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Sedona Arts Center update for June 10 — The Importance of Experimental Learning by Elizabeth St. Hilaire

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One of the Art’s Center’s most popular instructors shares her love of learning. See links to workshops with Elizabeth and some of the artists she has chosen to study with following the article.
The Importance of Experimental Learning by Elizabeth St. Hilaire
I have taught mixed media collage workshops for over 11 years; the last nine of which have included twice per year at the Sedona Arts Center. My Painted Paper Collage Workshop has been quite successful as a result of my own experimentation and modification over the years.

I have always felt that the key to success is staying current and being open to change. My workshop has evolved over the years in order to take advantage of new and current technology, to focus on subject matter that is relevant, and to meet the needs of workshop students.
In order to offer a dynamic and exciting product for my students, it is important for me to learn new skills myself. Not only do I strive to learn new techniques with mixed media, but I also desire to always improve my teaching skills, the transfer information. Just because I get it, doesn’t mean I am automatically going to be good at helping someone else understand the concept.

Experimental learning helps me be a better teacher. How do I experiment and learn new things? I take workshops, from instructors I admire. Participating in an art workshop helps me learn how it feels to be a student, what is the experience like from the other side of the table. Playing with new media helps me expand and enhance my creativity as well as understand what it feels like to be exasperated with the results at times.
I took a three day workshop a few years ago with Dreama Tolle Perry. Dreama taught me the concept of glazing luminous layers of oil paint on smooth gessoed panel. Lucky for me, I had a friend in the class who offered to let me borrow all her supplies (thanks Mary) because I did not see oil paint in my future. I wanted to experience Dreama’s demos, check out her technology, ask questions about her marketing, and play! Playing with new media is important, experimentation is how we learn new concepts, how we loosen up, and give ourselves permission to just enjoy the experience.
I had been coveting four days with Robert Burridge ever since I became addicted to the Bob Blast. Unfortunately Bob’s schedule and mine just never seemed to line up…This past winter, Bob taught about an hour from where I live and I was able to grab the last slot. I wanted this experience so much, that I wedged Bob’s workshop between two workshops of my own with zero days in between!
In Bob’s workshop I was able to use my own hand-painted collage papers, paint, glue, supplies, in new and different ways. Bob is all about negative space painting, something that I worked on in college while earning my BFA, but is not in my current repertoire. I experimented with laying down the collage papers first, adding paint overtop, and then masking out the negative space to create the subject, a complete reversal for me! I had tons of fun being the student in this four day workshop. I sat in the back, I didn’t have to solve anyone’s challenges but my own, and I drove to the venue so I was able to bring way too many supplies. Blissful.
Bob and I sat together at lunch and talked shop. I picked his brain about his workshop enrollment and how it correlated with the success of the Bob Blast. He quizzed me about my own workshop teaching experience, making the transition from graphic designer, and how to stay motivated with a grueling travel schedule. Not only did I learn new concepts through experimenting with collage in a different manner, but I also absorbed a teaching style very different from my own.
Last fall I attended Art Makers Denver (where I have taught since it’s inception) as a student. I wanted to experience the open classrooms, the fun of playing with new media, and to take a class from an artist who’s work I have admired and collected for years. I have four Jennifer Mercede originals and I just love her very loose, doodling style. I not only admire Jennifer’s ability to draw and paint loose and whimsical, I love her color palette. I thoroughly enjoyed color mixing lessons with Jennifer where we learned how she creates those yummy palettes! I also loved our blind contour lessons that helped us to loosen up and see things differently; again, something I hadn’t done since college. Jennifer really knows how to help you dig down and unearth your playful self!
Presently I am taking an online workshop with Ardith Goodwin, The Textural Line. I am always trying to loosen up my style and I figured that high texture would help with that. I am learning much about the digital transfer of information working with Ardith, and how it differs from my own online workshop platform. Ardith is employing a combination of Facebook closed group, emailed PDFs and password protected Vimeo videos–very different from my Ruzuku based platform. What I have garnered in this workshop, is that I really enjoy the concept  of the Facebook Live video–the biweekly discussions with Ardith answering questions in real time. Not only did this format help me learn the course material, but it also helped keep me very motivated even when I have been out of town teaching myself. Last week I painted in the bathroom of my hotel room, excited to keep up (and post in the digital classroom) with this workshop!
We never stop learning, this is an important concept to embrace. As artists, I feel like much of our learning is achieved through play and experimentation, “If I do this, what will I get? Something I like, something I can use, success or experience?…” Experimenting with new media combinations and techniques expands our creative horizons. Yes, you could go into your studio and play on your own, but there’s nothing like the camaraderie and motivation of like-minded people in the room with you! Walking around to see what other students create in workshops is half the fun and even more of the learning. Online workshops offer a very similar result through uploaded images and group discussion via comments and feedback from the instructor.
So, get out your art supplies and play! Better yet, sign up for a workshop so that you can play well with others! Open your mind to the  concept of learning new things and being inspired by new people. Workshop experiences are invaluable, especially if they are in a medium that you may not see yourself working in or have not worked in. Having someone nudge you to experiment outside your comfort zone is an amazing, learning experience.
Summer Sale!
ALL WORKSHOPS ARE ON SALE!
10% OFF THROUGH JUNE 14 ONLY!

