"Break Free from Reference Photos" by Karen Margulis, PSA-MP, IAPS-EP

ATTENTION PARTICIPANTS: THIS IS A THREE DAY IN-PERSON WORKSHOP - April 25, 26 & 27.

This workshop is brought to you by SPS in partnership with Alpharetta Recreation Parks & Cultural Services.

Synopsis:

3-day Pastel Workshop "Break Free from Reference Photos”

Artist: Karen Margulis, PSA-MP IAPS-EP

We can all benefit from ideas to help us create more expressive paintings. I am always striving to interpret my subject by including my own personal touch rather than copying the reference and painting exactly what I see.

In this workshop I will share my tips and techniques for the effective use of photos to inspire paintings.

I’ll give you the tools you need to move away from copying the reference and to help you create stronger paintings.

I will do multiple demos and share lessons and challenges as well as offer plenty of help at your easel! The supply list is below.

About Karen Margulis:

Karen Margulis PSA-MP IAPS-EP

Karen Margulis is a full time artist and art educator. She lives in Atlanta Georgia with her husband Michael. Karen received her BA in Education from the University of Florida. She currently teaches painting workshops around the world. Karen is a contemporary landscape painter. She works in most painting media but has achieved recognition for her pastel paintings. She has exhibited her award winning work around the world and has been reviewed by Pastel Journal for her wildflower paintings. She is a Master Pastelist member of the Pastel Society of America and has achieved Eminent Pastelist status with the International Association of Pastel Societies. She has been a faculty member at theprestigious IAPS Convention, the Plein Air Convention and the online Pastel Live conference. Karen has a passion for travel and painting while on location. She enjoys the opportunity to share her techniques and approach to making art in her workshops. She is known for her ability to make art simple, accessible to all and fun. Karen is also an avid Daily Painter and online instructor. She paints everyday and shares her work, art tips and inspiration in her daily posts in her Patreon group ‘Pastels Made Simple’. Karen is delighted to be able share her love of pastel painting. She is excited to help students experience the joy of painting and to see the world with new eyes. As Degas said “Art is not what you see. It’s what you make others see”. Karen looks forward to helping others share their own artistic vision.

Karen Margulis Workshop Supply List

Welcome! I am excited to have you join my workshop. I am sharing a list of suggested supplies. These are only suggestions. I will be using these supplies in my demos . I will be using my set of Floral Landscape Terry Ludwig pastels. There is no need to purchase anything for the workshop. Feel free to use what you have. I will be available by email to answer your supply questions.

[email protected]

• Selection of your favorite pastels.

Be sure you have a variety of values including colorful darks and lights. You also need some grayed colors along with the pure intense colors. Don't worry if you don't have a large pastel collection! Remember the cavemen painted with charcoal and dirt! If you are new to pastels and have a limited collection consider supplementing your pastels with a set of hard pastels such as Nupastels. These inexpensive pastel sticks will help expand your collection.

• Black pastel or some type of black painting medium for underpainting. I will be using black Art Graf pigment squares but any black medium will work. https://www.viarco.pt/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/artgraf_tonsterra-pt.pdf

• Paper. Have available several pieces of your preferred paper in a variety of sizes from 5x7 up to 11x14. Plan on using at least 2-5 pieces of paper each day. UArt or Luxarchival paper is my preferred paper and works well for wet underpainting. LaCarte paper will not work for some of the techniques I will share. I’d rather you have more paper available than not enough!

• Backing board and tape: Foamcore works fine. I get mine at the Dollar Tree. I attach my paper to the board using artist tape using tape hinges. See this blog article describing my process: http://kemstudios.blogspot.com/2017/04/my-favorite-tip-for-attaching-paper-to.html Avoid using colorful painter's tape as it adds a new color to your palette!

• Rubbing alcohol 70% and cup

• Inexpensive watercolor set and brush

• Inexpensive brush for wet underpaintings

• Pencil for initial drawings

• Blending tool. Anything to spread the pastel around. I use pipe insulation foam. Viva paper

towels work well.

• Grayscale markers for value thumbnails. I use three… a dark gray a middle value gray and a light gray. You can also use a pencil, charcoal pencil or pen.

• Index cards for thumbnails. I use the 3x5 inch size.

• Optional: Workable Fixative. I use rubbing alcohol in a continuous spray bottle.

REFERENCE PHOTOS: I prefer that you use your own reference photos for the workshop. I will be doing landscape demos. Gather some possible landscape photos for your painting exercises.

Host or Publisher Southeastern Pastel Society