Painting Classes 08
All levels catered for
Paint a wild creature or your family pet. Conducted by
Stephen Powell Wildlife Artist
Oil or Watercolour
Groups of 5 X 2 hour sessions. Choose either
Tuesday 1:00- 3:00pm.
Class size is limited and this session is almost full
so get in quick to reserve your place.
Tuesday 7:00 -9:00pm
Lower demand for this session so places are available.
$50 deposit to hold place. Payment in full $125 at first session.
Classes every Tuesday during school terms except public holidays.
Other sessions to be added according to demand. Students may
start classes at any time subject to discussion with Steve.
Materials not supplied.
Students Work
Venue:
Mandala Magic
114 Morris Rd
(Cnr Morris Rd & Melaleuca Dr)
Upwey, Vic 3158
(Mel 74 J12)
Contact Stephen
Home: 9754 2811
Mobile: 0439 975422
Email: See contact page
DESK EASEL, CANVAS PREPERATION & REFERANCE MATERIAL
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Charles Sturt University
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
BAD NEWS
The last Mitchell school run through the CSU is to be Jan 08.
The CSU has decided the Mitchell and Murrumbidgee schools are not part of its 'core business' and will end its involvement. Unfortunately our governments obsession with 'the economy' and measuring the value of all activities by balance sheets is being ruthlessly imposed on our communities.When this process reaches its ultimate conclusion we will realise the futilely of trying to warm your soul with a pile of cash or the stuff we accumulate in the search of a lifestyle.
GOOD NEWS
The Mitchell and Winter and Summer Schools have been taken up by 'The Art Scene'.
Inquiries should go directly to - The Art Scene.
The Murrumbidgee school will continue as the Murrumbidgee School of Creative Arts in Wagga Wagga.
See details below.
Mitchell School of Arts Bathurst
Winter School 2008
July (13th - 19th)
Workshop was a great success.
See Students Work
Stephen Powell: Wildlife - Companion Animal Art in Oil and Watercolour
Beginners to Advanced
Mitchell School of Arts Bathurst
Contact
914 Victoria Road
West Ryde 2114
NSW Australia
Phone: 02 9807 6900
Facsimile: 02 9809 6548
http://www.artscene.com.au
Book early for Bathurst Summer School
Jan 18th to 24th 2009
The Murrumbidgee school was also to be closed by the CSU but has been saved. The Murrumbidgee school will continue as the Murrumbidgee School of Creative Arts in Wagga Wagga NSW AUSTRALIA.
Murrumbidgee School of Creative Arts - MSCA
09 School
WAGGA WAGGA
Stephen Powell: Wildlife - in Oil and Watercolour
Beginners to Advanced
Please Note: The structure and time table of the Murrumbidgee School
is to be altered for the 2009 schools. Dates to be decided
Contact the MSCA for details.
MSCA Office
26 Best Street
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
P: 026921 2977
F:02 6921 2977
M: 0427212977
http://www.mscawagga.com/
University of Southern Queensland
McGregor Summer School - Toowoomba
7 - 17th January 09
The McGregor Summer School has established itself as one of the premier residential, performing, visual and creative arts learning experiences in Australia. Over 500 participants converged on the USQ campus in Toowoomba for this popular residential arts retreat in January 2008.
McGregor Summer School
Workshop information
Mitchell School of Arts
Bathurst Campus 9th -14 July 2006
Steve and students Bathurst Winter 06
Some students comments:
From Bathurst 08:
"Thank you so much for your time and patients this week. I've enjoyed every moment" - Linda
"Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent with us" - Pip
"Many thanks Stephen for a wonderful week" - Les
"I have enjoyed & learned a lot this week- you have moved my artists journey up a notch this week. Thank you" Regards - Muriel G
"Cheers! I enjoyed my 'Fur' tuition and good stories plus lots of information" Cylene
"It was a great week learning from someone who's work I admire. Thanks heaps" - Catherin
"Thank you Stephen for a great week. I've learnt so much. Cheers" - Robyne
I just wanted to thank you for a terrific workshop in Wagga last week.
And thank you for pushing me through the "pain barriers" when I thought all hope was lost, earlier in the week! :-) The workshops are so intensive, and its really nice to now be able to look back at my achievements for that week. My little ---------- is in the process of being framed, and I'm very proud of him.