Coupon applies to new registrations that elect to pay in full at the time of registration. To take advantage of this sale use coupon code: SUMMERSALE! during the online registration process or call the Sedona Arts Center at 928.282.3809.
(coupon expires on June 14 at midnight)

Explore the select workshops below, and then check out all our workshops: online
Elizabeth St. Hilaire
Paper Painting: Birds & Blooms
October 21–23, 2019
Learn to create beautiful and unique compositions of birds and flowers in mixed media as you apply  your own hand painted collage papers to colorful petals and plummage. You’ll learn to experiment with hand-painting, staining, stamping and patterning paper with a multitude of techniques. Learn to rip and glue and apply your papers in a ‘painterly’ manner over the top of an acrylic under-painting.

At the conclusion of this workshop you will have the skills to create impressionistic, painterly collages from initial sketch to complete and ready to hang finished artwork!

This class is focused on learning and growing creatively in a FUN environment.
No prior collage experience is necessary. All levels are welcome.
PAPER PAINTING: BIRDS & BLOOMS – LEARN MORE
Robert Burridge
Loosen Up with Aquamedia Painting
October 25–27, 2019
Burridge’s popular “Loosen Up!” workshops nurture individual success and personal enrichment with a big emphasis on daily painting projects at your own pace. It is stress-free, but be warned; you could end up with too much enthusiasm for painting. This Burridge flagship workshop offers a variety of painting subjects for everyone. Designed for the professional painter who is stuck in a style as well as for the novice who wants to conquer their fear of painting.

Starting each day with multiple, small “warm-up painting exercises” and up to larger-format paintings, Burridge’s positive approach towards the act of painting will inspire you to loosen up, have fun again and paint more! Expect an intense, concentrated and lively workshop where you will create many works of art using spontaneity for maximum effect. This workshop has become a must for artists who want the confidence and permission to paint the way they have always wanted to paint.

Students will take home preprinted notes of useful and need-to-know information.
Burridge’s newest color combination technique is also demonstrated.
A positive attitude is a must!
LOOSEN UP WITH AQUAMEDIA PAINTING – LEARN MORE
Robert Burridge
Abstract/Figurative 3-Day Workshop
October 29–31, 2019
This workshop pushes you out of your safe zone and into a brand new, looser, abstract direction drawing, painting and collaging the contemporary nude. You will learn expressive painting techniques for the modern painter. If you ever wanted to learn how to paint the freestyle abstract figure, this workshop is for you. Color is explained and explored. You will learn the 12 Design Compositions for a successful painting. Your “drawing the nude” skills are not a prerequisite.

Classes will include a variety of poses with the nude, draped and partially draped model, lots of paint sketching, gestural drawing and finger painting techniques. Be prepared to paint looser, bolder, freer, lighter and more intuitively. Plenty of time for action-filled painting exercises, demos and personalized attention. All water soluble paints are welcomed. Materials list provided. No photography, please. Handouts provided.
ABSTRACT/FIGURATIVE 3-DAY WORKSHOP – LEARN MORE
Jennifer Mercede
Permission to Play
November 16–18, 2019
In this expressive painting & drawing class we will begin with mark making exercises to get you creating outside the box. Through various guided activities, we will practice letting go of the final outcome and find that art can be a process of discovery! You will learn to let your intuition guide your artistic choices as we create abstract and representational paintings in a safe, encouraging environment. While you may walk away with a piece of art ready to hang on your wall, you may also walk away with a few pieces started & ready to inspire many more hours of creating. I work and teach very organically, so be prepared to go with the flow! In this class you have permission to play.

You can expect to:

  • Scribble
  • Paint a lot, paint fast
  • Create layers
  • Use a pen
  • Use text
  • Use your non dominant hand
  • Blind contour draw
  • Doodle
  • Draw from life & photographs
  • Experiment with color
  • Be blindfolded
  • Allow yourself to:
  • Loosen up
  • Let go
  • Get out of your comfort zone
  • Make a mess

And finally, have fun!
PERMISSION TO PLAY WORKSHOP – LEARN MORE
Sedona Arts Center is one of Northern Arizona’s most well-established cultural organizations and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, the nonprofit organization is based at the Art Barn in Uptown and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enhance the creative life of the Verde Valley. The Center’s Fine Art Gallery, open daily from 10am to 5pm, promotes the original works of over 100 local artists and regularly offers special assistance for collectors and art buyers, offers private studio visits, and fosters hundreds of arts education opportunities each year. For more information, call the Gallery at 928-282-3865, the Administrative offices at 928-282-3809 or visit us online at SedonaArtsCenter.org.
NOT A MEMBER? JOIN TODAY & SUPPORT THE ARTS IN SEDONA
The Sedona Arts Center is pleased to be able to offer half-tuition scholarships to those that have need. Are you a teacher? You may qualify for a full tuition scholarship . See our simple scholarship application HERE.