At one time or another all of us hit a wall that is very difficult to push through alone. I was there last summer when an artist friend recommended that I undertake a year long course of study with Kevin Weckbach. Twelve months of study is a hugh commitment but this is turning out to be the best thing I have done for myself in a long time. Kevin is a master painter and a generous, masterful teacher. An overview of his class can be found by going to www.southwestart.com/featured/Kevin-Weckbach-blazing-a-trail.
Class started on October 10th. Over the next 6 months we will explore 10 visual approaches to painting. During the first two classes we studied line as a visual approach, immersing ourselves in the works of de Kooning, Kline and Schiele. Using this approach requires that each line be unique - short, long, straight, curved, thick, thin, heavy, light, etc. Lines divide space and create shapes which must also be unique. Geometric shapes are discouraged. No two lines or shapes may ever be repeated. Lines need to be broken so that the shapes can interlock and provide a path that leads the viewers eye through the painting. De Kooning’s “Excavation” is a fantastic example of line as a visual approach to a painting. But what really blew our minds was when Kevin zeroed in on a Rembrandt sketch. He too used line as a visual approach in his sketches. It was impossible to tell the difference between the Dutch master’s work of the 1600’s and de Kooning’s work in the mid 1900’s proving Kevin’s theory that all masterpieces possess a visual logic no matter the “ism”.
If you ever get the chance to study with Kevin do not pass it by.
Looking at this image I can see some areas that can be improved. Back to the easel!
I will be posting my classwork and homework as I progress through the visual approaches over the next 12 months.
Contact Carol at
carolhein@sbcglobal.net
Visit my website
carolhein.com
