Ever since March of 2010, when Steve Huston was last in Los Angeles to teach his annual workshop, I was eagerly anticipating his return to Southern California. The time finally came last April when Steve returned to Pasadena for a one night drawing workshop hosted by 3 Kicks Studio.

This was a short but intense workshop. Steve packed in a lot of information in 3 hours. Here are my thoughts on the evening.

Part 1 – Lecture

Steve began the lecture by stating his fundamental principles to drawing and art making. The essence of Art is the “Idea”, he noted to the class.  He then broke down that concept into 2 fundamental parts:

Gesture and Structure,

or Parts and their Relationships.  Parts representing structure or form, gesture is synonymous to the relationship between forms.

The idea of structure and gesture, parts and relationships is so fundmental to Steve’s work, it appears over and over again in his drawing. From the 2 minute gestures, to the head drawings to the fully rendered, titanic and kinetic boxers and workmen he is known for.

A sample from Steve Huston’s sketchbook. Wow! www.stevehustonart.com

Parts, Steve noted are what most artists are comfortable and competent with. Relationships are what takes a lifetime to master.

Steve then began to demonstrate specific techniques such as using gesture to create dynamic stretch in a figure. He also demonstrated how gesutre can also create movement down and along form. Movement along form is what he calls structure. Any observer of his work can clearly see his mastery of structure.

Steve Huston lecturing at 3 Kicks Studio.

Steve also simplified the figure using abstractions and geometric forms, and most importantly how to get the simple abstract forms to relate to another in the most effective and elegant manner.

The lecture was very condensed.  This could have easily been a 10 or 20 week course alone. Despite the short time frame, Steve managed to touch on the key essentials of his drawing philosophy.

Part 2 – Drawing Time

After the lecture, the class finally got their chance to apply all the knowledge from the lecture and draw from the model. Steve began the first 20 minute set with a demonstratoin of 5 minute poses. Obviously his lecture was informative by itself, but watching him draw is truly invaluable. This is what I had waited the entire year for, the chance to watch Steve draw and work his magic.  Watching him put all the principles together, one always comes away feeling, “Ok, I can do that”.

The remainder of the workshop was drawing time for the students, with Steve giving as much one-on-one feedback he could in the short amount of time.

A snap from Steve Huston’s sketchbook. www.stevehustonart.com

Conclusion

Steve closed the workshop by giving us some final thoughts on drawing and art. He gave us some ideas for self study and a daily practice routine, stressing that art is a cumulative, marathon-like journey.  After his parting thoughts, Steve was very generous with his time and stayed behind to talk to students who wanted some final nuggets of wisdom.

Watching Steve at the end of class, I couldn’t help but feel admiration. It was already well past 11 pm on a Saturday night. Just hours earlier, he had taught a full day painting workshop, and had to prepare for the next morning’s class. Despite the long day, here he is, a nationally renowned, gold-medal winning artist working overtime for his students.  Wow. That’s class, and that is someone any young artist could feel proud to emulate.

In conclusion, the short but action-packed drawing workshop was a great experience and a great value. Steve did an honorable job teaching such a daunting amount of material in such a short period of time. For the beginner student or someone new to his work, it served as a great introductory, or ‘teaser’ course. Personally I would want to spend a whole week on this topic, but that will have to wait.

I would also like to thank Charels Hu and 3 kicks Studio for hosting the workshop. Charles did a great job with the event and made the students feel very welcome and at home. I recommend 3 Kicks to any serious art student in southern California and I am definitely looking forward to more classes and workshops there. Of course, I’m already anticipating next years’ Huston workshop.

This summer, Zhaoming Wu will be teaching an exclusive, 2-day head and portrait drawing workshop.  The date is Saturday, June 4th – Sunday, June 5th, 2011. The time is 10 am – 4pm both days. The workshop will be held at theCommunity School of Music and Arts (CSMA) in beautiful Mountain View, California (just 20 minutes south of San Francisco).

