SPRING FIGURATIVE INTENSIVE @ STUDIO 909

SPRING FIGURATIVE INTENSIVE
STUDIO 909/Contemporary Figurative Atelier
Thousand Oaks, CA

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

After a successful Winter Figurative Intensive—2015, with an emphasis on drawing and painting the model from Life, I am excited to offer a curriculum where students can further delve into the Principles and Techniques of Painting from Life. This semester we will be even more attentive to the Principles of Color and Light, through our extended focus on four main exercises:

1. Plane of Light Drawing
2. Poster Study
3. Plane of Light Color Study
4. Rounding Study

Students will learn how to conceptualize the fall of light over the human figure and how to create that illusion with paint.

The greater part of my instruction is based on the clear exposition of underlying VISUAL PRINCIPLES. These are essentially abstract qualities embedded in the reality of what we see. I will draw heavily from a book that I am currently working on, which discusses ART as a VISUAL LANGUAGE, comprised of visual ELEMENTS and PRINCIPLES. VISUAL ELEMENTS are WHAT we see. VISUAL PRINCIPLES are HOW we see.

My teaching is a compilation of perceptual, conceptual and physical exercises. It introduces unmistaken principles from a unique, unbroken, master-apprentice tradition, and cultivates them in the student through daily studio practice and critiques. The aim is to understand the figure visually, and as a living design — its structure, nature, character and the play of light upon it.

The Spring Figurative Intensive—2015 will be geared towards PAINTING with an emphasis on TRADITIONAL METHODS & MATERIALS. Students will receive real-time coaching and critique at their workstations, weekly lecture-demonstrations, and adequate time to study and practice the teaching on their own, in the life class.

The FIGURATIVE INTENSIVE program will be ongoing from one semester to the next. With continued enthusiasm and commitment, students will see a steady progression over time. Other types of courses will be offered as workshops throughout the year. 

For more information, please contact me at rwurmser@yahoo.com

UPCOMING 2-DAY WEEKEND WORKSHOPS @ BACAA : MARCH 29-30/2014 : MAY 3-4/2014

2-DAY WEEKEND WORKSHOPS @ BACAA :

MARCH 29-30/2014 : MAY 3-4/2014

“THE CUTTING EDGE OF ‘SCIENCE’ IS ‘REDUCTIONISM’, THE BREAKING APART OF ‘NATURE’ INTO ITS NATURAL CONSTITUENTS.” 
~ Dr. Edward O. WILSON, Ph.D.

Learning how to paint TRADITIONALLY is very much like learning in SCIENCE. ‘REDUCTIONISM’ in Art Training is the isolated study and practice of VISUAL FUNDAMENTALS. Consistent EFFORT and ATTENTION is required in order to UNDERSTAND VISUAL PRINCIPLES which can DEVELOP PERCEPTUAL SKILLS and IMPROVE TECHNICAL FACILITY. Students learn how to SEE, HOW THINGS WORK, and how to COMMUNICATE that understanding REPRESENTATIONALLY in a more EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT manner.

In December of 2013, I conducted my first weekend-workshop (W-W) with BACAA. I introduced two (2) main concepts of figure drawing and painting: THE INNER MOVEMENT CURVE (LINE OF FIRE) and a PLANE OF LIGHT DRAWING.

In future two-day workshops, I will build upon the knowledge shared in the previous workshops, which will provide students with an outline of things to study more in depth. These classes may be expanded into longer, more comprehensive workshops in the future.

MARCH 29-30/2014:

On Saturday morning (Day 1), there will be a full introduction (First Lecture/Demo) to basic COLOR THEORY including the following:

·       PIGMENT QUALITIES

·       PROPERTIES & PRINCIPLES OF COLOR

·       SPECTRAL COLOR MIXING and HARMONIES

·       COMPLIMENTARY COLOR MIXING

·       LAWS OF COLOR HARMONY

·       COLOR & PALETTE SCALES

The POSTER STUDY is a STUDY of the LIGHT—a study of the KIND and QUALITY of LIGHT in the VISUAL FIELD (See the gallery of images). The PLANE OF LIGHT STUDY is a more advanced POSTER STUDY. 

In the afternoon, there will be a full-demonstration (Second Lecture-Demo) of a PLANE OF LIGHT STUDY including the following:

·       PROPERTIES & PRINCIPLES of LIGHT and COLOR

·       ORIENTATION and PROXIMITY

·       COLOR MIXING

·       FIGURE-GROUND REALTIONSHIPS and LEVELS OF ‘TONAL’ CONTRAST

On Sunday morning and afternoon (Day 2), students will have all-day try their hand at a Plane of Light Study. There will be one-on-one critiques throughout the day.

