My First Workshop At Hoyt Arboretum Was A Success!

 

My Seedpods in Watercolor and Pastels workshop at Hoyt Arboretum was a success. I certainly enjoyed teaching adults various techniques to fully complete a watercolor painting, including a background. All participants did finish an artwork by the end of the class and their work was stunning! Several of the students stated how happy they were to do just that, bring home a finished work after only a two-hour workshop. 

I did write up many notes and an outline for the class. It was quite detailed yet allowed for flexibility and change, if needed. 

A very important note that I wrote myself was to ask all workshop participants if I may take photos for publication in my blog. Gratefully, everyone gave me the ok. 

The Supplies:

Another note was in regards to the supplies provided. All participants paid both for the class and a $15 material fee. I spent much time ordering all the materials which included zippered art bags about 10"x9". I placed each bought item into the bags ready for use in the class and easy to carry away. Too, the art paper was 8"x8" so that also fit into the bag after it was painted. 

The chalk holders I purchased did not fit the chalk I ordered. Instead, I used art tape to wrap one end of each piece so participants could use it without getting too much on themselves and their clothes. Each piece of wrapped chalk was then placed in a small ziplock bag. I did place a chalk holder in each of the art bags thinking as it got smaller it might fit. This all took hours, but all of those in my workshop expressed appreciation for their individual art bag of items. Here is what was in each:

1. watercolor paintbrush                  2. drawing pencil                   3. white rubber eraser

4. glue/masking remover square (for removing art tape)               5. white pastel chalk pencil

6. a roll of blue art tape                    7. one piece of blue pastel chalk from France ($$)

Others supplies purchased but not included in the art bag: a wide selection of watercolor paint (tubes) and 10"x10" squares of cardboard to affix the watercolor paper to before painting (extra pieces were also available for use to place over the finished work to protect it in transit). 

I also brought to the workshop assorted, vintage cake plates to be used as palettes, antique/small pitchers as well as one larger one for water, wide-paper cups for holding water for painting, brown curved /paper trays to hold selected seed pods, a dozen hag stones from Nome, Alaska as well as three other stones I found locally, a variety of colored pastel chalk pencils, several vintage/wooden-handled brushes and eight jars of gathered/preserved seedpods; a diverse collection I found in neighborhoods throughout Portland, Oregon. I labeled each jar with the name of the pod/cone within. 

It reads as much and this first workshop did require months of gathering seedpods/cones and other materials. Yet, now that I have done the first one, I have most of the supplies for the next workshop already. 

The Workshop:

When students arrived one by one, they immediately picked out the art bag they wanted. They came in four different pastel colors. Most arrived wonderfully excited about the class. One said they had much on their mind but didn't want to cancel and was willing to give it a go. 

During the introduction, a majority of the participants stated that they had some watercolor background. Those that didn't shared that when they read the description of the class, that it combined both nature & art, they felt it was a class made for them as they were nature lovers who wanted to start painting 

After the introduction, I passed out the brown, paper trays, cardboard and watercolor paper. There was a Hoyt Arboretum staff member in the workshop who both assisted me and engaged in the class. 

Next, I placed the jars of seedpods and cones on the table. One student said, "Thank you so much for doing all this work for us! And so many different types to choose from!" Soon everyone's brown paper tray was filled with their selections. 

Students then used their art tape to secure their watercolor paper onto the provided cardboard squares. I modeled how to arrange the seedpods on their paper.  I did it quickly but it actually takes several minutes and is one of the most important steps. Next, I modeled how to simply trace around each item OR trace its shadow. Fortunately it was a sunny day and light streamed into the room. I drew an outlined piece before class to provide a visual example for this step:

Before I knew it all had finished drawing each of their selected seedpods.

I have to add that I found their selections interesting. Some selected Maple tree samaras, but others selected more challenging items. Challenging as their shapes were more complex. Hop Tree / Wafer Ash round-samaras, Yellow Poplar samaras (the fruit is an aggregate of samaras),  Persimmon calyxes and Oak galls (not seedpods) were each selected by one or more of the participants for their compositions.

