I was lucky enough to just spend 5 days immersed in a high level advanced workshop with Sherrie McGraw and Jacqueline Kamin in Atlanta. I still have a million thoughts so will do my best to get them in some kind of order here.

We all sign up for workshops so far ahead of time to get in and then hope that life does not get in the way at that exact time. Life kept throwing curves at me but it was really important to be there and I am so glad that I could be.

I took the workshop on the recommendation of good friend, artist Nancy Franke. Nancy had taken both Sherrie’s painting and drawing workshops and thought this would be good for me. I was also excited to finally meet the fabulously fun Millie Gosch as the workshop was at her super cool studio.

Kathy Cousart and Millie Gosch with Sherrie McGraw©Kathy Cousart

The workshop was amazing information from the very start. Loved watching Sherrie paint with such beautiful, graceful, and deliberate mark making. The painting process of Abstract Realism is very close to what I had been studying with mentor Jim Richards/Quang Ho for months so I felt right at home with that part. I believe the whole philosophy of painting your relationship to what is in front of you and not just copying what is in front of you. I think determining a strong visual concept on what the painting is about is so important. Since I started on this journey I have wanted to be a fine artist and learn from the best teachers I can find and this was one profound nugget after another! Just sitting inches away and watching Sherrie’s entire process from start to finish was a gift. Loved learning and understanding each logical reason for deliberate decisions you need to make while painting and taking the time to allow for those!

Kathy Cousart with Sherrie McGraw©Kathy Cousart

The hidden jewel in the workshop was Jackie Kamin who is a beautiful painter also. Jackie was encouraging, very knowledgeable and did some beautiful demos also. Favorite fun was a teachable moment impromptu demo of Grapes. So many of us had never painted them and there are a million lessons you can learn with just grapes! Fascinating! One of the evenings they did a dual demo that was really incredible to see!

Sherrie McGraw and Jackie Kamin Dual Demo©Kathy Cousart

I was working on some things I had talked with my mentor Jim Richards about and went in with some goals for myself. I feel that I learned more than I thought possible and have a much better understanding about myself- where I am and where I want to go to be that very fine artist. I came out with an even greater appreciation for “fine art” and so glad that I got to study with both Sherrie and Jackie. I have pages of notes, tons of take aways, and hundreds of photos. I learned more than I ever have and will continue to build on that. I was so glad that 2 art friends were there with me- Judy Nocifora and Maria Hock so we can work on digesting it all together.

Copper Pot with Peaches Study©Kathy Cousart

Copper Pot with Peaches Close Up©Kathy Cousart

I am showing my three paintings and they are just studies or works in progress that I will keep for me. Not sure I would ever go back into them as they represent the lessons learned at the workshop. First one with copper pot was almost 3 days of painting –a long time for me! Started out with dogwoods and hydrangeas and the whole set up died before I could really get the information I needed. Started over with less fragile flowers and some spares and really got into it. I felt like I was putting the brakes on and joked with Sherrie (whose dad was a PGA Pro) about needing to slow down my “pace of play.” Found that truly benefited my painting when I did. I got a tremendous lesson on painting metal and loved how Jackie explained her thoughts on that! The 4th day I moved to another spot to paint some pink roses and a silver teapot. Got a really strong massing in and design and loved having Jackie show me how she paints roses. One of my favorite things to paint so always interested in that! You can see the pot is still just massed it- did not have time to tackle it and while it’s calling my name- I would rather paint from life than go in and finish from a photo.

Silver Teapot with Roses Study-WIP ©Kathy Cousart

Silver Teapot with Roses Study-WIP CloseUp©Kathy Cousart

Last day I was excited to paint my very first live model and it was so fun. I got a very good composition and massing in going. Fun “High Five” on that from Sherrie:) What I was most interested in was getting the high key skin tones against the shadow side of her face. There was a fascinating light shape against her face and down across her front. So glad I got to try that and learned a ton about flesh tones. Will continue to practice those!

Kathy Cousart with Sherrie McGraw- First LIve Model©Kathy Cousart

First Live Model Study, Close Up ©Kathy Cousart

The entire workshop was filmed and will be on the Bright Light Guild site pretty soon. I am sure that will show much better than I can what our lessons were. Some of the best most logical information I have ever gotten- very worthwhile! I am blessed and was lucky to be there:)