Day two of class was a breeze. I was really pleased with my painting of a church or cathedral window. I stayed late to finish it as I knew we had to complete an assignment the next day. Wayland came in a saw me painting late and was so excited to see this he gave me a hug. I had done heave outlines of the window details thinking that I would go in later and thicken up my lines and give them each more depth. I need to do this as I have a tremble in my dominate hand due to a car accident from years ago. But Wayland said “leave it”. He also tells us to S T O P and LIGHTEN UP a lot! Which has taught me a lot about perspective and lighting levels and how to use that to affect height and distance?
I like his idea of levels and suggested a hand out for us one this. After two more days I have another ideal to suggest what size brushes to use to keep me in particular, from getting to detail oriented - too fast.
Wednesday was our assignment day. “Paint three apples and three apple trees. No more no less.” Well I thought I had a cute idea. I came up with at intervals between starting and wondering how to work in background, table, apples and trees. The idea came quick. The painting did not. Well I did it anyway, but did not like where this put me in my head, or where it put me with the outcome of my painting - ok it looks like a third graders. I hated it, I hated this day, I wanted to walk out of the room - well I did but came back in. I knew no matter what I was feeling or thinking I would come out ahead, more advanced with a new trick up my sleeve. Wayland sat with me instructing me and showing me what was wrong and how to correct it. A few things were fixed, but on to next things….which I did not care about because I hated this project and I hate this painting! My idea was three award winning apples and their blue ribbons with an emblem of the APPLE GROWERS OF AMERICA sticker in the center with an apple tree in the middle of each 3 apples, 3 trees, no more, no less at the ______Fair 2009. Well the sign was cut off so you don’t know what country it was held in. The apples were highlighted on individual pedestals with their winning ribbons on the back board. Horrible composition. Just horrible.
I have never been so exhausted as I was this evening. I had dinner, luckily got a massage, had a good night sleep and even though I knew it wasn’t finished I knew I was going back for more because I would choose the next painting.
I love my next subject. COLOR inspires me but I didn’t get to keep those colors and was getting a big time lesson on lightening up for depth - creating near and far objects on the canvas.
Now I don’t want Wayland to touch this one. Cause if I am gonna get it I NEED TO DO IT. If it takes being told 20 times. And I’ll do it that many times. I have probably put that many layers on. But with each critique I am getting there. I see the closeness and the distance and the curve of the subject. I’m not crazy about the color because I like painting what I see in nature. But I’ll go there and see what happens.
I am excited about every new corner I turn in this process. I may not like it in the moment but I go through anyway knowing I am learning something new.
Tomorrow is our last day, sadly. Wayland and everyone at the Folk School have been wonderful and the food is good. Wayland has been fun, joking and taking and giving as much teasing as we can all give and take. He has been exceptional sharing himself truly inside and out. Not only as a teacher, but as a man with a passion about what he does, bringing that to others and sharing his unique experiences, talents, perspectives, and joy. I know how lucky I am to have been in this class this week.
The Folk School has something really good going. Check it out for yourself sometime.
Laura
