About the Workshop

“Artists need to understand how values and colors work together to create movement, unity and balance in their paintings. I’ve noticed as I travel teaching workshops that most students know a lot of techniques, but don’t know how to put a painting together.” says Instructor Joe Fettingis. This workshop will address just that: How to balance and finish a painting by learning how to create movement and work around the focal point. You’ll focus on composition and how using shapes, value and color help create a better, stronger painting. How to mix color and avoid mud. How to control the moisture in your palette and paper. Subject matter will cover landscapes, people and animals.

Because artists are such a visual bunch, Mr. Fettingis will explain WHYS and HOWS during the demos, in an easy and logical way, so no matter what level the student’s proficiency is at, they will be able to go home and paint with more assurance, not “guessing.” There will be 6–7 short demos each day and lots of “hands on” time!

Workshop Schedule:

9:00 AM–4:00 PM
an hour break for lunch

Students will be given projects to work on and will watch 5–6 demos throughout the day. They’ll paint all day between the short demos. In 30 years of teaching workshops all over the country, I have learned that the students learn the best when I give small demos on how to solve a specific challenge and right after a short demo on “how and why”, the students will try the passages in their paintings. This type of learning makes for a fast–moving day and helps the student retain the lessons.

There will be lectures and demos on moisture control, brush control and lots of techniques on handling the watercolors. Understanding how to use composition will be explained as well. The workshop will be devoted to painting people, animals and landscapes.

The NO–Talking Policy: Joe says, “The students will be encouraged to maximize their time. When someone is talking next to you, they are taking your energy and focus from the painting. Everyone likes this policy because it allows each student to feel like they can concentrate and can get their work done.”