Sunset at Tanque Verde Ranch, a dude ranch located adjacent to the Saguaro National Park.
THIS CLASS IS FULL. To get on the waiting list, click here.
Registered students: Click here for a class materials list.
I am enthusiastic about this retreat at the edge of the Saguaro Cactus forest. The area that the saguaro sentinels inhabit, extends south to Mexico, and touches California on the west. This is the only place in the world that this cactus grows. Our class at Tanque Verde Ranch will be activated by the presence of this unique desert.
Our subject is Saguaro, Stone, Sky. The stone is contained, representing stillness and structure. The Saguaro expands toward the sky, representing movement and expression.
In developing one’s own voice in the creative pattern, there is a balance that needs to be maintained between form and expression. One must learn a form well enough to internalize it. This mastery of form leads to freedom of expression.
Blind contour drawing L Doctor Sketchbook
The eye is the third element, the observer, who notices and notates. In this workshop we will explore form, expression and observation in the continuum of drawing, painting and writing.
Line is the unifying element.
We will experiment in playing with line, and will learn to draw, write and paint in a journal or sketchbook. You don’t need to have any experience to learn to do this.
We will begin with the practice of blind contour drawing. No matter how many times you have done this, it is always new: In this exercise, you draw with your eyes on the subject. The act of drawing something with your eyes on it, not on your paper, is such a beautiful, natural way to really “see,” as your mind is not able to interfere, intruding with its inevitable judgements about right, wrong, good, bad, ugly, beautiful. You can look back at your paper during this process, but you only move your pencil when you are looking at your subject. This practice is about seeing and quality of line, not accuracy! No erasers or edits! Learning to stay with this practice, it will bring you into your body, and even into a sense of the presence of the subject itself. By embracing this exercise, you will discover you are falling in love with the thing that you are drawing, and forgetting about yourself and your worries.
Madeline Island School of the Arts is one of the top 5 art schools in the country. MISA-West Tucson campus is located at Tanque Verde Ranch, a world class resort and dude ranch located adjacent to the Saguaro National Park.
Registered students: Click here for a class materials list.