On Workshops – Can't get there? Bring 'em here!

So many great artists, so many great places to see them, just not possible? Bring them to you!
If you’re like me, and most artists I know, you dream of going away to a workshop to immerse yourself for a week (or more) coming back full of knowledge and new approaches and having taken giant steps forward in your work learning from the masters. But let’s face it, we can’t all do that. Your resources may not allow for the expense of workshop plus travel and lodging, you may not be able to take the time away from family and/or work, or you may be holding back because you aren’t at the ‘right level’ yet.
There is a solution, a way to ease in, invite the artist to your home art league or organization. If you are not already in one, join one!
There are many advantages to bringing the masters to you. Here’s the who, what, wheres, hows and why from convenience to affordability to the truest value of it all.

The Woodlands Art League hosted it’s first guest artist in 2010. Our league had already been running a weekly portrait group at various locations for three years by then. It grew form 5-7 of us asking friends and neighbors to sit for us to over 20 dedicated artists. It branched out into an evening group with occasional themed 6-week sessions and an email list of over 50 artists. We could definitely host and fill a portrait workshop! That’s the what.
Where to have it is the next thing to consider. Our league had a retail space for a gallery with a back room big enough for classes and workshops. The convenience of your own space is that you can set up ahead of time and leave supplies and work out over night all week long. You can run successful workshops at community centers, libraries, church trailers, and even hotel meeting rooms (we’ve done three of the four.) If you do have to pack up and take everything out with you every day have a few extra facilitators to help with set up every morning. It will be very hard for artists in the workshop to do the set up and take down every day and still get everything out of the workshop that they desire. Our league is made up of volunteer members so we can divide the work up under the guidance of a workshop director. Cost of space is part of your workshop fee of course. If you have the means, use them. If you don’t, be creative! In our town there are grocery stores with community areas built for local organizations to use. To keep cost down check these things out. Figure out rental fees or percentages of workshop costs to make it profitable as well.
Another where is the place your guest artist will stay. Being in a league/organization helps. WAL has members willing to host visiting artists, both teachers and students, during workshops. This really keeps your workshop fee as low as possible, and helps those attending from just a few hours away from having to spend on lodging. Do make this one of the first questions you ask a potential visiting artist. If they are willing to stay with a member that is wonderful, let the member also serve as their chauffeur for the workshop. If they are not willing to stay with a member, wonderful too–they are still coming! But you will have to find a hotel and that along with their transportation to and from hotel will add significantly to your workshop fee. Nonprofit organizations like WAL do get discounted rates at hotels for workshop artists.

You’ve got the what, wheres, and how, now about the who. There are many master artists that travel and teach and love to find new places to share their passion. We all have our list of favorites. It’s just a matter of connecting. Being from Chicago, I’ve taken classes at the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art. Clayton J. Beck III has been inspiring portrait artists for many years there with his annual 50 Heads/5 Weeks summer course. With a traveling husband and kids on summer break, I’d only gotten there for a couple of weeks in a number of years. I had just taken my third workshop with Clayton when I asked if he would consider coming down to Texas. It was that simple.
His first workshop for The Woodlands Art League was two weeks long. It was a great success. He has since returned in 2011 and 2014. We are planning his fourth workshop here for June 2015.
So that’s the priceless value of bringing a master artist to your group–building a relationship. As artists painting together, growing together, with guidance from a master artist, our abilities develop along with our friendships and our commitment. As Clayton says, “I see the progress as I return to a student and know the marks they are making on the canvas are done with greater understanding and ability. Very rewarding as a teacher to see such thing. I tell the students they are painting in the workshop to let me directly into their thoughts. It helps to know what a painter needs to hear so I have direction as a teacher.”

Speaking directly to the level of artist or those who think producing “masterpieces” is the goal of the workshop, Clayton explains, “Their goal in the workshop should not be to “finish.” The goal should be to maintain a thought and direction for the work above all. The reward is that in their own studios they can without pressure, paint their own works with greater understanding. Most of the visible progress is seen in the months following rather than the actual work done in the workshop.”
Proof–a few words from artists that attended his latest September workshop:
“I experienced a delayed absorption of information, because it wasn’t until weeks after the workshop that the words Clayton shared impacted my thinking and my approach to my artwork.”
Julie Graham
“What a lesson! After the demo already I felt I’d ‘leveled up’ as an artist! Clayton’s voice is still present as I work my own pieces and repeated in my elementary classroom as I share and remind my students of the importance of making every visible application intentional.”
Abby Salazar President, Woodlands Art League
“I hear Clayton’s words, “Is it in the light or in the dark?” I am reminded to put brushstrokes down only if I am sure that temperature and value are right. I think about area of emphasis and this new “awareness” makes me go back to reading and researching and putting it into practice every time I paint.”
Carolina Dalmas

“Beck was very accommodating by allowing me to join the group as a beginner…taught us to go through the creative process by thinking visually and taking language out of it. I found it difficult to process all the nuances of light and shadow and temperature and mix my paint colors while studying the model at the same time! I had to remind myself to keep calm and paint on…By the end of the week I felt like I experienced a visual awakening so to speak. Now I was looking at art a completely different way.”
Jill Behrens
“When I have an opportunity to study with one of these artists that WAL brings in, I jump at the chance. Not having to pay for my own room, board and transportation makes workshops exceptionally affordable. I’ve taken local workshops with Judy Carducci, Clayton J Beck III, and Rob Liberace. Each time I have studied with these great teachers, I’ve been able to adjust my own sensibilities and I’ve seen a maturing in my own work.”
Suzie Baker
The impact of the master artist can be felt throughout your home league and your community, not just those in the workshop. Ask your guest artist to participate in an evening reception open to all members and the public at large. By hosting an Artist Reception and Demo those not in the workshop still have the chance to meet the master and learn, still get a chance to build a relationship and grow. AND you spark interest for your upcoming workshops!

Since Clayton’s first visit to WAL, we have also hosted Robert Liberace twice (his third workshop with us is February 3-7, 2015) and Judy Carducci. Our newest master artist workshop is scheduled for May 18-22, 2015, with Ohio artist Stanka Kordic. Stanka’s visit represents the latest and quickest way to make art connections and shows the great power of the online artist community ((complete with an inquiry sent to us from someone interested from Iceland!!)). Stanka posted on Facebook “thinking about giving workshops” and I immediately messaged “interested in coming down to Texas?”

There ya go–it’s that easy to bring the master artist to you!