VIEW-Evelyn-toys

V.I.E.W. by Evelyn Dunphy: A Victorian Still Life with Antique Toys

Reference Photo for the Class

Level: High Beginner and Intermediate- Max 16 participants

Dates:  Dec 14, 15 & 16 (9am-12pm PST, noon-3pm EST):

This is going to be such fun to paint! Create a holiday painting that will be treasured for years.  You could make cards of your painting to send to family and friends, or even small prints as gifts.

This painting is about vibrant color and how light transforms shapes. It also tells a story. It’s timeless; carrying us back to a different time. Perhaps now of all times, we are in need of a burst of energy and joy that transports us to a child’s feeling of wonder and pure enjoyment.

Students will learn to paint three dimensional form using both color and value; the texture of a satin shirt on the clown, the metallic body of the elephant and the furry coat on the donkey.

By painting the shadow on the quilt and adding some of the pattern, we will create the illusion of complexity. Telling the story without painting every detail is an essential skill of the artist.

The donkey pulling a clown in a cart is a wind up toy from 1895, a Christmas gift to a great-grandfather on Campobello Island, Canada. It still works; each time I tried to re-arrange it on a different spot on the table, it promptly started to trot away. The elephant balancing a red ball on its trunk is not quite as old, but still well on its way to becoming an antique.

The composition will be simplified to focus on the toys on the blue table, with just enough of the Victorian crazy quilt to set the mood.

This is another great illustration of how to paint what appears to be a very complicated scene by breaking it down into “manageable bits”. I hope you will be as excited as I am to paint this!

Sample of Evelyn’s Work

I am really thrilled to be teaching this 3 day workshop where I’ll be able to show you the benefits of the unique way in which I stretch my watercolor paper, and have you enjoy this wonderful surface. Very few artists do this; even Graeme Stevenson from the Australian art video company who films artists all around the world, was filled with questions when he saw my large prepared paper! You can see a little preview of it on the video link on my website: https://www.evelyndunphy.com.

“Our subject will give us several opportunities to appreciate the options that we have using this surface. However, you are welcome to use your usual watercolor paper for this workshop if you prefer not to stretch paper. All techniques that we will use will apply to 140# or 300# cold press paper. There will be some small changes made to our reference photo to make a stronger composition. These will be provided for you with a sketch”.

Here’s why I love this surface. (I’ll skip the preamble about how to do it, etc. as that will all be provided once you have registered for the class).

• The value of the pigment that you put on the paper will dry just about exactly the value you put down.
• Your loaded brush strokes go on the paper just like “cream”.
  

  Sample of Evelyn’s Work

• With values of a mid tone and higher, you will be able to create beautiful texture. It’s going to work beautifully with our subject.
• Lifting is a cinch, (if you like to lift edges or secondary lights in your painting).
• No rippling or buckling of the paper during the painting. When the painting is done, you just remove it, trim the edges and you have a perfectly flat painting ready to frame.

The class is interactive so you will paint along with Evelyn, step by step with frequent times included for her to look at your painting (you will be able to show your work though your camera), and make suggestions before moving on. Personal attention is a very important part of our live classes. It’s almost as good as being together in person! 

Rate:  US$ 249 for 3 sessions of 3 hours (At this time, extra time is needed to order any supplies so we encourage you to sign up early).

The price includes:

• Personal feedback and critique during the class: Evelyn will give you time to paint and then look at each student work in progress and comment on it along the way. You will also receive a final critique at the end of the session.
• The recording of both sessions: you will be able to download the recordings to your own computer and keep them forever.
• Feedback after the class: Evelyn is available between classes or also after the classes if you have questions or need help.
  If you post on your finished painting on  our V.I.E.W. facebook page, Evelyn will give you final suggestions for your painting.

After you have registered for the workshop:

Complete instructions will be sent on how to stretch the paper, so that you can do that in advance to prepare for the workshop. If you are interested in this workshop, please register early as you will need to purchase wooden stretchers and have time for them to be delivered.

A sketch of the subject will be sent along with the supply list. I encourage you to check the supply list early so that if there are one or two pigments that you do not have, you will have time to get them.

Evelyn Dunphy Bio:

Evelyn Dunphy is known internationally as a Maine based watercolor artist who travels and paints all over the world.  She has been recognized for her activism in land conservation and hunger prevention programs for children.  Evelyn has exhibited her paintings in the US, Canada, and the UK, and is also a sought after art teacher who leads workshops in Europe, Cuba, Ireland and various locations in the United States.