This is a limited, one of a kind engagement. Take advantage of a unique opportunity to study with a living, modern master. Enrollment has begun and class size is limited. See below for complete details.  To enroll please visit the CSMA website:

http://www.arts4all.org/register/index.htm

To see Zhaoming’s incredible work please visit: http://www.zhaomingwu.com/

DETAILS

When: Sat., June 4 –  Sun., June 5, 2011

Time: 10 am – 4 pm

Where: Community School of Music and Arts (Finn Center), 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, CA

Cost: $300

Concept Design Academy (CDA) is hosting a new figure drawing workshop every Sunday in Pasadena, CA. CDA is one of the top entertainment art schools and many great artists, industry professionals and talented students have come to draw on Sunday night. Including the school’s founder Kevin Chen.

For those in the Los Angeles area who follow my tutorials and videos, stop by say hi and come draw with us sometime.  I would love to meet all of you and thank you for your support.  I am currently enrolled in Kevin Chen’s drawing class this term and will be attending CDA until April 10th.

For info on CDA, faculty and class schedule visit their blog: www.conceptdesignacad.blogspot.com

Time: Sunday, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Where: Concept Design Academy, 55 Waverly Drive, Suite 104, Pasadena, CA  91105
Fee: $15

A page from Nathan Fowke’s sketchbook. www.nathanfowkes.blogspot.com

Nathan Fowkes is a renowned Los Angeles artist and teacher. Among many things he is known for being a masterful color stylist. All you have to do is see hislandscape sketches to know he is a master of color and his craft. Being a fan of his work I was eagerly awaiting his one day Color Concepts Workshop @ Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (LAAFA).

The 8 hour event was divided into 3 parts. First was lecture and slideshow.  Next came a demo from the model where Nathan put into practice the topics of the lecture. Finally the students got their chance to paint from the model with Nathan’s guidance.

Nathan began the lecture and slideshow with personal stories and experiences. Relating how painting and sketching drives his illustration at Dreamworks Animation where Nathan does spectacular visual development work.  The meat of the lecture consisted of color principals, concepts and color theory.

Obviously the lecture had tremedous value. My only gripe was that it was a bit long at 41/2  hours. As an artist eager to paint alongside Nathan, I wanted more painting time and would have liked to see a more condensed lecture. Considering the circumstance and the 1 day schedule, Nathan did an excellent job presenting the material.

For me, the most valuable thing I took away from the lecture was the importance of temperature (warmth or coolness) of a color. Nathan spent a lot of time on temperature and its emotional impact on the viewer. That in itself was priceless.  Having laid a foundation it was time to put the concepts into practice and demo for the class.

For the demo, Nathan prepared a costumed model with dramatic, colorful, saturated theatrical lighting. A rich red spot light complemented by a bright green rim light.

The quiet before the storm. Nathan’s trademark watercolor setup.

For those who have ever wanted to see Nathan demo his process, it is a thing of beauty. Imagine a crescendo of fat sable brushes applying thick color with fearless and agressive strokes. Each stroke bold and precise. Wow!  I had previously seen Nathan demo at a previous LAAFA workshop and I was still mesmerized.

A master at work. A thing of beauty. I could of watched him all day.

The first half of the demo consisted of  a color exercise where Nathan harmonized two opposing colors. The goal of the exercise was to work a interesting and powerful color harmony out of 2 seemingly unrelated colors. He worked small, quickly and very abstract with his trademark bold marks. After completing 2 small studies Nathan moved on to the model.

Again working small and relatively abstract. Nathan began to apply his color concepts. Now the challenge was not only to compose an interesting figure but to relate a red and green light being shone on a living, breathing form.  Watching someone with that much experience makes it look so easy.   I came away with a feeling of,  ”hey, I can do that”.

The studies on the left are color exercises. The right is the final demo from the model. Approx. 1 hour to finish.

After the demo the class excited for the final session of painting from the model.  There were 2 models with 2 different scenarious set up. I chose the original model from Nathan’s demo.

My humble little watercolor setup.

As with his demo, he had the class spend the first hour doing the harmonizing exercising. Working small, loose and abstract. Admittedly, I was bored at first, but then the wheels in my brain started turning. The relationships between colors change so dramatically as I painted. It became a compelling exercise and proved to valuable when painting from the model.