MAY 3-4/2014:

This weekend-workshop will be a continuation of the April W-W (above) and students are highly encouraged to enroll in BOTH.

The class will run very similar to the April W-W (above)—the only difference will be that the PLANE OF LIGHT STUDY Lecture/Demonstration will be done in the morning leaving the reast of Saturday afternoon and all-day Sunday to do two of your own studies.

The POSTER STUDY and the PLANE OF LIGHT STUDY are the most important instructional tools in figurative painting.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT :

WWW.BACAA.ORG

FIGURE POSTER DEMOS FROM THE LIFE CLASS

INTRODUCING THE NEW & IMPROVED CALIFORNIA ART INSTITUTE & MY NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAM

INTRODUCING A NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAM @ CALIFORNIA ART INSTITUTE

As you may already know, Kate Burdick Barnholtz recently acquired ownership of California Art Institute. On Saturday, December 15^th, Kate threw a beautiful Retirement Party for Buddy Shuman’s 23 years of dedication to the school…and to celebrate CAI’s bright future. There were many friends in attendance, old and new.

Renovations are currently underway with many improvements to the building, an investment in new equipment, the conversion of the downstairs front rooms into gallery space, the addition of a sculpture/pottery facility in the back, the conversion of the current animation room into a student library, and future designs of converting the upstairs classroom into a better north-light studio, which is incredible…among many, many other improvements! It’s truly wonderful.

In the spirit of all of this renewed enthusiasm for the school, I promised Kate that I would design an academic/traditional life-study program. Following is a brief synopsis of the figurative intenisve that I have designed (and is of course a work in progress to be refined over time).

TRADITIONAL FIGURE DRAWING & PAINTING

THURSDAY & SATURDAY : 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM : JAN 10TH - MAR 16TH

  

This class will offer a discourse on the principles, techniques, and practices of the Traditional Figurative Arts. We will be working towards an acknowledgment of the experiences and methodologies of our predecessors and a willingness to honor their discoveries. The class will be split between drawing and painting equally twelve (12) hours a week for ten weeks. I will introduce many different types of exercises based on the elements and fundamentals of traditional practice in the life class. There will be thorough demonstrations and lecturing with a lot of individual critique. I will mentor students one-on-one and develop a program of study that best suits their individual needs. Students who enroll two days/week will have up to 24 hours of model time (same pose). As an incentive to students who wish to enroll for the full course, CAI is offering the class at $1295.00 + $100.00 model fee. Please enroll by contacting the school directly or through the wesite. Students who enroll in the full-time program will have priority in the registration process. Single day (part-time) applicants will only be accepted if there are open slots left over. Students are highly encouraged to enroll in the full-time program.

What else you can expect for the Winter Session beginning January 10th, 2013:

• The class will run on the Thursdays & Saturdays (9:30AM to 5:00PM). There will be an hour and a half break for lunch between 12:30PM & 2:00PM.
• The class will be held in the upstairs studio (B), which will allow for the use of natural light, thus providing an ideal environment in which to study the Human Form and Light. We will also experiment with alternative lighting situations in order to expand our awareness of Color.
• Every two weeks we will hire a new model (two-week increments—four days total). The poses will vary between 12 hours over two days or 24 hours over four days. Occasionally we will do shorter poses, which will allow for the introduction of certain principles that are difficult to teach otherwise.
• You can register for the full-time program (2-day) or part-time program (one-day) on-line @ www.calartinst.com. Part-time tuition (ONE-DAY, THURS or SAT) is 710.00 + $50.00 model fee. Full-time tuition (BOTH DAYS) is $1295.00 + $100.00 model fee. You may also enroll by contacting Meghan or Kate @ CAI: 805-496-6906.
• You can download the SUPPLY LIST under the course description on the website.
• There will be thirteen (13) workstations available, which means that the maximum enrollment will be thirteen (13) students.
• Students who enroll in the full-time program will have priority in the registration process. Single day (part-time) applicants will only be accepted if there are open slots left over.
• CAI will offer a partial-scholarship as part of a the work-study program (in collaboration with Kate and the needs of the school as well as my own needs).

For years I have been compiling research, notes, and devising lectures for traditional practice in the life-class. The long poses (12 to 24 hours over two weeks) allows for an enriching teacher/student dialectic, which customizes the training to meet the individual needs of each student no matter what level of experience. This is a very effective model and will prove worthwhile.

Thank you for your interest!

Ryan Wurmser

CHECK OUT LAST SEMESTER'S PROGRAM:

CAI-FALL SEMESTER-2012

TO REGISTER ON-LINE:

CALIFORNIA ART INSTITUTE

OR CONTACT KATE OR MEGHAN @ CAI:

805.496.6906

THIS CLASS IS FULL