Essential Workshops for Realist Painters

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There’s a tradition in the art world of apprentices learning from master artists. This time-honored method of learning is perhaps most effective within the genre of realist painting, where even a single workshop with a knowledgeable professional can provide a significant boost for aspiring artists. Workshop attendees can benefit from a knowledgeable instructor’s experience. The valuable feedback and tips, the explanations and demonstrations of important concepts and techniques can have a significant impact on an artist’s work. Workshop participants can ask questions and get personalized advice, meet and interact with other artists, exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and form lasting connections. Most importantly, taking a workshop offers a challenge—providing artists the opportunity to hone skills and strengthen their powers of observation, and boosting the creative confidence to tackle difficult subjects.

Here, we look at five Art Fest workshops focused on realistic painting methods. Whether you want to paint portraits, landscapes, still lifes, or animals, these workshops give you the support you need to advance your work. Learn how to master various techniques and develop your creativity in a supportive and expressive environment. Which of these workshops are calling your name?

Painting the Portrait in Oil – Gustavo Ramos

What is it that gives a masterful oil painting its jewel-like quality, mysterious luster and lasting freshness? The extensive properties of oil paint have enabled the creation of iconic portraits that prove difficult to decipher. In this class, Ramos teaches his award-winning oil portrait technique. You’ll learn layering, color use, and brushwork for creating vibrant portraits. He provides personalized instruction on light, structure, and tonal abstraction, enabling students to produce luminous professional portraits.

Painting Silver & Crystal in Watercolor Realism – Laurin McCracken

You can master the realist painting approach of the Old Masters. By learning McCracken’s strategies to perceive, draw and paint detailed objects, you’ll create a still life featuring silver, crystal and fruit. In the process, you’ll utilize a projected image for tracing, and discover the “Two-Brush” technique for lifelike depth. In addition, you’ll explore the history and current market of realistic still-life painting. Plus, you’ll gain skills in crafting rich black backgrounds and diverse realism techniques applicable to different subjects.

The Stages of Portrait Drawing – Gustavo Ramos

Looking back to the Renaissance draftsmen, Ramos will demonstrate a portrait drawing, working from a live model, with a focus on delicacy of form, bold shape design, and nuanced mark-making. He’ll use a diverse array of materials, ranging from graphite to pastel to create a sophisticated portrait drawing from the ground up. Follow along as Ramos walks you through his approach for creating the kind of impactful drawing that landed his art on the cover of The Best of Drawing magazine in 2020.

Painting Birds in the Landscape with Soft Pastel – Lisa Regopoulos

If you’re passionate about birds and have bird photos you’d like to use for painting, join this enjoyable workshop. The session starts with a 1-hour demonstration using PanPastel and ink underpainting, then transitions to applying soft pastels. After the demo, you’ll create your own color study, experiment with PanPastel exercises, and create your pastel artwork with personal attention and dedicated painting time. Everyone will leave the workshop with a completed pastel piece. The second day focuses on birds in intricate natural settings, with a demo showcasing a raptor against a multi-layered background.

From Outdoor Study to Studio (Plein Air and Studio Version)
Michael Chesley Johnson

In this workshop, you’ll learn to transform a field reference into a polished studio painting. The class is suited for a range of media, including oil, acrylic, or pastel. Prior to the Art Fest workshop, you’ll kick off the workshop with a specifically designed instructional video. Then, over two days, you’ll gather information from the field and learn skills of direct observation, and learn how to expand from those reference materials to create a finished studio work.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at Art Fest in Mesa, Ariz., this October! What workshops will you be attending? What workshops would you like to see? Share your thoughts in the comments below!