Sedona Arts Center update for June 21

Alok Hsu Kwang-han
Zen Creativity and the Art of Life
September 29–30, 2018

This is the workshop Alok gives on his 80th birthday! He welcomes you!

Master calligrapher Alok Hsu Kwang-han will guide and inspire you to rest in the spaciousness of your being, to be comfortable and intimate with not knowing, and to allow your brush to dance from emptiness. It will become obvious to you this is a healing journey as well as a creativity workshop!

You will come to hold your brushes as friends and move with them in harmony. Being playful with not-knowing, we become available to the intelligence, creativity, and good humor outside the boundaries of what we know. As we rest in presence and put aside all schemes of “how” to do it, a readiness arises and we allow creative action to come forth from “emptiness” the space of full intelligence prior to thought.

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Bryan Reinhart
Filmmaking Bootcamp – Certificate Program
August 18 – 31, 2018

This three-week certificate program provides students who are interested in filmmaking or even contemplating a commitment to filmmaking as a career the opportunity to learn the basics of the craft in a short immersive format. The course is designed as a boot-camp/hands-on approach to filmmaking.

FORMAT
The program is structured around the production of short films of increasing complexity that students work on together. Students will be introduced to the traditional concepts of shooting a motion picture film and will apply this foundation of knowledge to contemporary practices of shooting with digital technology. All projects will be shot on high definition digital video cameras.

Classes and hands-on workshops are held throughout the week and some weekends are reserved for additional classes or shooting. Time will be required outside of class for writing, location scouting, casting, and editing. The third week is devoted to editing the productions, culminating in the final screening for fellow students and the public.

Students write, direct, shoot and edit using high-def digital video, film lighting packages, and digital editing software. Classes in directing, writing, editing, cinematography, and production cover the creative and technical demands of telling a story with moving images. A final screening will be open to the public, creating a meaningful deadline for production and editing.LEARN MORE

Robert Burridge
Loosen Up with Aquamedia Painting
September 17–19, 2018

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.

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Robert Burridge
Abstract / Figurative 3-Day Workshop
September 21–23, 2018

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.

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Crystal Neubauer
Wax, Paper, Scissors
October 1–3, 2018

Delve into the art of paper and glue, working through an intensive exploration of the art of abstract collage, intended to help you connect to the design knowledge you already carry within you to create satisfying works of art while discovering your own authentic style.

Create compositions utilizing both, elements with organic torn edges, and those deliberately cut with scissors. Learn to select the proper adhesive, determine what substrate to utilize, and alter a variety of salvaged materials for use in collage.

The class will include a hands on comparison of the unique nature and differences found between hot encaustic wax and cold wax medium when applied to the paper elements and incorporated into the design. We will also examine the qualities unique to each of three protective finishes, hot encaustic wax, cold wax medium, and spray varnish and leave the class with a new found confidence in your ability to determine which to use.

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14th Annual
Sedona Plein Air Festival 
October 13–20, 2018

Suzie Baker
Responding to Nature – Plein Air Painting
October 10–12, 2018

The workshop will kick off with a lecture and demo. Students receive instruction on principles of painting ranging from drawing, color, value, composition, color theory and so much more. Every day, you will apply what is being taught by getting outside to paint, observing and recording nature as it changes. Suzie will demo on location and offer one-on-one instruction in the field at every student’s easel.

Suzie’s goal is to help each student with strategies for personal progression through group instruction, example, and individual interaction. Her humorous, informative manner makes tackling this multi-faceted challenge a fun and rewarding experience.

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Catherine Hillis
Light and Drama – Plein Air Watercolor
October 11–12, 2018

This two- day workshop will begin with a discussion of plein air supplies and ideas for simplifying equipment in the field. Students will then learn how to begin the thought process for designing an exciting composition from the scene before them and how to simplify that landscape in preparation for painting.

Observation is essential to the painter and Hillis will teach students simple steps to aid them in observing truth in the landscape. How to convey atmosphere and depth will be addressed. Catherine Hillis will work with students individually, according to their experience and development and demonstrations will be ongoing throughout the two days. Hillis will encourage beginners in their skills and nudge intermediate and advanced students to the next level.

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Bill Cramer                                                                        ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT!
Festival Keynote Workshop: Source to Studio
October 16–19, 2018 

Join our Keynote speaker and judge for the 14th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival, Bill Cramer for this exciting workshop in Sedona. The workshop takes place during the Sedona Plein Air Festival (Oct 13 – 20, 2018) with Bill’s keynote scheduled Oct 17 at 6 p.m and the Awards Reception for the festival on the last evening of the workshop Friday Oct 20, 2017. Bill Cramer is an influential painter and instructor. He has won many awards at the Sedona Plein Air Festival including Artist’s Choice, Best of Show, Collector’s Choice and the Sedona Image Award. Bill has also taught numerous workshops through the Sedona Arts Center and a popular Field Expedition “Painting at the Rim of the Grand Canyon” we now welcome him as keynote and judge for the 14th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival.

