Push/Pull Figure Drawing & Painting with Laura Shabott

TWO DAY Course

Friday, March 13 - 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Saturday, March 14 - 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Material List Below

Master painter/teacher Hans Hofmann had schools in New York (1932-56) and in Provincetown (1935-58), influencing two generations of art students. Many went on to become important painters living and working between New York and Cape Cod. Course instructor Laura Shabott learned of Hofmann and his seminal theories through her own studies with the master painter/teacher Robert Henry. She integrates both of their tenets and ideas into her work.

Push/Pull II, the second in a series of three workshops, begins with an audio/visual lecture to become grounded in Hofmann’s legacy. Then, you will be guided through increasingly complex exercises using figure drawing and figure painting as a tool for learning art theory. We will immerse ourselves in compositional structure, color relationships, qualities of line and the power of shapes.

Insightful feedback in an encouraging class environment, as well as individual conversations with the teacher, will occur throughout this affirming course. Artists will leave understanding how, why and when to incorporate push/pull into their own work. Class size is limited to ten.

Supply List:

Lunch and Snacks: Water, lunch, snacks for the whole day each day.

DRAWING:

One 18 x 24” sized white acid-free drawing pad with at least 25 sheets. Strathmore Windpower, XL Sketch are two of many options. There is great benefit in seeing how other people approach drawing on the same sized surface.

One package Vine Charcoal: Grumbacher Soft 3-Sticks

Other charcoals: for ex: Derwent XL Charcoal Blocks (very dusty but rich).

One Artist Chamois

Two Faber Castelli Kneadable Art Erasers

One Acid Free Glue Stick: Avery, Blick, 3M are good.

Scotch Tape (temporary so any kind will do)

Scissors

Gloves (like for food prep)

Handwipes for hands and face

PAINTING: Paint is expensive so go easy. Use what you have for a medium

Paints: Whatever you work with already or want to explore: solvent-based oil paint with Gamsol, water-based oils, walnut oil paints, acrylic: pigment sticks in primary red, yellow and blue with black, a large tube of white and a raw or burnt umber. Bring other colors if you have them but don’t buy them (unless you really want to.)

Brushes: the largest you are comfortable with and some smaller ones

Canvas: 4 (four) 18 x 24-inch canvases, like in a pack from a store: Michaels, Blick or Jerry’s Artarama are some.

Rags with a plastic bag that you will bring and take home with you.

Jars for water or Gamsol or walnut oil (not food grade – art grade)

Other tools: knives, scrapers, palette knives or kitchen utensils

Palette: Glass, paper, enclosed or even plastic wrap work fine

Tape for masking, adhering, like a blue carpenter’s tape or masking

Smock or paint shirt (something you can mess up)

A method to get wet work home. – Bring a garbage bag or old plastic tablecloth for the back seat, pieces of cardboard.   

We will work using guided exercises that demonstrate this fundamental principle and how it is integral to understanding modern art. The course begins with a lecture on Hofmann’s push/pull theory by viewing the work of his students and continues with two and a half hours of drawing with a break for lunch. Each artist, no matter what their level of experience, will leave with a deeper understanding of how to draw the figure. Affirming and insightful critiques build confidence and the ability to continue life drawing as a practice. Fee is all inclusive.

Bio: 

In 2015, Laura Shabott returned to painting and drawing through the teachings of Robert Henry, her ongoing work at Berta Walker Gallery and a Romano Rizk Scholarship from the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. Figure drawing is the foundation of her practice and living in Provincetown is the source of her inspiration. About her work, Emily Mergel writes in Artscope Magazine “Shabott continually draws inspiration from abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann and breaks forms into their most evocative essentials…She seizes the opportunity to burst the gallery walls, speaking with intentional gesture in visual vocabulary all her own.”

A teaching artist at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, Castle Hill and PAAM, Shabott works with adults who want to immerse themselves in painting and drawing after other careers and journeys.