Kristi Grussendorf Workshop
Oct 31 -Nov. 2 (Monday thru Wednesday)
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily
at the Sons of the Utah Pioneers building, 3301 E Louise Ave, Millcreek, UT 84109
$225 members, $325 for non members
Kristi doesn’t remember a time without art. Her mother earned her degree in art & also taught so it was something that was valued & encouraged at home. Kristi graduated with a BFA (painting & drawing emphasis) from the University of Utah &; is privileged to have studied under many world-famous artists. Over the years, she has earned signature status in the top professional organizations. She has been included in several national & international publications & has work in many private and public collections. She enjoys teaching workshops (2018 in Spain, 2019 in France, virtually in 2020 for the Watercolor Society of Oregon and the Nevada Watercolor Society), doing demonstrations, and jurying exhibitions. She was also part of the 2016 PACE (Plein Air Convention &; Expo) faculty in Tucson, AZ. Kristi considers herself a lifelong student & was fortunate to learn early, the value of exploration & play from her young students when she was a lower school art specialist at Waterford School in Sandy, UT
Her website is here.
DESCRIPTION OF WORKSHOP:
Learning to Take Control in Order to Let Go
Careful planning and preparation are integral components of my painting process. These preliminary steps help with the confidence needed to paint loose & juicy. I would love to share with you what works for me:
– Establishing a focal point and a visual “path” for your painting design
– Working out a full value range
– Choosing your palette
– Blocking the “whites,” visualizing and planning the first wash
– Starting with bold, brave color
– Working from large shapes to small (“sneaking up” on your subject matter)
– How & when to critique your own work
– Challenging our definition of “finished”
I will supply a reference photo if you want to paint with me but I encourage you to choose your own if you would like. I will be doing a figurative landscape.
Click here to register
WORKSHOP MATERIALS LIST
PAINT: The colors you choose are a personal decision. Please just bring what you already use. They should, however, be a professional quality paint. If you are a beginner & don’t have any, I would suggest just getting your primaries:
Yellow – cadmium medium, azo, aureolin, gamboge, yellow ochre, raw sienna…your choice!
Blue – if you get just one, I would suggest an Ultramarine. I love blues & use my cerulean & cobalt a lot, too.
Red – cadmium medium & alizarin crimson (cooler red)
I will use a neutral tint for my value study. I think it makes more sense to start with just a few high quality tubes of professional paint than to get the cheap sets which often have colors you don’t need & sometimes mix white in the pigments which make them more of a gouache than a watercolor. Originally, I used primarily transparent colors but have expanded my palette to include lots of fun, more opaque choices such as horizon blue, orchid, and mint julep! (White can be used with any color to produce a more opaque tint)
BRUSHES:
Again, just bring what you have; some of my favorite brushes are cheaper synthetic ones. I use flats, rounds, mops & riggers. If you can buy just one brush, I would suggest a nice large round that makes a good point.
PALLETTE:
I’ve used a variety of plastic ones with covers, large wells &; ample mixing areas. A butcher tray or even a plastic plate will do in a pinch! Please just bring what you’re currently using.
PAPER:
My two favorite brands are Arches & Fabriano. I recommend cold press or rough for this workshop. 140 # is adequate. I also like the blocks. Please don’t skimp & get student grade paper. Feel free to work on the size with which you’re comfortable (If your goal is to paint looser, though, I would suggest you work a little larger & with larger brushes!)
REFERENCE PHOTOS:
I will provide a reference photo for you but you are welcome to bring your own, as well. Let’s stick to landscapes with this workshop. Bring a colored and a black & white copy. If you have several choices, I would be glad to help you choose!
MISC.:
-small spray bottle
-masking tape (I use the regular non-colored type for taping my paper down & the colored kind for masking out whites)
– gatorboard, plexi or some other sort of support for your paper (if you’re using a block, you won’t need anything)
-paper towels or cotton rags
-landscape reference photos
-water containers
-masking fluid (if you use it)
-pencil
-kneaded eraser
-scrap watercolor paper for smaller value studies, technique practice or color testing
-snap cutter (those cheap plastic cutters you get at the hardware store where you just snap the blade off when it gets dull)
-toothbrush