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Bill Cramer
Plein Air to Studio Demonstration
October 19, 2018 9 am – 1 pm

Join in the last session of Bill Cramers 3.5-day workshop during the Sedona Plein Air Festival (Oct 13 – 20, 2018). Bill is the Keynote Speaker and judge for this year’s festival. This half day demonstration takes you through a studio process as he works up a larger painting from a plein air study. This demonstration will be a wonderful overview of the painting process, a learning experience for collectors and painters alike.

This will be a stand alone demonstration as well as a culmination of the workshop for those that attended.

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Joshua Been
Landscape – Source to Studio
Plein Air Pre-sketch, to Color Sketch, to Studio Painting 
October 25–28, 2018

In this workshop, through clearly explaining concepts in the translation process from a three dimensional environment to a two dimensional surface, I will clear up the mystery, and strengthen your knowledge of the process and visual language of painting, from the source (plein air) to the studio. I teach a 4 pronged visual language approach (Value, Shapes, Edges, and Texture) that is both easy to remember and an effective way of breaking down difficult subject matter into manageable information.

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Joshua Been
Plein Air to Studio Demonstration 
October 26, 2018

Join in the last session of Joshua Been’s 3.5-day workshop for a demonstration of his studio process as he works up a larger painting from a plein air study. This demonstration will be a wonderful overview, and a great opportunity to review and re-take notes on effective studio practices incorporating every bit of knowledge gained through the plein air experience.

Throughout this demonstration Josh be talking about crucial decisions in the process, and how to stay engaged, efficient, and deliberate in applying paint.

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Jan Sitts
Texture – Color – Feeling
November 5–7, 2018

Jan’s experience and enthusiasm create an atmosphere of fun and spontaneity inspiring new directions and discovery through innovative combinations of design and materials. By combineing aggressive textures and unusual mediums with various “raw” materials in the abstract painting we get surprising results. The layering method yeilds a magnetism that is particular to mixed media. Many techniques, materials, compositions and above all emotion, play off each other in creating the work. Part of the adventure is not knowing where you are going until you get there! You will become thrilled with possibility as you journey through this process. You will learn to let go of painting habits and gain the knowledge of layering textures, colors and feelings while executing shapes utilizing a structure of positive and negative space.

All of the paints used will be water-based.

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Alan Wylie
Watercolor: Texture and Story
November 10–13, 2018

Learn to create amazing textures with unorthodox techniques in this unique workshop with Alan Wylie. Students will each choose an image to work with and learn to develop their piece in a step-by-step process starting with thumbnails to work out the composition, then careful drawing, and ultimately using gesso and traditional masking fluid to create elaborate textural interpretations.LEARN MORE

Jean Bradbury
Sedona Dreamscapes
Painting Nature Using Acrylic and Metal Leaf
December 3–6, 2018

Taking inspiration from the natural setting of Sedona we will paint the plants, animals and geology that surrounds us, combining them into magical landscapes reminiscent of memories or dreams. We will capture the changing desert light by using copper, aluminum and ‘gold’ leaf. This course combines the rigors of botanical observation with some hippy, drippy acrylic spontaneity. Prepare to sharpen your drawing and observational skills while expressing your love of nature with loose and juicy acrylics. No drawing experience is required. You’ll be amazed how good you already are with a little instruction and a lot of gentle encouragement. Students may choose to include animals that they observe during out time in the workshop such as insects and birds. We will take a few short strolls to see what we can find.

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Gretchen Lopez
Painting the Southern Desert
November 10 – 12, 2018

Experience the history of Arizona and the beauty of the Southern desert, as we paint in and around the first European settlement in the region. Tubac is a wonderful go-to destination where we will study capturing the light and learning to paint the essence of what you see from life. These loose, impressionistic oil sketches can be seen as stand-alone artworks or studies for studio work later on. Most sites are within walking distance from the Tubac Country Inn! But we will also sojourn to the Historic missions of Tumacacori and the fabulous “Dove of the Desert” at the Golden Hour, San Xavier Del Bac all within a 15 minute drive! Oils, Water-mixable Oils, Acrylic and Watercolor are all welcome with the plein-air equipment of your choice.

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Lori Putnam
Plein Air Painting in Varanasi, India
February 1–8, 2018

A visit to Varanasi is a full spectrum adventure to a world as old as human culture. A sacred pilgrimage location on the Ganges, the riverfront of Varanasi is an amalgam of Muslim, Hindu, Jain and Buddhist architecture accumulated over 3000 years. A vast stair-cased walk along the river spans many miles of shore. Known as the Ghats, the riverfront is rich with color, texture, and life as only India can display it. Time is a palpable reality here and it is all present at once as the rural, urban and sacred all overlap in a dazzling and colorful display.

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