The new year is well under way. Spring leaves are just beginning to emerge from branches near my home. I'm working indoors these days, under grey, rainy February skies. The quiet of this season feels important. At the same time, there is a vitality to it that I love - a sort of hushed excitement with it's own momentum and promise, like music that slowly builds into a wildly triumphant crescendo (like flowers are!) by about August.
We are a lot like plants, I think, in the way we go about life by the nature of the season. I look out onto the still bare earth in the garden, knowing that there is a tremendous amount of activity going on just beneath the surface. By the way, last weekend, our local seed exchange was packed. I take that to be very good sign for things to come.
Speaking of planting seeds...my 2012 Photographic Art Workshops catalog is ready! You'll find the summaries and general information posted below. If you would like to receive the full catalog by pdf, please drop me an email request.
Information for additional workshops taking place outside of British Columbia will follow at a later date.
My best wishes to all. May you see beauty in your life today.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE – SPRING/SUMMER 2012
March 11 Sharing Your Work
April 21-22 Inner
Landscapes
May 11 Sharing Your Work
May 12 Flower Portraits
June 1 Sharing Your Work
June 2 Printing Your Images
June 23-24 Mounting to Wood
July 8-9
Inner
Landscapes
July 10 In the Field
July 19 Sharing Your Work
July 20 Printing Your Images
July 21-22 Hand
Painting
July 27 In the Field
July 28-29 Flowers Extravaganza
Mar - Aug One on One Creative Photoshop:
6hrs Private Training
Sharing
Your Work with the World
You have images. Now what?
Many people have an abundance of amazing images hidden
away like a well kept secret. The
images live in computer hard drives, on discs, or in boxes in closets. Have you
thought about what would you like to do with your images, and who might be
waiting to see them?
This workshop is about discovering real options, and
gaining insights about how to act on what you decide. I will present the most
valuable aspects of what I’ve learned over the last twenty five years of
practicing photography as my full time livelihood. I have been directly
involved in everything I will teach you.
By the end of the day, you will have learned important
vocabulary, and gathered useful resources to help you in taking steps toward
sharing your images with the world for personal or professional purposes, or
both. This information is intended to help you develop your own “roadmap” and
an action plan.
Working as a small group will allow us to personalize our
explorations by drawing on samples of your
images, and you will be encouraged to voice your ideas and dreams for them.
We’ll discuss topics such as: Representing your own work, approaching galleries, getting
published, working with agents, contracts, internet platforms, arts & craft
fairs, creating products, reproductions vs originals, and more.
$145 +hst Four dates available:
March 11, May 11, June 1 or July 19th.
Participants are encouraged to bring a representative sampling
of work.
6 participants per class.
The
Art of Photographing Flowers
If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly,
our
whole life would change. -Buddha
At
the breakfast table, in the garden, on a hillside, at the market…with a
mystical magnetism, flowers never fail to reach out and capture our
imaginations, inspiring us to record and share their beauty.
But
how can we possibly do them justice? That is our quest.
Working
both in the studio, and outdoors, with cameras in hand, we will spend the day
enjoying the company of flowers. You will learn the “must-have” contents of my
gear bag, as well as the beginning, middle, and end of my approach to
photographing flowers throughout the last twenty years.
Flower
Portraits: A one day intimate study of flowers, fresh
from the garden! Part lecture and demo, part hands on photo session.
May 12 $145 +hst
Photographing Flowers Extravaganza! A two day total immersion in the art of photographing flowers in
studio and garden settings. We’ll begin at the Salt Spring Farmers Market where
we’ll gather blossoms. Then, move on to the studio for comprehensive hands on
photo sessions both indoors & out. Lecture and demo time will be
interspersed, finishing with downloading and review of images. This is going to be a lot of fun!
July
28-29 $255
+hst
Mapping the Inner Landscape
Sometimes
a single photograph speaks a thousand words. Other times, a photograph is just
the beginning – a key to unlocking hidden stories.
In
this two day creative intensive., we’ll use multiple images in Photoshop, as
well as mixed media techniques, to explore and express dimensions of experience
beyond the captured image. You will discover methods for articulating your
vision, gathering its parts, and putting them all together, to tell your tale.
Participants will be asked to bring images and a laptop. All
other materials are supplied. Participants should come with basic Photoshop skills for maximum
benefit during the first day of this workshop.
$255 +hst Two sets of dates are available:
April 21-22 or July 8 - 9
Hand
Painting Digital Photographs
Learn to take your images to
the next level, with the personal touch of your own hand.
Hand-painting is an inspiring
and fun collaboration between artist and image. With the first few simple strokes, an image takes on greater
depth, and the heart of the author begins to emerge.
In a relaxed, bright studio
setting, over the course of two days, I will work with you, step by step, and
side by side, guiding you through the process of applying texture and color to
digital photographs, using acrylic paints, pastels and pencils. Working in both
color and black & white prints, you will learn techniques such as
accentuating lines, enhancing highlights, tinting large areas, and more.
