Hosting a Michael Chesley Johnson workshop

I just completed hosting a workshop with my good friend Michael Chesley Johnson. I've known Michael, and his wife Trina, for about 6 years. In that time, I have either taken a workshop, or attended a retreat with him at Lima Ohio, Zion National Park, Taos NM, Lubec Maine, Campobello Island Canada, and Scotland. Now I can say I brought him to my home turf of Columbus Ohio!

This workshop has been in the planning stages for a couple years. And although Ohio weather is very unpredictable for plein air workshops, I am happy to say we adjusted well and had a great workshop for 13 artists, including me! This was for both pastel and oil artists, as Michael excels in both mediums. The group was fairly even with medium, with maybe a couple more pastel artists.

The first day of the workshop was nasty - 45 degrees with wind and rain. We hunkered down inside at the venue, but we had good light through the big windows.

Day One Photos:
Michael's first demo in pastel, with lots of information.

 In the afternoon, he stood by the big window and worked from life looking at the woods outside - no plein air, but same techniques! Oil on panel.

The students worked hard, even though it wasn't plein air!

Here's my work (5x7, oil on Gessoboard):

Day Two:
Day two arrived with clearing skies and sun, although still a brisk breeze and about 45-55 degree temps. We were able to study outside and paint!

 Michael began the first demo in monochromatic fashion to set the values in a grey scale under painting in oils.

 Then began to add color on top to match the values.

 The paparazzi swarmed the finished painting! 

Here is my work, in oil, 5x7. I enjoyed this style of working and will try this again:

After lunch and a lecture inside, we went back out for a pastel demo and lesson on simplification and atmospheric perspective:

I forgot to take photos of my work in the field, but here is a shot with lots of glare from the wet paint - 5x7 oil. I think this was my least successful painting, as I was getting tired and whinny!

 And here is a shot of all three. Color is a bit over-saturated here.

I think we had a successful workshop! I was a bit distracted through most of it. Michael and his wife were staying at my home. Two days before they arrived, my hot water tank quit. I had a technician out and he fixed it, but it only lasted 36 hours - the day they arrived! UGH. This was a tank put in my condo in 2006 by the builder, so not the best quality, and only last 11 years. Luckily, the first day of the workshop the plumber was able to come out and replace it. I am grateful to Trina, who stayed home to work on her computer, for being there to supervise the workers! They did a great job and I am enjoying fresh hot water!!