Portrait Sketching and Painting Watercolors
with Sue Sill
During the Feast Day of Santiago
21 - 30 July 2012 (it is NOT HOT -
we are in the mountains!)
Hello all, I am very excited to announce we've added a new watercolor instructor to our
faculty. We've offered a drawing class during the summer months with Cynthia Padilla for years now. However Cynthia is now such a popular summer instructor in Texas that I was on the lookout for someone else. (We'll offer Cynthia's class during the winter.) Sue Sill, who had put aside her paints for a few years, had taken Cynthia's workshop with us two summers ago for that jump start to get back into botanical drawing. However, she was so taken with the Maya people, she changed her artistic focus to painting portraits. As you can see by her work, she has found her new niche and is fabulous at it!! (Drawing: Ride to Market by Sue Sill - Photo: Tocoyals by Liza Fourre)
As a class we will explore the Maya culture by meeting and getting to know people, and then translate what we see and learn into colorful watercolor paintings that honor their centuries old traditions. Sue is a patient
instructor and will take you through the steps needed to come away with an accomplished portrait painting. Her skill lies in helping non-portrait painters, become portrait painters.
So don't be intimidated !! You'll begin with quick sketches, and then during daily class 
demonstrations, learn to add more detail. Sue will cover proportion, tips on how to capture your subject's face, color values and choosing and mixing watercolors to achieve the colors you need for stunning work.
You'll often draw from photographs (although wel also sketch with live models) so Sue begins by showing you how to draw from a photograph. We'll go out together to shoot images - in the Mayan markets, in people's homes (photographer Liza Fourre will be available to help with photo tips) or you may sketch from existing photos.
This class is not restricted to drawing portraits. Participants are free to choose whatever subject they fancy - there are many lovely ruins, gardens and lake views to paint. We have to be flexible because It is true that our instructor Sue took our botanical drawing class just two years ago, but was so enamored with the local Mayan, she changed her focus to drawing people !!!
This experience is so much more than a
watercolor workshop.
It's timed so that we'll be spending the colorful Feast Day of Santiago (St James July 25) in Santiago Atitlan.
We begin our adventure in lovely old colonial ANTIGUA. Once the colonial capital of all Central America, it is a delightful, small town with an international ambiance and features spectacular visuals, fabulous shopping (all those textiles!), wonderful outdoor cafés and restaurants, but most importantly, warm-hearted, welcoming people
But then we'll head into the heart of the highlands, to magical, mystical LAKE ATITLAN where we'll stay four days at the lovely POSADA SANTIAGO. Lucky us !! I shot this image of the lake and volcano San Pedro from the gardens at the Posada. A lovely view to not only enjoy, but to draw. ** This workshop is appropriate for all who would like an
art centered cultural experience, while improving
their drawing and image making skills.
** Send in the registration form on our web page ASAP.
If you have any questions, email, skype lizafourre or call Liza at 612-825-0747, and we'll get you set to go!!
(All images shot by Liza Fourre our last July session)
