Susan's 2010 Workshops Announced

Susan Harrison-Tustain New Zealand Workshops 2010

Workshop Dates:

Workshop 1:    Friday 29th October to Sunday 31st October (with informal gathering on Thursday 28th October (see below)

Workshop 2:    Friday 5th November to Sunday 7th November (with informal gathering on Thursday 4th November (see below)

Please note that both workshops will cover the same subjects and material. We often have artists who wish to attend both workshops, which is a great way to have additional practice and ensure you have absorbed the huge amount of information. This also allows for more extension of you as an artist.

Workshop Times:

9am – 4pm (finishing with afternoon tea at 4pm)

Workshop Venue:

Peninsula Room
Hotel on Devonport
72 Devonport Road
Tauranga
New Zealand

Postal Address:    P.O. Box 13447, Tauranga, New Zealand

Telephone:       + 64 7 578 2668

Facsimilie:       + 64 7 578 2669

Hotel Accommodation Reservations Email: reservations@hotelondevonport.net.nz

Pre-Workshop Informal Gathering:

Peninsula Room at Hotel on Devonport

For Workshop 1:   Thursday 28th October 7.30pm

For Workshop 2:   Thursday 4th November 7.30pm

This is a great time to stretch paper for those who would like help with that. It is also an informal gathering where you can get to meet each other prior to the workshop beginning. Partners are most welcome.

Workshop Subjects and Scope:

In contrast to my previous workshops – my NZ 2010 workshops are based on several ‘mini demos’ rather than one painting.

These workshops are about learning new skills and teaching you to observe and analyse what is in front of you. I want to show you how to interpret what you see and express it with sensitivity.

We will also focus on the areas that cause the most difficulty for all artists, no matter what the medium or subject.

You will see how each mini demo has numerous applications and parallels to other subject matter. Highlighting these will extend your repertoire and skills.

Each mini demo will be focused on challenging you, taking you to the next level.

I call the magic at the end of a painting ‘Fine tuning’. This is a subject that doesn’t receive as much attention as I would like, because time on a workshop does not generally allow for this. So rest assured you will be awed by the magic of ‘Fine Tuning’ and how it gives our paintings the ‘professional edge’.

This is very much a ‘teaching/learning workshop’.

My Teaching Philosophy:
Those of you who are familiar with my workshops are well aware that I give 110% during the workshops. My aim is to impart as much knowledge and experience as I can. I feel it is important not only to discuss and demonstrate each subject for the group at my desk – I also then spend a great deal of one-on-one time with each student, individually at their desks. Extending and nurturing so each can reach their own individual potential.

I’ve found a wonderful and very successful new way of imparting information. By sharing my thought processes in such a way that artists feel as if they can get inside my head as I deliberate each painting step, each decision, each stage and each challenge. You will hear how I reach my decisions and resolutions. Students will become familiar with my deliberation and choices through this wonderful new style of teaching.

The key to understanding how and why I make my choices is through listening to my thought processes: “Why do I choose this method? What are the alternatives? Why not use those? What would happen if we did?” Then watch the magic unfold...

Seeing me creating once I have deliberated and then resolved the most appropriate way of approaching each stage is quite a breakthrough in my teaching. I invite the class to become involved, which also highlights their (often universal) struggles – from which we all learn and grow.

Our focus:
•   Observation
•   Intelligent Composition
•   Understanding colour: we touch on basic color theory and then move into more in-depth information – designed to extend you all – no matter what stage you are at.
•   How to mix colour trails to give immediate access to colour choices on your palette -just when you need them.
•   Introducing and understanding how to paint a variety of subjects and textures and how to make them ‘real’
•   Refining your painting to give you a professional edge
•   Introducing a new way of learning using my thought processes, process of elimination and resolutions, I will guide you to a greater depth of understanding.

Examples of possible Workshop ‘Mini-Demos’:
These are just examples to give you an indication of the possibilities.

•   Learn how to paint a three dimensional white subject on a white background
•   Painting the sea / waves
•   Skies/clouds
•   Peeling paint that you want to flick off the paper
•   Mouth-watering fruit
•   Silver and gold
•   A simple bird study and painting feathers
•   Painting fur (discussing/demonstrating the similarity to painting hair, straw, long fine leaves etc)
•   The intricacies of painting eyes
•   Skin tones
•   The magic of Fine Tuning/refining our paintings for a professional finish
•   Painting leaves and petals

Each subject we paint will have parallels to many other subjects and that is where I can extend you further. This is going to be a learning workshop.

On the last day I will ask you to bring along paintings that you are having trouble with. Or maybe you have a subject you would like to paint and would like some advice on. Bring along your reference photograph or sketches.

