Michael Reardon's Painting Light and Color in Land- and Cityscapes in a 4-Day Workshop

WORKSHOP FORMAT

Painting Light and Color: Landscapes and Cityscapes

Manipulating light and color is essential to all watercolor painting. In this workshop, Michael will demonstrate the importance of values in creating a sense of light and the role color plays in the mood of your landscapes and cityscapes.

Composition and vibrant color mixtures will be covered, emphasizing tools such as focal points, planes of depth, edge conditions, complementary colors, and color temperature. Michael will share his lengthy experience in architectural illustration to assist participants in ways to improve the structure of their paintings. He will also emphasize painting directly and with confidence.

Each day will begin with a demonstration on the day’s theme, followed by individual painting and instruction time. Michael’s workshops are known for his positive and casual teaching approach that focuses on the needs of each participant. Most importantly, his goal is to help each painter, using the concepts presented, to develop their own painting voice and help them to improve their painting style.

All levels are welcome. Some experience painting in watercolor is recommended.

Explore the medium of watercolor in a relaxing and creative environment. Award winning watercolorist, Michael Reardon, sole focus will be bringing your creativity to light and aiding you in dispelling the myths of the difficulties of painting in this wonderful medium. Given the right encouragement and understanding of the basic fundamentals, watercolor is a creative outlet unmatched in its ease of use, cost of materials, and pure enjoyment of artistic expression.

Through demonstration, careful critique, and lessons learned over a long painting career Michael will help you understand how to prepare for and anticipate the challenges that painting in watercolor presents.

Students will follow Michael in a group demonstration. Painters of more experience can work from their own photographs with individual guidance. The class setting is very relaxed and accommodating to all.

“It is my absolute joy to watch students make those tiny breakthroughs that begin to build confidence and leave a lasting desire to continue their exploration. Far too often the background exploration of a painting is left undone leaving the the “soul” of the image a mystery. It is my hope that by understanding and repeating my process you will find that your watercolors begin to follow a plan rather than a reaction to unanticipated results. Watercolor, if treated correctly, can be much easier than it’s reputation might suggest. I can think of no other form of expression that I delight in more than painting and it is my sincere wish to share that pleasure with others.”

Michael Reardon has been painting in watercolor for over twenty-five years, using the medium to record his observations, convey a sense of place and light, and communicate his impressions of the built, natural, and imagined worlds.

After receiving his architecture degree from UC Berkeley, he worked as an architectural illustrator for over thirty years. In 2004 he was awarded the Hugh Ferriss Memorial Prize, the premier award in the field of architectural illustration. In 2005 he was the recipient of the prestigious Gabriel Prize from the Western European Architecture Foundation, which enabled him to spend three months painting in Paris.

He is sought after as an instructor, leading workshops around the country and internationally with a focus on the use of light and color. His watercolors have been exhibited nationally and internationally. In 2011 he presented a solo show at the Thomas Reynolds Gallery in San Francisco.

He is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, Watercolor West, and the California Watercolor Association. In 2012 he received Best of Show at the Triton Museum of Art Statewide Exhibition of Watercolor. His watercolors have been featured in many magazines, including American Artist Watercolor, the Artist’s Magazine, Southwest Art, Watercolor Artist, Plein Air. Fine Art Connoisseur, and L’Art de l’Aquarelle. He is also the author of the new book from North Light Books, Painting Light and Color in the Modern Landscape.

• BWS maintains a workshop waiting list for BWS members for workshops which are filled or restricted. When openings occur, BWS fills the openings from the waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis. (Priority is given to members who have not registered for any of the other restricted workshops during the year.)
  
• BWS adds names to the waiting list according to the date and time the BWS Workshop Chair receives the email request.
• You can join the waiting list if a workshop is filled.
• You can also join the waiting list beginning on February 4 if you registered for one of the other restricted workshops but would like to attend an additional workshop if space is available. 
• You can't join a waiting list before registration opens.

• Paid registrants who cancel on or before October 13, 2017 will receive a full refund less a $25 cancellation fee if the spot can be filled from the waiting list. If the spot cannot be filled, the amount refundable is 80% of the workshop price.
• Paid registrants who cancel after October 13, 2017
•  will receive a full refund less a $50 cancellation fee if the spot can be filled from the waiting list. If the spot cannot be filled, no refund will be given.
• In the event of inclement weather, the workshop will still be held unless the Hawthorn Center is unable to open or the workshop artist is unable to travel.  If BWS cancels the workshop, then all paid registrants will receive a full pro-rata refund for those days that were cancelled.
• Check this website for changes, updates and new information.
• Questions and requests to be added to the waiting list can be directed to Sabine Yeager (BWS Workshop Chair) at yeagerv@comcast.net