Tips for selecting optimal
printing surfaces for your images, handling and presenting your finished
artwork, and the option of using oil paints will be discussed.
July 21-22 $255 +hst
All art materials are supplied.
You will be
asked to bring work prints. Suggestions for selecting them will be given upon
registration.
All levels welcome. 6 participants per class.
Mounting
Images to Wood Panels
A
mounted image holds a space in a room in a very special way, similar to the way
an original painting influences the atmosphere far beyond it’s frame.
Freeing
an image from the boundaries of a framed border can transform it from being an
object, into becoming an experience.
Along
with a mat and frame, glass is still traditionally used with photography to
protect the print and display it elegantly. For certain images however,
choosing to mount images to wood panels is especially effective because it
allows for the elimination of the barrier, and distracting reflections, created
by the glass. A beautifully mounted image allows the viewer more immediate
access to the world within the image.
In
this very hands-on workshop, you will learn to produce mounted artworks, from
start to finish, using all archival materials and processes.
You
will leave with a piece of your own work, ready to hang, and the knowledge to
continue the technique at home with simple tools and easy to find materials.
This
course is divided between two consecutive days to accommodate drying times.
June
23 - 24 $145 +hst
Participants
will be asked to bring a selection of prints to choose from for mounting.
6 participants per class.
Most of the
materials used are water based.
Please notify of any chemical sensitivities in
advance.
Making
Your Own Fine Art Prints
This
is a high quality, relatively low-tech, approach to printing your own images on
traditional and alternative media., using affordable equipment.
In
this workshop you will learn what it takes to do all or most of your own
printing in your own home or studio. I’ll teach you the basic vocabulary of
printing, and will demystify the printers, media, and ink options available.
Using
your images, we’ll experiment with a variety of papers and fabric samples.
Emphasis
will be on creating fine art prints with maximum archival properties.
We’ll
also discuss why and when you may need the precise knowledge or specialized
equipment of fine art printing experts, and you will receive resources for
locating those services locally and beyond.
$145 +hst Two dates are available for this one day
workshop.
June
2 or July
20 All levels welcome.6 participants per class.
Into
the Field with Cameras
Spirit always stands still long enough for the photographer it
has chosen.
-Minor White
The
intention behind this day long photographic exercise is to heighten awareness,
expand experience, and clarify how best you can gather up a strong image, that
captures your experience, into that little frame, in the box we call a
camera.
Rather
than being about “taking” a picture, this workshop is about how to be deeply
receptive to the gift of the image that presents itself to you.
The
day will begin in the studio with samples and a preparatory discussion on
subjects such as seeing, light, color, depth, composition, narrative and
presence. Then, we’ll put our walking shoes on and head out to photograph near
the studio on Salt Spring Island.
In the afternoon, we’ll download your images, view your selections, and
discuss the results.
$145 +hst Two
dates are available for this one day workshop.
July 10 or July
27 All levels welcome. 6 participants per class.
Creative
Digital Techniques: One on One
When
a little goes a really long way….
This
season, I am offering a limited number of one on one sessions specifically
focusing on creative techniques using Photoshop. To the photographers out there
for whom this was designed….you know who you are. Here you go - this is for
you!
I
think of this very concentrated learning opportunity as being like a short
bridge between where you are now, and where you might like to go next, with
your work.
A total of six hours of customized personal training will
be divided up into two or three sessions, according to personal preference.
The
content of each session will be tailored very specifically to each
photographer’s, starting place, artistic goals, and learning style..
Practice
tasks will be assigned to follow each session, and detailed notes will be
provided afterwards to use as an ongoing resource. A complimentary 1 hour
follow up for Q&A is included.
$275 +hst
Dates arrangement between March - August 2012
Sessions will take place at my Salt Spring studio, unless other
arrangements are requested.
For sessions in other locations, or off island, additional fees may apply.
Skype sessions are an option.
There is a
world within you no one has ever seen
A voice no
one has ever heard - not even you.
-Paul Moray
REGISTER:
Due
to the limited class sizes, advance registration and payment is required
Registration by phone is preferred: (250) 537-6120
To register by regular mail, please email to request the form.
IMPORTANT: For all mailed registrations, please be sure to call to verify that
space is available.
When you
call, a space will be held for you for five days, to allow time for your form
and payment to arrive.
Payment: Visa/Mc or Checks accepted.
After
registering, you will receive confirmation by email (please specify if you
prefer standard mail). Confirmation will include a receipt, directions, and
additional information and instructions for preparing.
Fees include all materials,
coffee, tea & delicious light snacks.
Cancellation
policy:
Rainchecks will be given in lieu of refunds for registrations cancelled.
However, In
the event that extreme circumstances should force the cancellation of a
workshop, all registered participants will be fully refunded.
*Apologies
that the studio is not wheelchair accessible.
Photo (above) by Elehna de Sousa. Thank you Elehna!
Bio photo by Shari Macdonald. Thank you Shari!
