Understanding Hofmann's push/pull theory through Paint - 2 days (1)

In this year’s CCMoA exhibit The Hans Hofmann Legacy: Creative Diversity, the museum showed how the artist’s theory of push/pull shaped a generation of painters. Hofmann’s influence continues with this course designed by Laura Shabott. She is considered a third generation Hofmann student through her training at Berta Walker Gallery and in course work with artist Robert Henry who studied with the master as a teenager.

The two-day course begins with one hour of figure drawing using charcoal on paper. Then, the group will make figure paintings from a model, or work directly from a still life arrangement, to gain a deeper understanding of how paint creates dimension and expression on the canvas. On day two, participants will begin with a warm-up of figure drawings and move right into painting. There will be affirming and encouraging critiques throughout the course with art history vignettes after lunch. People of all levels of experience are welcome.

Supply list

18 x 24 inches sketchpad of at least 50 sheets.

Charcoal in vine or chunk form, white conte crayon and compressed charcoal.

Kneaded eraser

Chamois cloth, cotton rag or 3-inch brush (inexpensive).

Acrylic or oil paint, water mixable oil paint, walnut oil paint or pigment sticks in primary colors – yellow, blue, red, black and white. The instructor paints with walnut oil tube paint. You can get an introductory package on Amazon and online art suppliers. Link here. https://www.amazon.com/M-Graham-5-Color-Walnut-1-25-Ounce/dp/B009AW48XE

If using acrylic, get Golden Retarder or Liquitex Sta-Dry Fluid Retarder and a spray bottle for water.

If using oil, bring only Gamsol to clean your brushes, along with rags and glass jars.

6 canvases no smaller that 9 x 12 and no larger that 30 x 40 inches. Gesso treated cotton duck stretched canvas preferred. Canvas pads can work.

Oil paper pad: This is good to have but not necessary for quick sketches and a different experience than canvas.

Handwipes

Brushes: Go buy three new brushes, one very large, like a Simply Simmons XL Stiff Synthetic Brush Flat Size 30. Don’t spend a lot of money. Buy something you wouldn’t normally use.

Palette: paper, glass or a portable palette.

Scrapers, old kitchen utensils, bubble wrap: Bring FREE unexpected materials to apply paint to the canvas.

Artist Biography:

Laura Shabott returned to painting and drawing full-time through a Romano Rizk Scholarship from the LOWF Museum School at PAAM and with a Cape Resident Scholarship and a Returning Residency from the Fine Arts Work Center. A graduate of School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA), Boston at Tufts, she will have solo show of works on canvas at Provincetown’s Four Eleven Gallery in September of 2018.