Bill Whitaker April 2006 Scottsdale Artists' School
 

We have just finished a fabulous week studying with Bill in Scottsdale. The workshop included several Forum members including Gary Hoff, Richard Bingham, Maria Nemchuk and others whom I hope will become members.

And of course Linda Brandon, in her role as The Lovely Assistant/Resident Heckler.

I'll include just a few photos at the moment, and will add more information next week. Bill taught, showed, and watched us all become more aware of the beauty of seeing and of painting from life. I hope others will jump in with comments and images as well.

Our models were my daughter, Alexandra , (who is not just beautiful ;) but did a fantastic job modeling) and Lindsey, a true redhead with flawless skin and white eyelashes.

Bill painted Alexandra for his week-long demo, in a format that started each day with a two hour session on his portrait. I liked this format a great deal, as we could take in smaller bits of information with which to begin each day.

Chris-- thanks so much for sharing this! Looking forward to seeing more :)

(By the way-- where it says Whitaker April 2004, I think you meant 2006!. . . :bewildere )

admin note- yes, thanks, I must be living in the past and don't even know it:)

Chris, do you have more pics of the painting as it progressed? I'd love to see the process.

More pics please.

If I had a daughter as lovely as Alexandra, she would have no life beause she would always be sitting.

It was indeed a wonderful and productive week. Alexandra was a real trouper as a model, and of course it was a joy to see Chris and Linda (and of course everyone else :) ).

I've attended several workshops with Bill but this was the one that made things "stick" more completely than before. Like Chris, I think the daily demo format was very helpful because it gave me pointers that I could carry over into my own work. Bill is fast enough that he stayed at least a day ahead of most of us, so there was time to watch, absorb, consider, and apply the lessons.

Here's a truly lousy photo of my week's work with Alexandra.

Gary,

It is really a lovely piece.

Gary, your portrait is wonderful. I so enjoyed seeing you and getting to paint with you. Alexandra thinks it is awesome as well.

Yes many more pics but I won't get to them for a bit.

Thanks to both of you for being so kind.

Sorry to hijack the workshop thread with my own work. I'd much rather see your pix, Chris. And give Alexandra my very best. She's a really good model.

No hijack at all! I will post my own painting as soon as I can get it photographed, probably Monday.

Richard if you read this, you should post Lindsey as well.

Chris,

How wonderful that Alexandra was willing to be the model. She is so pretty and it must have been a real treat for you to paint her again.

Just to give equal time to our other awesome model, here's my effort with Lindsay as the subject at the end of the course.

I wish everyone who attended could post their works, all were remarkable. Watching Bill Whitaker paint is something everyone who works in oils should see. It was a great week, tremendously valuable to me!

And this is my version of the beatiful Alexandra. I hope Chris post hers soon :)

Ok, well here's mine. What a wrestling match, me and that paint. I loved putting so much paint on my canvas.

Chris, I have just found this thread. Wow you guys are so lucky to have time with Bill.

Alexandra is gorgeous, what a model you have at your fingertips.

Chris, your painting has not only a great vitality but a confidence that shines through.

You can do my portrait anyday, either a quick or a long version, I won't discriminate, I just love those brushstrokes of yours!

These are such wonderful paintings! What struck me the most about this class was how Bill was able to coax artists into doing their best. It was an immense gift for me to watch everyone at work and to see how Bill helped everyone with their specific strengths and weaknesses. He is truly an exceptional artist, teacher and human being - the Right Stuff triple threat all around.

Wow, it looks like you all had a great time! One of these days I'm going to get to one of these workshops. Your work is beautiful, everyone. Chris, I'm in awe of how you handled the turning planes of her forehead and cheek, with the thicker paint.