Gesture Painting: Large, Loose and Fast with Rene Barkett

This workshop will meet at the Fountain at the southern end of Madison Square Park, near Shake Shack.

In the event of rain, the workshop will meet at a sheltered space near the Park. You will be notified if the rain location is necessary.

The inspiration for this workshop is Gesture Drawing - the art of capturing the essence of the human figure in a very short period of time. Gesture Drawing is fast, expressive and loose. Using the same techniques, Rene will teach how to depict the heart of an urban scene with Gesture Painting.

Students will learn to observe and record quickly what they see, not becoming stuck on any one detail. The goal will be to depict the whole of a scene, giving a fresh, vivid description. We will do this so that an entire image can be created at once, just as you would in a life drawing quick pose, avoiding the problem of working too tightly.

Students will create vibrant, rich color - first in transparent watercolors and then layering additional strokes for more definition. We will put down color, leave it alone to work in another area, and then go back to add detail. Students will do 2 to 3 paintings during the workshop. Madison Square Park offers a variety of urban and natural settings for sstudents to observe.

There will be a demo of about 20 to 30 minutes at the beginning, a brief demo in the middle, and then a review of all student work at the end. Rene will go to each student while they are painting to help with their work.

Suggested Art Supplies

Basic set of watercolors - a range of tube watercolors or pans. If you already have a set of watercolors that you like, use that. Recommended are Winsor & Newton or Holbein artist’s professional watercolors.

Some of Rene's favorite colors: Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Red Medium, Alizarin Crimson, Opera Pink, Ultramarine Blue, Permanent Violet, Cerulean Blue, Sap Green, Hookers Green, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber and Quinacridone Sienna. But, again use colors you have and that you like.

Tray palette for paint if using tubes.

Brushes - Watercolor (rounds) – one large, (#10 or #12) one small (#6 or #8); they can be a synthetic blend, squirrel hair or Kolinsky sable brushes.

Water color paper, at least 3 sheets, in a block, pad or a sketch book. Rene prefers Arches 140 lb.(300 gsm), but use what you have. Paper size at least 10" x14", but again bring what you have, sizes can vary.

Container for water.

Paper towels or rag.

A spray dispenser to wet paint.

Sketching stool.

Table or cardboard box folded to use as table.

Legion Paper will be providing paper for this event.

Please Note: There will be no refunds or exchanges on this workshop.

About the Instructor

Rene Barkett has been a painter, ceramic artist and designer and active in the fashion industry for many years. She has worked in acrylics, water colors, various ceramic materials as well as fabrics and leather. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.

Her ceramics have appeared over the years in several publications and exhibits. More recently her watercolor paintings have been exhibited in the Warner Library, Tarrytown, NY; the New Amsterdam Library, NYC; the New Canaan Society for the Arts Annual Exhibit, New Canaan, CT; the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition exhibit at Coney Island, NY; and many other locations.

Instagram: @barkettrene

Tickets for this event are not refundable or exchangeable.

Paper for this Workshop will be provided by Legion Paper

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