidation and reduction and cone 10 firing schedules, as well as process descriptions including acid etching. Holly will provide detailed information on making, glazing, and marketing, accompanied by slides of current and historical work plus commentary on studio layout and events.

There will be a hands-on glazing session on day one, with a cone 10 firing. On days three and four there will be two more strike firings with critiques and troubleshooting on the glaze results. Participants will enjoy firing a small reduction kiln and will learn how to make this inexpensive and effective, portable fiber kiln for post fire reduction.

Holly will also demo her wheel throwing and altering techniques in porcelain while discussing forms well suited to Crystalline glazes. Expect a fun “how to” session on making Christmas ornaments and altering both cast and wheel thrown pots.

Pre-course instructions will be provided so that participants can bring along suitable cone 10 bisque pots to glaze and fire, plus some already fired crystalline pots appropriate for “strike” firing.

Each day will end with a Q&A troubleshooting session, so bring your questions for this knowledgeable Instructor.

Thursday December 7, 2023

MAPPA: Cartography in Cloth

Mappa is Latin for a square of cloth. Maps and embroidery share the potential for narrative and fine details. Over five days we will explore a personal cartography through the textile medium beginning with three small “samplers.” Spaces, lines, symbols, and metaphors find their places in maps and stitches. Evoking a journey, remembered or imagined, each student will design and begin a map that may continue to evolve.

Our maps will explore both physical and internal geographies. Where are we? Where have we been and what did we experience there? Where might we go? Maps have the potential to ramble from micro to macro –a trip around to room or across a continent. In this age of Google maps, we are often more focused on our devices than on our surroundings; this workshop will encourage an increased awareness of our personal pathways and develop a language to express them. Mapping becomes a cosmic zoom as the world involves ever increasing detail, but mapping also requires editing: which details to include or omit? Establishing a focus for your personal map helps to make many decisions.

Bettina shares her working process and many examples of her own maps, as well as presentations that feature historical and artists’ maps. The history, conventions and intentions of cartography are folded into simple sewing techniques that we will use to tell stories.

Thursday December 7, 2023

Bookmaking with Gel-Plate Monoprints

The imagination runs wild with the endless possibilities the gel-plate offers to create prints.

Spend time dedicated to exploring and experimenting with some of these techniques. Acrylic paint is rolled onto a gel-plate with a brayer. Various found objects are pressed into the paint to create implied texture. A variety of papers are used to pull the prints. The resulting prints are spontaneous and unpredictable. One print begets another “ghost print”. Residue builds up on the plate and in turn creates unexpected texture. Commercial and hand-made stencils can be used to alter prints. Image transfer techniques and botanical printing will also be explored.

The mixed-media projects possible with the resulting prints is also infinite! In the afternoons, explore collage techniques to create an explosion book, a slide- frame book and a sewn-binding book, out of the morning’s print collection.

Based on the 1950’s technology of the hecto-graph, the medium of gel-plate printing is quite different from other print-making techniques; it requires no previous skill or knowledge, and the prints are produced very quickly, and are not easily replicated. At the same time, it inspires the incorporation of so many other disciplines. Artists continually come up with new ways of using it and even inventing products to be used for creating the work.

There is flexibility in the workshop structure for participants to work at their own pace and explore one area of interest in more depth. There is also the option to incorporate their own art practices.

** There is ONE SPOT left in this workshop! Register today to confirm your spot.**

Thursday December 7, 2023

Paper Love: The Art of Creating Unique Papers

Join us on a journey of artistic exploration as we delve into the art of creating a diverse array of unique collage papers. Experiment with various marks and techniques to create papers that will provide a foundation for personalized art projects or simply for the joy of the process.

This workshop will explore the following:

Asemic Writing: Develop your visual language, exploring techniques utilizing various tools, papers, and inks.
Expressive Mark Making: Discover how each mark contributes to the narrative of your collage papers, from bold strokes to delicate lines.
Tissue Staining: Immerse yourself in the art of ink washes and tissue staining, mastering the delicate balance between transparency and vibrancy.
Monoprinting: Unlock the magic of monoprinting, where spontaneity meets intention. Experiment with layering colours and textures, creating unique prints and papers.
Pattern & Texture: Explore the versatility of stencils, botanicals, found objects and texture tools to add depth and complexity to your papers.
Cyanotype: Design and develop beautifully detailed prints by exposing plants, photographic negatives and other personal objects to the sun.

