Sunday, April 1, 2012

Creative Variations

Day 1: plotting shapes and values

Cyber follower to real time with artist Myrna Wacknov - I am back from a wonderful week of Myrna Wacknov's workshop "Variations" :)  It was really special to finally meet her after following her blog, admiring her creativity for a few years now! I was immersed in five days of fast paced exploration of creative interpretations of the portrait. Everyone worked with the same instructor provided black and white image and it was amazing to see the 'variations' at the end of each day as each participant chose different design elements to emphasize and brought her own talents, interpretations and style to Myra's instructions, prompts and guidance.

Day-1 was spent designing the shapes of the image with a modified contour drawings, creating a uniform grid for original image and then creating distored grids to reshape the image.We simplified  lines and connected shapes. We then experimented with various value patterns.   At the end of the day we each had atleast one sketch to work on day2 with shape+one other element (roll of dice) and another to work with value+a different design element. She also had 24 combinations of color chords on index cards and luck of the draw determined what colors we would be using. The color chords had Analogous, compliments, triads, spilt compliments to choose from. The seven elements (line, size, shape, direction, color, value and texture), decisons about dominance, relationships (unity, harmony, dominance, contrast, repition, variation, gradation, and balance) was to create a mood for the paintings.


Day 2 AM: Shape+texture

Day 2 AM : Shape:  The roll of dice resulted in texture being the second element for my exercise. The colors in my card were split compliments yellowgreen, red and violet. The textures were a lot of fun to paint - I  sprayed  alcohol, used oil pastels, stencils with paint and some gesso, some colored pencils to create the various textures.

Day2 PM: Value+lines

Day 2 PM : Value:  This time roll of dice for secondary element gave me lines along with complimentary colors yellow and violet. I sketched with masking fluid and incorporated the saved white lines into the design element. I used various yellows and violets to bring out the values in the painting. I had a piece of netting from a potato sack that I dabbed paint over to bring lines in the background. Splattering white liquid acrylic paint with tooth brush gave a cool look for the sunglasses.

Myrna is a treasure trove of ideas. She freely shared her collection of samples,  her paintings, clippings and tips with us throughout the week.  I loved her critiques of all the paintings.  The other participants were all accomplished painters from Potomac Watercolor society and it was a treat to watch them in action.  Myrna Wacknov has posted her demos in her blog . Watch for more postings in my blog and hers.

20 comments:

padmaja said...

Thoroughly enjoyed your workshop details, lovely opportunity for you to try out these variations with your identity intact. Liked your work a lot!

Anonymous said...

nice workshop

this will improve artists skill

thanksa

Unknown said...

Oh my! What a wonderful workshop! You did such beautiful work there, and I really enjoyed reading about the processes. Thanks for posting the details.

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Padmaja --it was a wonderful week - five days of learning and experimenting. I learnt much about texture and old forgotten concepts about color were reinforced nicely!

Meera Rao said...

Krishna, Thank you! you are so right about improving skills:) - workshops have a way of energizing and pumping up creative juices!

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Katherine - it was a very fun and I learnt a lot -- Myrna is very creative and giving and has a wonderful bubbly personality to add to the mix.

Lisa Graham said...

Your works are so fun here Meera! I love Myrna's blog and art too. How fun to be able to participate in this!

Meera Rao said...

Lisa, Thanks ! It was indeed fun --the week went by too fast!

Hema Penmetsa said...

It sounds and looks like a wonderful experience. I can feel the amount of fun you had from your work and words :).

Meera Rao said...

Thank you, Hema! I think its always fun and challenging to do things differently so when I go back to my painting there is a new energy I can bring to it!

Myrna Wacknov said...

Hi Meera, Thanks for the kind words. I think I had more fun than anyone! It was wonderful meeting you in person and I hope we can do it again sometime. You added so much to the group effort.

Meera Rao said...

Myrna, Thank you! --its your enthusiasm that was so contagious and rubbed off on me :) I hope we can meet again too !

Kathy Staicer said...

What a wonderful workshop and what wonderful studies!

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Kathy! It was a great week overall :)

Sadami said...

Hi, Meera,
What a yammy workshop you did attend!! I wish I could join it one day. Keep up wonderful work.
Cheers, Sadami

Meera Rao said...

Sadami, Thank you :) I never thought I would have that opportunity and so was happily surprised when all things fell into place. Who knows some day you will get your workshop and I may meet you in person :)

Eva said...

I really envy you for be able to take Myrna's workshop. I have followed her blog and love her work. You certainly have some powerful portraits. Thank you for sharing the process.

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Eva, it was a very fun learning experience :)

JANE MINTER said...

meera just enjoyed reading your posts on myrna's workshop must have been so inspiring and fun..love your results here.

Meera Rao said...

Jane, Thank you ! Yes, Myrna is very inspiring and absolutely fun and her workshop is full of ideas that she shares so generously!

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