Visiting Artists – 2016
The Chestnuts Visiting Artist Workshops 2016 is happy to announce that highly acclaimed artists; Skip Whitcomb, Dan Young and Kevin Macpherson will be offering their workshops in the Nashville area.
Currently, registration is reserved exclusively for Chestnuts. We want to make sure members get first choice on the workshops and you have three months to do so. After that time, sign up will be open to everyone.
January 1st, 2016 the workshops will be announced to non-members.
To sign up, contact Rachel Blair (chestnutnews2@gmail.com) .
Be sure to scroll all the way down so you can view every workshop offered. For a printable version of the workshops, please click here.
Note on supplies: Bottled water will be provided. Bring your own lunch since most of the workshops will be in the field, and bring your stool/chair for the demos.
As soon as you sign up for workshops, please send in your payment in order to save your place. Make check out to The Chestnut Group and send to:
Rachel Blair
240 Boxmere Place
Nashville, TN 37215
Landscape Concepts – Skip Whitcomb
3 Day Workshop, April 14th, 15th, and 16th 2016
Description: This workshop is designed to remove the imitative burden we all seem to start with and to introduce orchestration of the landscape for strong personal statements. We are under no obligation to copy what is before us, that’s what the camera is designed to do.
Concentration will be on the intellectual process of interpreting the landscape to “fit” your motive. Although this is a plein air workshop much of the discussion will apply equally to studio work and procedures. We’ll work on defining and developing what constitutes a strong pictorial concept and selection of only those elements in the landscape, which support that end.
The ultimate goal is to help you think and create on a higher plane. The small class size is intended to encourage enthusiastic discussions and questions dealing with our profession today practical as well as intellectual.
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Student Fee: $400
Student Limit: 14
Locations: To Be Determined
Student Levels for this workshop: Knowledge of basics and plein air experience
Skip Whitcomb Bio
M W, “Skip” Whitcomb, an accomplished plein air painter, draftsman and printmaker, studied at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. He is the two-time winner of both the Artist’s Choice Award at the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, and the Red Smith Memorial Award at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming. Whitcomb has also won the Grand Prize in Pastel Journal’s International Competition.
“Mood and Feeling are more important with Whitcomb than visual reference, though all of his landscapes he paints are compelling places,” says one museum curator. Whitcomb states, “Once you internalize the language of painting you see the world differently. It never leaves you. The veil of rational order is lifted and what hangs in the air are sensations of painted possibilities. On good days, some would call it poetry.”
Getting Your Paintings Into Shape – Dan Young
3 Day Workshop, April 18th, 19th and 20th 2016
Description: The emphasis of this class will be working from life. Dan will stress the importance of how you start your painting by simplifying and editing from nature to make stronger and more dynamic artwork.
Students will work on starting with a solid plan so they spend more time painting and less time fixing their mistakes. Dan will stress the fundamentals of values, composition, and drawing.
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Student Fee: $400
Student Limit: 15
Locations: To Be Determined
Student Levels for this workshop: Knowledge of basics and plein air experience
Dan Young Bio
Growing up in Western Colorado and camping and fishing in the Rocky Mountains were strong influences in Dan’s work. After attending Colorado Institute of Art, Dan pursued a career in commercial art, but the landscape was always calling him back. Returning to Colorado in 1989, he began painting full time. He states, “Sometimes I feel like I am in a race to paint a disappearing way of life. It is hard to watch so many of the family farms and ranches bring swallowed up by development.”
Young clings strongly to the importance of painting from life and says it was the most important stepping stone for his career. Dan is represented by galleries in Colorado, Wyoming, and Arizona.
Oil Painting En Plein Air – Kevin Macpherson
3 Day Workshop, October 16th, 17th, and 18th 2016
3 Day Workshop, October 20th, 21st, and 22nd 2016
Description: Take the mystery out of plein air painting through demonstrations, lectures and challenging lessons. Simplify the chaos of nature. Understand light and shadow and grasp the elements of composition. Please note: Kevin will be conducting TWO workshops.
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm w/ 1 hour break at noon for lunch
Student Fee: $500
Student Limit: 20 per workshop
Locations: To Be Determined
Student Levels for this workshop: Knowledge of basics and plein air experience
Kevin Macpherson Bio
Kevin has lived a life beyond his wildest dreams because he followed his muse. Paints in hand he has globetrotted to over thirty-five countries and counting. Art is his mistress as he travels in search of inspiration. His colorful, compelling oils cross international borders, speaking with the universal language of color.
Kevin is a gifted teacher with keen intellect who has influenced thousands of aspiring artists. Through years of writing and teaching, he has crystallized his thoughts into a simple, direct, and highly effective painting method. Kevin can teach anyone to see and paint this visual language.
Kevin is recognized as one of America’s most accomplished Impressionistic plein air painters. His discipline and dedication have earned him critical success and numerous awards for his artwork. He is a member of many top organizations, has been in more than 75 publications, books, videos.