Cost: $545 | Member Pricing: $398-490
Instructors: Jackie Manning and Christofer Charles Taylor
▶ Instructor 1: Jackie Manning, MFA | Portfolio
▶ Instructor 2: Christofer Charles Taylor, MFA | Portfolio
▶ 12 Participants Maximum
▶ In-Person Participation Only
COST: $545
MEMBER PRICING | Use code at checkout
$490 – Member | use code: MEMBER
$436 – Advancing Plan | use code: ADVANCING
$398 – Mastering Plan | use code: MASTERING
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
We want everyone to be able to participate. If you need financial assistance, a 30% discount is available – just email us at team@azgourartgroup.com
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
Using value (the relative lightness or darkness of an element) is the most powerful compositional tool for establishing visual hierarchy and dictating the exact path a viewer's eye travels across an artwork.
In this two-day workshop, Christofer Charles Taylor and Jackie Manning will demonstrate how value relationships can establish a strong focal point, create secondary and tertiary areas of interest, and influence the pace and direction of a composition. Participants will also explore when to move beyond their reference material and make adjustments directly on the canvas to strengthen the finished work.
Working from still-life setups, artists will create a series of rapid studies in drawing or painting. Participants are encouraged to leave their small brushes and fine-tipped pens at home: the emphasis will be on seeing and organizing large value shapes before introducing detail. Through demonstrations, exercises, and individual guidance, artists will develop a more deliberate and flexible approach to composition.
WORKSHOP STRUCTURE
Objective
Participants will learn to:
Simplify a subject into clear, organized value patterns
Establish primary, secondary, and tertiary focal points
Guide the viewer’s eye and control the pace of a composition
Recognize when departing from a reference can strengthen an artwork
Build the habit of resolving large compositional relationships before adding detail
WHAT TO EXPECT
Instructor lecture and painting demonstration
Structured painting exercises with room for interpretation
Individualized guidance during studio work
Group critique and discussion
Insights into the instructor’s current projects as added educational context
A casual, energetic environment that encourages experimentation and growth
MATERIALS TO BRING
Charcoal, ink, oil, and/or acrylic
Multiple surfaces: paper, canvas, and/or panels) – Sizes: 8×10”, 9×12”, etc, but no larger than 16×20”
A few large brushes
Turp or water to clean brushes
Rags or paper towels
Tables and chairs are provided. Participants may bring their own easels (tabletop or freestanding) or work directly on the table. The studio offers a restroom, paint-washing sink, paper towels, water, tea, and backup art supplies if you forget something. A café is conveniently located across the street, though bringing lunch is recommended to maximize working time.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Arrival: Participants are welcome to arrive up to 20 minutes early to settle in.
Parking: TO BE ANNOUNCED
Questions: please get in touch via email: team@westportalgallery.com
LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED
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415 212 9092 | team@westportalgallery.com
