Decompressing - Art Boot Camp

SEE SLIDE SHOW
http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii3/padurrett/Art%20Boot%20Camp/?action=view¤t=9379f891.pbr













Haverhill, MA - Boot Camp and the Peddler's Daughter Pub...what an experience. Rob Howard and Kurt conducted the camp and concocted still-life setups that would challenge and provide the images to teach a very focused curriculum.

Decompressing, that is what I am doing for the rest of the week. Life presses in as I attended a funeral, planned my daughter's birthday dinner party, dealt with car trouble, and attended a family party for my nephew and his wife who are departing for Washington state to live. All of these activities keeping me from my studio. (A little frustration.)

I came home from Art Boot Camp completely exhausted from four days of painting as fast as I ever have and all these above activities. For all the money I spent on camp no masterpieces were created but I learned so much my brain is hurting: why toning a canvas makes it so much easier to block in the values; how to create strings of values; received an overview of the Munsell Color System - simplified; explored the value and range of a limited palette; an analysis of the composition of light and shadow - clarifying the difference between a "bump" and a prenumbra; and driving home the key to realistic painting -- edges and values.

Grisailles, Glazes and Dappled Light...oh my.

The comradeship of serious artists and the quaintness of a former shoe manufacturing New England town built along side the blackish Merrimac River and the delicious food found in the abundant pubs make the experience truly memorable. (Haverhillians do not sweeten their quite strong tea....oh what they are missing to punch up that very strong tea with a bit of sweet!)

A few random pictures from camp:






















The apple was done in graiselle and then glazed.














This was a monchromatic studies to understand
the range of chroma/value according to the
Munsell Color System.





















These studies were done on one canvas.



























The great thing about camp is that the artists who come here are not only very talented but serious about developing their ability to the maximum. The networking and friendships that are developing as a result of this association is very rewarding in itself.