1 Module
MALCOLM DEWEY FINE ART
Breakthrough Art Worksops
introduction
BREAKTHROUGH ART WORKSHOPS
Malcolm Dewey Fine Art
Malcolm Dewey Fine Art Linspire 124 CC t/a PO Box 13230 Vincent 5217 www.malcolmdeweyfineart.com Phone 0837119888 • Email studio@malcolmdeweyfineart.com
Table of Contents You are an Artist!................................................................................................ 1 How the Workshop Works.................................................................................. 3
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W O R K S H O P S
You are an Artist! Welcome!
I
would like to firstly thank you for joining me as I reveal to you my passion for art. This workshop is an attempt to pass on useful tried and tested methods that have benefited me. I believe that they can help you too. My workshop course is designed to help you make a breakthrough in your art journey. So often it is a small thing that gets us up onto a new level. The tipping point. Sometimes we progress slowly until we look around and realise how far we have come. Art is like that. This course is also about sharing and I sincerely hope that you will share your experience in art with me and with others. That is what makes art exciting too - the shared experience of creativity. I have taken an extract from my blog titled You Are An Artist and reprinted it here.I think it sums up my view on art and the journey we must face:
“W
e grown ups are a funny lot. How often do we use words to convince ourselves that we cannot or should not do something? Plenty of times. We think we are wise too, because we have watertight rationalisations to back up these self-limiting ideas. At least that is what we tell ourselves. Eventually, if we repeat them often enough, we believe them to be true. So much so that we will get into a heated argument defending our decisions not to pursue a venture. We will seek out others to back up our viewpoint and give examples too. That's too bad. Since this workshop is about art lets look at the creative world. Children do not limit themselves - at least not until the adults have passed on their "wisdom". Children are born creative. They love to make their mark and delight in their spontaneous creativity. Some may like it so much that they keep on at it. Others my prefer some other form of expression and who knows where that may lead. The point though is that we all have a creative nature. Everything in the world is directed to create in one form or another. The statement in the title is correct. The real question is what do you decide to do. If you went through your youth doodling at every opportunity (you should see my school books!) or could put a poem together and sing it beautifully or perhaps your essays always received a gold star. These will point to your passion. That which you choose to do to make yourself feel energised and happy. 1
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It should be easy to choose these activities. Problem#1 Cue those self-defeating words and advice! Problem #2 You can be good at other things too. This is usually your safe career or job. The one you do to pay the bills and make others relieved that you are not challenging the status quo. This makes living your passion seem unattainable. (Notice I said living, not following). What if you choose your passion? What if it is possible to succeed at your dream career? Is it too late? At an educated guess I believe that a vast amount of artists started out in a regular job. Certainly I have met very few who have not. The child stars are few and usually appear on TV then disappear just as quickly. Those that make a proper go of it long term usually follow another road. A long road of self-discovery and hard work. I would say that there are three things a successful artist does: 1) produce quality work 2) in sufficient quantity 3) and persists in doing so. But then again success is just an opinion is it not? The decision is all important. Do you decide to be an artist or not? If so then live and think like one. Keep your day job, but do the work before and after your regular job. Weekends? pursue your art. If you can make the sacrifice in time and energy then you will be in the game. Participating rather than standing on the sidelines wondering if you could hack it. It does not matter if you are not represented by the best gallery or making big bucks. Those are yardsticks imposed by others not you the artist. The artist does the work. It starts with a decision that only you can make.� So there it is. Lets get started then shall we?
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How the Workshop Works The written notes supplied will give you a foundation to build upon the knowledge that you already have. In addttion to this you will have access to video demonstrations on the Vimeo website. You will receive access to my Workshps Group where you can view various videos. Also, depending on your course options, you will receive personal demonstrations and assessments from me. I do believe that your commitment to doing practical exercises and time painting will give you the best results. As always I am happy to comment and supply guidance when asked. There is also access to a Workshop Blog for you and you will receive your own link to the blog on www.malcolmdeweyfineart.com. This Workshop Blog is not open to general website visitors. I do also hope that workshop memebrs will make use of the workshop forum where help and general art topics can be shread by present and past workshop members. The success of the forum will depend entirely on participant’s input. Note:
Where you see blocks like this there will be a reference to a demo video or other media guide to illustrate the topic:
Updates to notes will be supplied to you where necessary. Please keep your notes and access to media confidential as they are for your exclusive benefit. What you learn and share as an artist is of course yours to share with the world.
Thank you!
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