As spring slips into summer, the Garden explodes with color as flowers of all sorts come into bloom. If you have ever wanted to recreate that beauty in art, the new Summer Blooms Acrylics Workshop will give you the tools and techniques to paint your own botanical masterpiece.
Local artist and teacher Zan Savage will lead this workshop, which is intended for beginners and experienced artists of all levels. A professional artist who studied at the University of Texas, Savage has taught both children and adults for years.
Working with multiple levels at once might seem challenging, but Savage enjoys it. “It is my custom to begin my classes and workshops as if everyone is a novice. Over the years, I have found this approach appreciated by the participants no matter their previous experience,” says Savage. “My regular students like the repetition, saying it never hurts to hear how and why more than once.”
“Learn the rules so you can break them with authority, I say!” she adds.
The course will begin by introducing the tools and techniques of painting with acrylics with hands-on, guided practice. “I highly encourage experimentation and changing things up as we paint together, if their inner artist prompts them to do so,” says Savage.
Summer Blooms
Acrylics Workshop
June 10, 9 am – 4 pm
In the afternoon, students will paint their own works with Savage’s encouragement and guidance.
Savage frequently uses acrylic paints in her own works, and she believes they are a great medium for those beginning a journey into art. “They dry quickly, are non-toxic and are very forgiving as they are easy to paint over and not finicky when it comes to application,” she says.
Flowers will be the subject of the class, connecting the workshop to both the location and the season. Nature in general and flowers in particular have been a recurring inspiration for Savage.
“I love painting flowers not only because of their beauty but their never-ending variety,” says Savage. “They easily allow for my thirst to explore the essence of my subject with varying methods and techniques. This, in turn, makes them a joy to teach in my classes!”
All materials and supplies will be provided, along with morning and afternoon snacks. The class will break for a 30-minute lunch, and students are encouraged to bring a sack lunch if they prefer.
Savage also reminds students that acrylic paints can be messy. “One thing to keep in mind is the permanent nature of acrylic paints once dry. I recommend a smock or apron and clothes you can get messy in while painting,” she says.
With a little time and a little creativity, you are certain to leave Savage’s class with a beautiful new work of art–and a new appreciation for the beauty of summer blooms.
