Over the years I have been asked many, many times whether I offered classes or would be willing to teach and each time I have answered with a hearty no. There were several reasons for the answer.
First, not having taken any classes myself, I felt uninformed as to how to instruct a group. It was out of my comfort zone and I just didn’t feel as though I had the qualifications or anything to offer. Plus, I wasn’t sure if I could paint and talk at the same time. I am not the most coordinated person in the world.
Second, it took time away from my own painting. I am the artistic equivalent of a gym rat, always in place in my studio nearly everyday for about twelve or more hours. It is who I am and what I do. Time away from it is sometimes painful to endure.
The third, and definitely the most important, reason was that I was just hesitant in sharing any of the process behind much of my work that had taken thousands of hours alone in the studio to develop. Trade secrets, if you will, that needed to be protected.
But over the last few years, I have come to understand that it is not purely process but the person behind it that makes the work come alive and that by hiding the process I was being small and petty. There was nothing to fear from someone learning from my experience. In fact, there might be insights to be gained from seeing how others react to working with my process.
So, this year I finally relented, after much urging from the director of the Arts Center of Yates County, and will be giving a two day workshop featuring my process at their wonderful facility in Penn Yan , NY, in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes. It will take place beginning on either September 16 or 17— we are still working out final details. The workshop will be from about 9:30 AM until 4:30 each day with a lunch break and will be limited to 15 students. If there is enough demand, there is always the possibility of adding a second session.
My feeling is that this is for all levels of ability, from non-painters up to those with much more experience. My goal is to pass on what I have gleaned from my journey over the past two decades so that it might send someone down their own personal path. I want everyone in attendance to take away something new and of value for themselves. And I guarantee that there will be no shortage of stories.
If you’re from out of the area and don’t know the Finger Lakes region of New York, you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise– it is an area filled with extreme natural beauty, many wonderful wineries, great watersports and a calming atmosphere. A perfect place to getaway to. So, if you’d like to spend a couple of late summer days painting with me in the Finger Lakes, I urge you to contact the Arts Center of Yates County at this link and get on the list.
Redtree Times 