I am so glad I brought such a diverse selection. Too, I am grateful to my friend Lisa who pointed out the galls to me when we were out walking last fall. Actually, the staff person helping and taking the class actually let out a joyful yelp when they saw the galls as they said they were one of their favorite nature finds. 

Photos of the class progress / selecting then sketching items.

Selecting items before starting to paint - 

Sketching their items -

Above: The Maple samara paintings in the foregrounds of the photos above are mine. 

I brought them as examples of finished painted works.

Time to Paint:

After finishing their sketch, students then selected a vintage plate/palette and the colors of paint they wanted to use. Water was poured into their cups as they did so.  Before they started to paint, I described how I make great effort to paint the small details of each item in my work. 

Too, that the background should not be painted. After the work dried, it would be completely smudge with blue chalk and then erased. This would leave a soft blue background throughout the work and create depth within the painted items. I then shared a watercolor I completed specifically for this class. The background was not finished.  Here is that artwork:

Immediately, they started painting. I walked around the room stopping to support individual students and their work. It was wonderful to witness them painting, each with such unique to themselves styles.

Photos of the class in progress / painting -

The Smudging & Erasing -

Everyone seemed very happy with their painted artwork. It's a leap to imagine that it won't be ruined if you smudge pastel chalk over its entirety and then erase most of that chalk. Especially if you have never done anything like that before. I placed a pile of brought hag stones and rocks in the middle of the table and ask each student to select one. Too, that they take out the piece of blue pastel chalk from their art bag. 

I then modeled smudging by rubbing pastel chalk onto one of the hag stones, rubbing a few of my fingers across the rock & into the chalk dust and then using my fingers to smudge the chalk across the unfinished painting of samaras I included earlier in this post. 

When I finished smudging the work, I took an eraser and from top to bottom erased most of the chalk from the paper. (Note: at this point the art tape is still securing the watercolor paper and defining its border.) As I worked, I used one of the brushes I brought to swipe away the eraser/chalk dust. 

I took out my next artwork to share. This was a completed work, both the painting itself and the background finished, see below:

All watched with serious fascination and then began on their own artwork. 

Photos of the class progress / smudging and erasing -

Photos of the class progress / finished participant artworks -

Above: tape still needs to be removed.

Truly incredible artwork - each piece. 

Class progress / time to go -

As the work was finished and the time for the workshop was up, it was a quick pack-up for all! Art supplies put back into art bags and zipped. Art bundled in cardboard and ready to take home. So much joy! The student that arrived for class saying that they'd make the best of it although they were mentally distracted said, "I walked in here in a completely different state of mind than I am leaving with. This was great!" It was.

Post-workshop reflection:

The workshop went very well overall. Things I don't need to bring next time: art books, paperweights, my large paintings for display and gouache, not used. Need to bring more of: small water pitchers for water.

Workshop participants did fill out a questionnaire regarding their experience. I received many complimentary comments including one that stated they wanted more workshops by this instructor, me.

One person stated that they truly enjoyed the overall workshop but that my introduction was too long and took up art time. I thought much about this. I realized that the only adult workshops I have recently attended were teacher conferences where the speaker spent the first ten minutes telling everyone who they were, what their speciality of focus in instruction was and why they were qualified to speak at the conference. I think I did much of this as this was my first workshop at the Hoyt and one that wasn't academic. I spoke for about seven minutes instead of the wanted two saying all that those conference speakers said.

Know your audience is so significant here. I watched the room as each participant introduced themselves after me and quickly realized they mostly just wanted to know each other's name, not much more as they simply wanted to start. They arrived knowing they have two hours to learn and create something. The clock was ticking. 

This was such needed and constructive feedback. I already re-wrote my introduction in my journal and timed it as I read it aloud: two minutes, actually about one and a half! Perfect. 

I have another workshop at the Hoyt this Spring. It is in the planning stages so I won't share the details yet. I so enjoy this work. It's simply wonderful to sit, watch others paint and to be there to guide them along the way. 

⚓