Art Workshop

It has been ten years since I have done a pastel workshop and probably five years since I have done any kind of art workshop. This past week I did a pastel workshop with Tom Christopher, a landscape pastel artist. Toby went with me to Eureka Springs, AR where we met my blog buddy, Jo Castillo, and her husband. Since our husbands are both bike riders, they rode bikes while Jo and I painted. We rented a house of sorts with a big deck and beautiful view. :It was pretty perfect.
The workshop itself was very informative. Tom Christopher's landscapes are a bit abstract or maybe what you would call impressionistic. He paints very loosely, layering the paintings with value. I needed the help in loosening up and leaving things alone - before I painted it to death. My first painting of the day was not so good and needs some work. I would show it to you , but I did not take a good pic of it yet. This was my second attempt.  Actually, I started this painting then went to the winter scene here.At the end of the workshop, Tom did a critique on everyone's paintings. He liked this one, but said he did not like the leaning tree and thought I should get rid of it. Maybe I should, but I wish he had said that earlier when I was working on the painting and he was walking around watching. He saw it there and said nothing until the end. I may keep it or not. I did another painting, but it turns out I forgot to take a good pic of it. When I get that done, I will show you. I will also show you some of Tom's work and his process. But today is a busy day getting back into the swing of things. My tutoree should be here soon. The laundry is piled up and waiting on me. The cupboard is bare. So, more on the art later.