The last 2 hours was dedicated to painting the model. Nathan gave a lot of feedback to students while we were painting.  At the end of the final session, Nathan thanked the group and gave some final thoughts. Even after class, he was also very generous with his time in answering questions and giving feedback and critique.  That’s one thing I appreciate about him is his eagerness to share and help students.  Of course, I took full advantage and was able to spend some time Nathan and get feedback on my own work. Thanks Nathan.

Overall, the workshop was an excellent experience. The lecture was interesting and the material was extremely valuable. Even though it felt a bit long, Nathan presented the material well. The demo was valuable and exciting. Watching Nathan work was a tremendous learning experience. Finally, the painting session with Nathan’s guidance was fun and valuable.

Congratulations to LAAFA for another successful workshop and special thanks to Nathan for his time and generosity. LAAFA did another outstanding job organizing and hosting the event. Every workshop I’ve taken there has been fun and well organized.  I always feel at home when I’m there.  I am definitely looking forward to the next Fowkes workshop and the next visit to LAAFA.

2 hour figure drawing by Chris Legaspi. Taken from the Wednesday, Sep. 22nd session in Mountain View. 2 1/2 hour pose, charcoal on paper.

This new figure painting and drawing session starts out with 20 minutes of gesture poses for warm up, then 1 continuous, long pose for the remainder of the evening (approx. 2 1/2 hours).  Perfect for fine art charcoal drawings and painters of all mediums. Students, professionals and artists of all levels and all mediums are welcome.

No pre-registration required. Drop-ins welcome. $15 drop in fee. $12 with CSMA discount card (contact CSMA or workshop organizer for more information).

Details here:

Where: CSMA/Finn Center, 230 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, CA 94040
Time: Every Wednesday from 7:00 – 10:00pm
Fee: $15 ($12 with CSMA discount card)
Website: http://www.arts4all.org

Inside our figure drawing studio @ CSMA

**NOTE: WACOM pen tablet or similar digital pen tablet required to follow along. Photoshop version CS3 demonstrated in video.

[ Click here to download my custom brush set ]

After waiting years for a chance to study in-depth with legendary Artist and teacher, Steve Huston, I finally headed to the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (LAAFA) to take part in Steve’s annual workshop. This workshop was a 5 day intensive focused on drawing and painting the figure. Although it was taught as a figuartive class, I learned so much more. I learned about art, myself and how Steve, aka “The Man” thinks, plans and executes his renowned gallery work.

The event was held at LAAFA in Van Nuys, California, from March 24-28th. This is a breakdown of the class each day and my thoughts going through the workshop.

Day 1  ( Wednesday, March 24th )

Day 1 was an introduction in a way. First we got to know The Man and his philosophy on art and creating art. In fact, one of his points is that, ‘an artist is a philosopher’. Steve’s teaching method, like his art or like any good philosopher is to start with the general idea and then work to refine it. For Steve, it is all about the idea, or the expression of that idea.

Steve breaks down figurative art into 2 fundamental elements: parts and relationships, or gesture and structure. This principal is so fundamental to his approach that it was echoed throughout the 5 days and is echoed throughout his work.

Parts and relationships.  Gesture and structure.

Since the gesture line comes first, we spent the entire day on this core principal. After an hour or so of lecture, we got our first chance to try out our new ideas and draw from the model. Of course Steve was there to observe and work with us individually. Like I said, ,day 1 was about getting to know each other. Teacher and students. At the end of the day, I knew I was in the company of talented and hungry students that were going to lift each other up throughout the next 4 days.

Steve Huston getting his quick sketch on. 5 min. poses from Day 1.

Day 2 (Thursday , March 25th)

Having our first taste of Steve’s method, we dived right into the second major principle of his philoshopy, structure. Steve is renowned for a lot of things, but dynamic structure is what his work resonates with. In my opinion he is probably the greatest living teacher on the subject of structure, so we were in good hands. Learning how Steve approaches structure was what I personally wanted to learn most, so I was glued to the lecture.