I hope your trip back home was uneventful, and I look forward to the possibility of seeing you at another Art School in the future.
All the best and thank you again, for the knowledge shared and for all the inspiration!
"Many thanks for a great week. I liked your excellent advise – learn from the best – not the 70%’ers."
My Trip To Mitchell School of Art "Last week I had the extreme pleasure of attending Mitchell School of Art in Bathurst NSW Australia. Spent my week studying the techniques of Stephen Powell, an Australian extraordinar Wildlife artist. I am normally a watercolourist and so this transition to using oils was a little different but I got into it in a big way.
His method is very meticulous and the results are amazing. On top of all that he is a really nice person and seems to enjoy passing his knowledge to those who wish to take it in. We had only 4 in the class and this was not economic for the School but great for the 4 of us who had the privilege of painting with him...........""Just a quick note to say that I entered my wedge tail eagle painting in the Sofala Show this weekend and won 1st prize as well as winning a 1st for a landscape. Had success in the photographic section as well and won quite a few categories here too.
I reworked the eagle and he looked magnificent enough to win a prize, thanks, I owe a lot of that to you."
"I have just completed another Mitchell School of art in Bathurst. Once again I choose Wildlife art with tutor Stephen Powell and once again, I have come away enthusiastic. "
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Canvas Size 910 X 610 mm (36 X 24 in)
Step 1:
Produce a drawing on canvas board.(Very smooth surface for fine detailed work)
Fix the drawing and begin applications of oil paint combined with quick drying glazing medium.
Apologies for the image, it appears to be grubby when it isn't. It is important for the drawing to be clean
Note: Steve Morvell and I went on a reference gathering trip. He was a bit quicker of the mark than me, his tiger was a feature peace in a recent exhibition. Coincidently we both chose to work from our own, but virtually identical shots. His looks great. Tiger For mine time will tell?
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Step 3:
Blocking in and working up details.
Note: I tend to work on the eyes - major features early as it is a great motivator. However blocking in for all over balance is the preferred. The relative contrast and intensity is difficult to judge with large areas of white canvas. See the next step for comparison.
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Step 4:
Working up details continues. I've finally blocked in the background. Its strength is much closer to the final stage than the tiger. Note how the tiger looks like a flat pasted on cut out. Once I have finalized the detail I will add the shading that will give the tiger form and combine it with the background.
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Step 6:
I've strengthened the stripes and also tried to make them look more natural. During the initial blocking of the stripes I find it difficult to get the edges looking natural. You can see how crude and 'Dunny Brush - Toilet brush' like the edges are in the close up.
Note that the apparent body colour shift was caused by the photography.
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I tend to add paint to enhance areas that work and trying to resolve the areas that don't. Whilst it's not very efficient I do tend to jump around to areas that catch my eye rather than follow a logical and probably more efficient plan. The top right corner a second layer has been added to clean up the edges and deepen the shadow area. In this stage I've also strengthened the shadow under the chin and around the whiskers. Then rotated the canvas to avoid touching the wet area of canvas and to enable me to keep working. Rotating the canvas around also allows me to work more comfortably and to use more natural brush strokes. I work on a fantastic old drafting station with a foot pump to quickly raise & lower and a single arm that allows for rotation and tilt. Great for comfortable working position. I attach the canvas, brushes, pallet and small containers of medium and with Blu-Tack. This allows me to rotate the canvas to any angle and keeps my pallet and brushes in easy reach.
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In the stage above and left I've begun to add form and depth to the painting.Note: adding shading - shadow to the body pushes it back and brings the head forward. Using shading to lift highlights and add impact to an image. I've seen many paintings where the artist stopped just short of this stage. Much of the potential of a painting is lost.
The stage below I have deepened the shadows further on the back, face and sides of the tiger. Whilst it may be difficult to see in the images I have continued to refine the eyes and the fur on the head.
Please note the overall shift in colour from one image to an other is the result of the limitations of my camera, natural lighting and my ability to manipulate the colour balance.
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Received some advice from a good friend.
well now I can understand why its taking you so bloody looooong!!!..........jeezuss man.....stop sneaking around it and rip into it!!!!........... |
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When to say its finished?
I could go in and fiddle but chances are I'd be the only one who'd notice. As with any painting I'd make changes if I did it again but I achieved much of what I'd set out do.
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