last day of Elio Camacho workshop

 

11 x 14, oil on canvas board

Another wobbly step in the way I want to go. I leave Elio's workshop feeling encouraged and excited about painting more and painting better. Elio is a great teacher. He works to understand the level of each student, and then pushes them to the next step. 

I know I feel inspired. Inspired to paint. Inspired to be better. Inspired to do those exercises he suggested. And, with many helpful ideas and suggestions for handling the medium, I am inspired to put miles on my brushes.

From this workshop, I received much more than I expected. I expected Elio to be a wonderful painter himself. He is. I expected him to do demos and talk about his painting process. He did. I expected instruction on color mixing, brushwork, composition. He delivered on that expectation, too.

What I didn't expect is his genuine interest and concern about where I am in my painting journey. His gentle curiosity. And with his interest came accurate suggestions for moving ahead. And names of other artists whose work I might study to get me to move ahead.

I feel just a bit like a fledgling, pushed from the nest. By his words, actions, and presence, it is as if Elio has given me, personally, these parting words:

Find your weaknesses and work on them.

Paint every day.

Paint outdoors.

Find the form.

Paint the light.

Put down the right color in the right spot in the right way each time.

Don't make more work for yourself by having to correct mistakes.

Where is your "bride"? (center of interest)

Do the work.

That's exactly what I will do. Thank you, Elio Camacho. I hope to see you again.

workshop day 2 -- the stretch

It was just 1/4 mile walk from the parking lot to the Bridal Veil overlook. I am so glad I brought a collapsing cart in my full little trunk. I was able to load all of my supplies on the cart and then wheel it along the paved trail to the overlook. I have now used absolutely everything I brought with me on this trip (except for clean clothes!). 

I knew I wanted to paint the basalt columns across the river. In the top painting, you can see that I saw everything in shades of gray. Many things went wrong with this painting, but it set me up to discover what I wanted to focus on in my second painting. 

Standing on the Oregon side, looking across the Columbia River to Washington

My personal goals for this painting: to apply paint more liberally, to use more pure color, to use interesting brushwork. And, I accomplished all three!

 

A good workshop teacher gives you new ideas for your personal growth and development, as well as generously sharing how he/she "does it."  A great workshop teacher takes the time and interest to ascertain where each student is on his/her art journey, and then helps them figure out the next step and how to get there. 

Elio Camacho does all of that and more. What a wonderful experience! 

(I do feel a bit like the "Far Side" comic where the pin-headed student raises his hand and asks the teacher if he can be excused now because his brain is full.)