Throughout “Paper Love,” Gloria will guide you in discovering the joy of creating collage papers that reflect your artistic voice. Join us for a week of ‘Paper Love’ and immerse yourself in creating a rich collection of handcrafted, distinct and unique papers.

Friday December 1, 2023

Collage as Landscape

Collage is considered one of the most important art forms of the 20^th century as it changed the way artists made work and created compositions. Collage opens up a spontaneous and intuitive way to work with colour and forms. This workshop will focus on inventive ways to use shapes from fashion magazines, flower catalogues and books to create several landscape collages.

The first day will be spent making landscape compositions based on abstract shapes and colours cut from magazines. The second day will be focused on “photomontage” – the art of combining disparate photographic images to create a seamless composition. These collages will consist of cut out plants, flowers and trees to create fantastical landscapes.

The emphasis over the two days will be on making a variety of small-scale (8.5 x 11”) collages to give students the opportunity to explore a range of composition options with each exercise. The results will be finished artworks that could also be used as imaginative source material for paintings.

Approaches will rely on both spontaneous and deliberate ways of creating dynamic compositions. Participants will be amazed with the results that come from making art using only paper and glue.

It is a perfect medium for those on budget. Suitable for all levels.

Friday December 1, 2023

Exploring Composition & Design

When starting an artwork, we often don’t know how to begin. In this workshop you will discover tools that will help you approach a blank canvas/sheet of paper with confidence.

The instructor will guide you through a series of design principles that will help you prepare for, and create successful compositions. Over the weekend, students will create a collection of examples using paper collage to illustrate various design principles. These will be complied to create a personalized studio reference binder.

Why is design and composition so important? Because even a good idea or subject matter, when not organized in an effective way, will lack impact. Understanding these basic principles will allow you to create artworks that are visually organized in a way that is impactful, active, interesting and engaging. Understanding the language of design (how we organize space, colour and shapes) will allow you to fully express your feelings and ideas through painting, drawing, etc.

Creating art is always a journey—it is a record of decisions and discoveries made by the artist. The well-known artist Georges Braque wrote in his notebook that “one must not think up a picture.” In other words, a composition must be explored to be found. Collage is the perfect medium for learning about composition and design as it will allow you to explore, try different arrangements and see a variety of outcomes.

Everyone is welcome to take this workshop. No matter your experience, this class will give you a solid comprehension of design and composition principles as well as an understanding of how to use them. You will also bring home a beautiful studio reference book that will be a helpful tool that you can use and add to for the rest of your life.

Friday December 1, 2023

Linocut Printmaking

Join BC artist Kerry Pagdin for two days of inky fun.

Design, carve and print your own linocuts in this relief printmaking course. Students are introduced to a variety of tools and supplies from introductory level gouges and inks, to professional options. We will experiment with printing on a variety of different papers, using both hand burnishing, and a printing press. On day two, students are encouraged to explore two colour prints; both puzzle blocks, and multiple block printing. Registration tabs will also be covered.

It is recommended that students arrive with a few 5×7 designs to work with, and a sketchbook if you have one.

Arrive with ideas and leave with prints to share with family and friends!

Friday December 1, 2023

The Right Approach: An Introduction to Drawing

In this introductory class, you will be guided through exercises that will improve your ability to “see correctly” as inspired by the landmark book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, by Betty Edwards.

The basic premise behind this class is that the ability to draw doesn’t depend on an innate ability that only a few possess, but instead is something that anyone can learn with practice in seeing things a little differently.

During the weekend you will have a chance to learn skills such as: drawing contours, seeing perspective, measuring proportion and depicting values. This workshop will provide you with a solid basis of drawing skills and knowledge that will support the pursuit of any creative endeavor. Absolutely no previous drawing experience is needed to take this class, but all experience welcome.