Institute of Academic Realism-Mattelson

[Tom Edgerton]

Shoot, Pat, no need for intimidation. You were knocking out a good one yourself. Plus, we were paid back with some real good company from you through the five days!

I can't recommend this workshop more highly. From the opening lecture to the final parting strokes, I got what I went for and then some. I don't get to paint from life nearly enough, and Marvin's tools and procedure for getting a solid preliminary drawing and wash-in are pretty near bulletproof. It gave me a confident foundation to explore what I had come to learn about: the PALETTE! Derived from Paxton and his progeny, with the final Mattelson refinements folded in, it is purely gorgeous. It's a bear to mix, but I'll work on that, and frankly, my palette has never glowed like that before. I saw a vibrancy from the first stroke I'd never achieved with my old approach. I'm hooked!

My resulting effort--which I'll post when I get a chance--was much more satisfying than I had anticipated. My approach to workshops is to give over to unfamiliar methods and information and really try them out, and I don't usually expect to do very good work in this struggle. But I actually went home this time with something I was pleased to show.

Marvin is a consummate professional, not to mention a great guy to hang with. If he comes to your area, get thee to Mattelson. You'll be glad.

Best to all--TE

(And Beth's right, Renee and Denise knocked themselves out to make it happen, and it showed!)