You can see from the list above these workshops are focused on giving you experience and knowledge that is specifically designed to bring a wide and diverse range of skills into your repertoire, all giving you greater proficiency and expertise.

Having learned by a great deal of trial and error over many years, my workshops are designed to give you the in-depth knowledge and skills that have formed my artistic career. These are the breakthroughs and insights I have discovered on my journey.

Skill Level of Workshops:

These workshops will be tailored to those who have had some experience of painting in watercolour.

Feel free to contact me if you feel unsure of your painting level.

Workshop fee:

NZ$980.00 per workshop

This includes:
•   A three day workshop
•   Morning and afternoon teas
•   Pre workshop gathering the evening prior to the workshop (partners welcome)

We can accept payment by personal cheque (check), even for those from overseas. Please let Richard know when you wish to pay and he can tell you how much to make the cheque payable for. To give you an idea at current (March 2010) exchange rates NZ$980.00 equals approximately:
   $756 Australian dollars
   $707 Canadian dollars
   $682 American dollars

New Zealand artists are welcome to pay by direct bank account credit on-line. Account details are:

020 466 00 54115 00
Susan Harrison-Tustain
Bank of New Zealand
Cameron Road
Tauranga

Deposit and Full Payment dates and cancellation details:

A NZ$250 deposit is due as soon as you have received confirmation that you have secured a workshop booking.

This deposit is refundable until 15th September.

Full payment for workshop is due on 15th September.

Workshop Packages:
Once full payment is received, a workshop package will be sent out to you. (For overseas artists, whose travelling may begin early, just let me know and I can get the package to you as soon as it is complete).

This workshop package has many ‘goodies’. It will consist of a workshop newsletter, check-list of things to bring, art supply suggestions and places to get them if you decide you would like to try them, reference images, layout and a full set of relevant information and easy instructions so you can be ready to begin painting. There are also some lovely bonus extras.

Please do not send any payment until you know you have secured a workshop booking. Richard will handle the administration for the workshops, so please contact him by email at:
richard@susanart.com
to make a booking.

Art Supplies:

Many of you will have all you need – so don’t rush out and buy things especially.

For your convenience, my local art supply shop will set up a table at each workshop with product for you should you need anything.

Just bring along what you already have. I will be in touch with you all with details once we have the places allocated. I’m happy to discuss any details you are unsure of.

My workshops are about having fun with watercolour and also lifting skills to reach each individual’s potential. This workshop is focused on giving you that ‘polished edge’ to your work.

I am always humbled by the feedback from my workshops. It gives me huge pleasure to see artists leave my workshops so inspired and excited by the new skills and new horizons each has discovered. It’s all about realizing the huge potential you all have. I love to share all I know about watercolor – but I want to teach you so much more than application, methods and techniques. I want you all to fly.

Click here (or copy & paste into your browser) to read comments from previous students:

http://www.susanart.com/forum/index.php?topic=87.0

Accommodation:

Accommodation is not included in the workshop fee. However as usual Hotel on Devonport has offered my workshop participants an excellent ‘Artists Discount’ on the price of their beautiful rooms:

Please note that GST (Goods & Services Tax) is currently 12.5%, but may rise to, perhaps, 15% by the time of the workshops.

Standard Room          NZ$140.00 plus GST per room per night.

Double Queen Room      NZ$140.00 plus GST per room per night.

Executive Room         NZ$180.00 plus GST per room per night. All executive rooms have spa baths.

Suite               NZ$200.00 plus GST per room per night.

Rooms are all king-size and can be split into twin share rooms.

Contact details for Hotel on Devonport are above (under ‘Workshop Venue’).

For those wishing to stay at the Hotel, do remember to mention that you are attending my workshop to receive the substantial accommodation discount.

You are most welcome to stay wherever you wish but I am often asked what the benefits of staying at the workshop venue are.

Benefits of staying at Hotel on Devonport:

•   Naturally we are on site for the workshops
•   It is a superb hotel!
•   Centrally located in the centre of Tauranga CBD
•   Cafés and restaurants right on the doorstep
•   Movie theatres for night-time entertainment across the road
•   Fabulous harbour views from many rooms including the workshop venue
•   Hotel parking is free of charge for those staying at the hotel
•   Beautiful harbour-front walking in the evening
Discounted rates

In consideration of the number of international artists I understand are planning to attend these workshops, I think it is fair that these artists are able to put a hold on a workshop place for 48 hours to allow them time to check flight details etc. So if you have flights to book and would like to take advantage of that option – please let me know asap.

I think I’ve covered everything, but if you have any queries, feel free to email them to me or Richard at the addresses below:

susan@susanart.com

richard@susanart.com

I look forward to welcoming you aboard!

Susan