Opening Reception, Art & Labor at Olympic Mills

Elio Camacho workshop Last Day, Benson State Park

Friday, already! We met at the Vista House, a beautiful place..but this morning it was already buzzing with a gajillion tourists and we knew it was going to be another hot day without shade. We decided on a Plan B, Benson State Park. Elio conducted his final question and answer session. There was questions about triangulation, varnish and a fair amount of discussion about "80/20" composition. I decided to sit at a picnic table to do just a small color sketch. Elio showed me a book about a painter named Eustace Ziegler...to further explain how 80/20 can mean 80% dark and 20% light (and visa versa).
The entire week was just outstanding. Elio never loses his enthusiasm for answering questions and his knowledge about artists past and present is admirable. He talked about ideas for how to explain more things to us next year. I'll be there!
(My color sketch/painting):

Elio Camacho workshop Day Four, Edgefield McMenamins

Today our workshop group met at Edgefield McMenamins. Elio started the session giving us a lesson in "envelope drawing" and "triangulation." Specifically, triangulation is a method for checking your drawing against what you are observing for accuracy. He also talked with us about composition.."the most controversial subject in painting." Elio drew out some thumbnails in paint, describing several compositions and how all of them are valid. It depends on what the artist is trying to convey, he said... some paintings are considered to be good despite compositional flaws. That's art! After this talk we found our places and painted for a couple hours until lunch. Lunch was exceptional...we shoved together three picnic tables and ordered food from the very good restaurant. After lunch Karen and I went to the gift shop and tried on hats. I bought a KimberlyKentMichaelOrwick style straw hat and Karen got a floppy hat that has a touch of a 60's feel. Buying hats! Such a resorty thing to do. We painted buildings today and I had my usual battle with the foliage. I had to leave early ..so I missed Elio's late afternoon demonstration. Tomorrow is our last day...we'll be going to the Vista House.
(My Painting):

Elio Camacho workshop Day Three, back to Rooster Rock Park

Because it was going to be a blistering hot day it was decided that we would return to Rooster Rock so that we could have lots of shade. We assembled on one of the frisbee golf holes. This decision caused two frisbee golfers to ask: "Hey! Who is in charge?" Jan directed them to Elio. I was out of earshot, but I imagine Elio handled it diplomatically. In the morning session Elio answered specific painting questions and we were sent off to consider the dappled light. I wanted to be sure to put down much more paint than usual, but doing so presented new challenges for me. Elio mentioned that impasto medium might be a route we could take...just to experience painting thickly (without the expense of wasting paint). I'll try it!
At noon Elio did a demonstration, painting some tree trunks in the shade. He painted it onto a dark surface (a panel he had used earlier in his question/answer discussion). It looked like a so-so painting for the longest time and then...BLAM! all of a sudden it looked exactly right. Later Elio reminded me to slow down--he said: "When I am doing a demonstration it may appear that I am painting fast when in reality I am very much taking my time." What he is expressing is that we need to make definite decisions about the work, before we start and as it progresses. All the elements of the painting have to be mentally handled at the same time, with regard to tone, composition, shape, form and color. It is so much to do, but if you lose your concentration..if your mind wanders (off the painting).....you're sunk.
(My painting):

Elio Camacho workshop Day Two, Corbett, OR

Vicki Zimmerman and I carpooled to Corbett today. We were a half hour early, but as we pulled into the parking lot we saw painters already set up. Soon we realized that these were the painters in our workshop taking advantage of Elio's offer to paint with him before and after the workshop everyday. Mike Orwick was in the early painters and already had one entire sun-up painting all finished. Vicki and I felt like total slackers. Elio did 4 or 5 paintings between the last time we saw him and this morning (!).
Today Elio talked to us about design principles, more about color temperature, dynamic brushstrokes, center of interest, underpainting, highlights, transparency vs. opacity, perspective, edges, "catalogs of color"--well, you get the picture, he gave us a thorough crash course on oil painting. (Elio is first rate at explaining things, demonstrating physically precisely what he is describing verbally).
It was a different type of day than yesterday. It wasn't as easy to find a good spot to set up and the tourists were swarming! I set out to be deliberate with values and also to paint thickly. I think I managed good values, but I didn't manage to paint thicker. I wonder why that is such a challenge. It's only paint! Well, three more days to go--I will have plenty more opportunities to try again.
(My painting):

Elio Camacho workshop Day One, Rooster Rock

Starting at 9am we watched Elio paint a large painting. He talked throughout and answered questions. He spent a lot of time reminding us about the importance of color temperature, but most of all how we must continually look for the relationships between everything. What is this compared to that? What is that--in relationship to this? Elio is known for his clean, fearless interesting color and dynamic brushwork. Watching him knock his demonstration painting out was entertaining and helpful. I love how he uses so much paint and the brushwork "radiates" from the most interesting part of the painting. He is very deliberate about that radiation-thing and it really works. After we watched him we did our own paintings. The time really flew! I did four small paintings that all looked very much the same. Elio thought I did alright--but he recommended that I work on more variety in brushwork. I have that tendency to use a similar stroke throughout the whole painting. Tomorrow I will definitely try to mix it up more. I feel really fortunate to get to take this workshop. Check out this great new article in Southwest Art Magazine about Elio Camacho.

(My painting):