Whitaker Workshop

Michele Rushworth · 05-03-2003, 11:30 PM

I just got home from Bill Whitaker's workshop at the Scottsdale Artist's School. All I can say is that anyone who would like to study with him should sign up as soon as next year's class is scheduled.... because it's going to fill up fast.

I learned SO much I can barely begin to catalog it all in my mind. New ways to work with color, new ways of seeing, new thoughts about surfaces to work on, etc, etc, etc -- and a bunch of new friends from all over!

Once I unpack and rest my brain (which is now so stuffed full of art thoughts that it will take some time to sort out) I'll post more details and photos from the class.

SOG Forum members Linda Tracey Brandon, Chris Saper, Patrick Gillooly, Gary Hoff, Michael Georges and Beth Schott also attended and between us all I'm sure this thread will eventually contain a pretty full description of what the workshop was like.

More later. Time to unwind....

Michele Rushworth · 05-04-2003, 12:19 PM

Here's Michael Georges, Chris Saper, Beth Schott, and Linda Tracey Brandon, all painting away. You can see Bill in the background on the right and his wife, Sandra, at the far right.

Gary Hoff · 05-04-2003, 09:16 PM

Hi, Michele--

I just logged on to see what anyone would have to say about the workshop...it was great. Bill is a truly kind, bright, professional. And so were the folks who came. I enjoyed meeting you, Chris, Linda, Michael, and the rest.

And thanks for the tips and expertise you shared with me. Much appreciated.

Gary

Jean Kelly · 05-04-2003, 11:32 PM

I am waiting impatiently to see the resulting artwork from this workshop. Bill Whitaker is one of my favorites, and I can't wait to see his influence on all of you! I attend one of his psychic workshops every time I read his posts or visit his site.

Stuck here in Madison,
Jean

Linda Brandon · 05-05-2003, 12:01 AM

It really was a special week - intense, informative, exhausting - and a lot of fun. I can't say enough about Bill's careful planning of this workshop and the enormous energy he put into making sure we learned all we could absorb from him. My mind is still reeling tonight and I sure don't have the jet lag excuse, since the art school is right down the road from me.

What a joy to meet so many nice people and good artists! (That's Gary's head just to the left of Bill's in the above photo. Nice to see you back on the Forum, Gary.) There were wonderful musical moments, too - I'm thinking of Bill's banjo (my daughter is still talking about that) and Patrick's Scottish ballads on the grand piano during breaks. Special thanks go out to Sandra Whitaker for her kindness, grace and emotional support of stressed-out students (i.e., all of us).

Thanks again to: Carl Toboika for the Trekell brush (I love it and have just ordered a ton of them), all those travellers who left me their Turpenoid, and those of you who left extra beverages in my fridge.

All of my group photo shots were blurry except for this one, so if anyone has a better shot, please post yours and I'll delete this one. (Our tired models are sitting in the middle of the podium.)

Bill, you're a born teacher, great artist and true gentleman. Thank you so much for an outstanding workshop.

Best regards,
Linda

Linda Brandon · 05-05-2003, 12:03 AM

Will try this again, sorry.

Back row: Patrick Gillooly, Chris Saper, Michael Georges, Randy Dye
Middle row: Craig Luzum, Carl Toboika, Cindy and Les [our models], Gary Hoff
Front row: William Whitaker, Linda Brandon, Linda Fried, Hope Cunningham, Beth Schott, Diane Hall, Michele Rushworth, Sandra Whitaker
Not pictured: Susann Decker, Pat Langmade

Holly Snyder · 05-05-2003, 09:10 AM

Ditto to Jean's comment. I love Bill Whitaker's work and can't wait to see his class participants work. Having not been to a workshop or open studio myself, it's very interesting to see the procedure and results. Thanks for sharing, it's much appreciated!

Holly

Michele Rushworth · 05-05-2003, 10:19 AM

I expected that I would learn a bit about how to paint like Bill does, how to create cool, exquisite, high finish work. I learned so much in class, but how to work only in his style is not what he taught.

That's fine because what I did learn is even more valuable to me.

On the last day in class, during a discussion on lunch break, Bill talked to me about how important it would be to try and understand the type of paintings I loved and why. And through Bill's demos and explanations I learned how to do it. I have always loved paintings that are more fluid and "juicy" (Bill's word) with much of the brushwork showing, and that include dramatic light, high contrasts and strong color.

Right now I "blend the life out of" almost everything I paint. He taught me how to "lay it and leave it" and that when I tried to do that with my brushstrokes in the past I was putting far too much paint on the canvas for it to work properly.

Now it only remains to be seen if I have the courage to take this new direction in my work (and if my portrait clients will go for it!) But now at least I know where I want to head and why.

So, ironically, I learned how I might begin to take my work in the opposite direction from what you would expect from a student of Bill Whitaker's. He helped me start to see the direction in which I want to go, and how I might do it. And that, I think, will prove to be even more valuable than everything else I learned in class.

Thank you, Bill.

Michael Georges · 05-05-2003, 11:18 AM

We are just back from the class - we went to Sedona for a day and then drove back yesterday.

My brain, like others, is scrambled, but the class was really a great experience - great teacher, great people.

Will type more about it when I get things a little more on track and my brain comes back.

Chris Saper · 05-05-2003, 12:06 PM

Even this Monday morning, I am still depleted, but happily so.

Last week was grand in every regard. Like the others, I am still in the beginning phases of sorting out all that I learned.

But I think the most important thing I learned was Bill's impassioned, but very patient, pursuit of excellence. His obvious reverence for humanity and respect for the individual pervades everything that he does, and it is completely connected to the way he approaches his canvas. Bill goes the extra mile, (and will go the extra 100 miles if that is what is necessary), and does it every single time. I have come away believing that I can become a much better painter, instead of just wondering.

So beyond Bill's exquisite work, he is a genuinely great teacher, and a truly elegant man.