The Narrative Figure Inside. A three day workshop with Susan Carlin

It's impossible to describe the pleasure of announcing a workshop of mine in our own studio.  But, trust me, it feels WONDERFUL.  I hope you'll join us!-Susan smiling widely

The Narrative Figure Inside.
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday February 20, 21, 22 with a welcome reception the evening of Thursday February 19.
Where: Whistle Stop Corner, 330 Lamar, San Antonio, TX 78202
Fee: $365. Includes instruction, model fees, reception and lunch each day
Who: For artists who want to feel more comfortable and better equipped in painting the figure, both from photographs and from life. This workshop will focus on telling a story with our paintings. Workshop limited to 12 artists. Artists may work in the medium with which they are most familiar. Susan will be demonstrating in oil.  This particular workshop is for intermediate artists (or for advanced artists for whom this subject matter may be newer).
Welcome Reception Thursday: Come hungry Thursday evening and party! Enjoy plentiful refreshments and wine, meet the other artists, choose your spot in the studio and set up your easel and supplies.
Friday:  Artists will have the opportunity to practice photographing the model in a variety of poses in order to create references for narrative paintings where the setting and situation in relation to the figure create a story for the viewer to enjoy. Although not a requirement, artists will especially benefit from this workshop by bringing along a laptop or iPad and a camera in order to practice editing the images and preparing them to be painting references. Much of the first day will be spent in this way. Composition is key.
Saturday:  After a demonstration by Susan, artists will be painting from the references they prepared. Each artist may choose whether to make many small painting ‘starts’ or to work on one painting all day. Artists may work from their monitors or from photographs made from their references. We will focus on improving accuracy in drawing and value, relating the figure to the surroundings by color and shadow to create a mood or feeling response in the viewer.
Sunday:   In two long sessions, artists will be working from the live model in poses to create narrative paintings.  Photographs may be taken from each artist’s perspective in order to continue work on the painting after the workshop.
We can host up to 8 artists in our guest rooms at Whistle Stop Corner. $180. for three nights in Guesthouse, $240. for three nights in Cottage.   Contact us for availability:  us@whistlestopcorner.com
To register, email: us@whistlestopcorner.com
210-602-8562

Whistle Stop Corner's first workshop!

Today the last of our guests headed back home after a magical five day workshop led by Carol Marine. We now know we are truly going to love our new life- as artists who will open our studio and guest house to other artists a few times a year for workshops and retreats. We had 18 unique and enjoyable artists in the studio, and 9 of them staying with us in the guest house and cottage this week.   Our meals were crazy good- prepared by Sue Bown, the incredible owner of Bide-A-While in Dickinson, TX. The double whammy of fantastic instruction and great food had each artist smiling and grateful they were among the lucky few who were able to attend. Carol's waiting list for this workshop exceeded 100. In the realm of art workshops, we opened Whistle Stop Corner at a pinnacle. 
We'll likely host smaller scale workshops in the future, but let me tell you: It was a thrilling way to begin our new (ad) venture!


Two New Workshops Scheduled!

Two Day Still Life Painting Workshop in Del Rio, TX : October 10-11, 2014. $150. Sponsored by the Del Rio Arts Council. For more information, email Nancy O'Brien at nobrien@delrioarts.com

Three Day Still Life and Portrait Painting Workshop In Bracketville, TX, sponsored by the Fort Clark Arts Group January 26-28, 2015. For more information contact Jean Levert Hood at leverthood@gmail.com

We're SO busy getting Whistle Stop Corner ready for its big debut, that it was pretty crazy to schedule a workshop less than a month before the opening...  But when I was asked so nicely, and when it sounded like a welcome break from painting walls and scraping old adhesive off of hardwood floors, I said YES, INDEED!  There are still four spaces available in the Del Rio workshop, so why don't you join us?

The workshop in Bracketville is after the first of the year and is in a warm part of the country, so you might like to promise yourself a little art and sunshine in the middle of winter.  I know I'm looking forward to it!