The information in the lecture hit the class like his boxers. Powerful information hitting my brain like a left hook and a right straight. Steve not only hit us with technique, but with fundamental ideas.  The core of this idea is that structure is movement. In Steve’s words:

“If gesture is movement between forms, then structure is movement over forms.”

He also demonstrated that structure can be used to design the figure, instead of just ‘copying’. Once, I was able to grasp this concept, I finally understood why I liked some of my drawings and what was working in them. After the lecture, we gathered around Steve for a demo from the model. The remainder of the day was spent drawing, with Steve working with us individually, one on one.

This is what I came to see.  Steve’s structure demo from day 2. He wanted us to focus our practice by isolating a body part or form.

By request, Steve also touched on head drawing. So much great information here, if only we had a whole year to spend on this class.

My ‘homework’ for the day. I was so fired up, I could of drawn until morning. I wanted to review and internalize as much as I could of  Steve’s teaching in the short time we had. 10 min. quick sketch, ballpoint pen and colored pencil on toned paper.

Clearly, 2 days is not enough to fully grasp this unique approach to drawing. It could easily be a 1 to 2 year course.  However, the class had to switch gears and dive into our first painting class on day 3.

Day 3  (Friday, March 26th)

Friday was our first painting day. Even though I hadn’t painted in months, I was fired up and itching to paint with Steve. Upon entering the studio, I could feel my classmates excitement as well. The room was alive with the electricity of anticipation.

Canvas, check. Brushes, check. LAAFA flavored coffee, check. Good to go! The mood in the class was electric today.

Like any good painting teacher, Steve focused our first painting day on tones and values. Black and white was all we would use today. The lecture focused on light and shade. Steve introduced us to the concept of using a 2 value system (something I was familiar with from studying Reilly method). Then Steve hit us with another huge left hook and introduced us to the Laws of Light.

There were 4 Laws of Light (5 total) that he touched upon. I won’t spoil them all for  you, but 1 that did strike me and would have a dramatic impact on my drawing was the first law:

Different Value = Different Plane

Or inversely, same value equals same plane. Again, this was another major insight on why some of my drawings were working and how I can really push the illusion of forms turning into space.

The class was divided up into lecture and tonal painting from the model. Steve had us focus on small tonal studies, limiting us to only 3 values, light, dark and mid-tone. This was a great visual exercise and a great warm-up to painting. Which we would definitely need heading into day 4.

Day 4  (Saturday, March 27th)

Having built some confidence from tonal painting the day before, I was looking forward to our first day of painting in color. That confidence wouldn’t last because color would prove to be a formidable foe.  Even though color is an incredibly complex subject, Steve was able to break it down quite well. He went to his roots and to his biggest influence, the ‘Tonalist school’ and specifically Rembrandt.

The tonalist, or ‘Brown School’ painters, also known as ‘indoor painting’, limits the palette and relies on draftsmanship (drawing) and tone to turn forms and create impact. This was good news to me, because I could approach the painting as a draftsman.  Bad news because it was still oil painting and mixing color, and my lack of mileage showed. The only thing that saved me today was the core principal of Tonalist painting:

Cool shadows, warm light.

Sounds simple, but could take a lifetime to master. Once Steve broke down how Rembrandt approaches painting shadows, and how to turn shadows into a cool, grey brown, I felt like my eyes had been opened to a world of possibilities. Being a drawing fanatic, this approach resonated with me.  I finally had the tools and workable system to practice and apply in my oil paintings.

Steve’s 25 minute demo of tonalist/’Brown school’ painting. An insight into Rembrandt’s elegant approach. The palette includes: ivory black, titanium white, indian yellow, lemon yellow, cadmium red, aliziron crimson and ultramarine blue.

Huston Live Painting Demo (Saturday evening, March 27th)

LAAFA had booked Steve for a 3 hour painting demo with a live audience. Since the demo was included in the price of the 5 day workshop, our class had front row seats.

Steve in action at the live demo. It was a beautiful space for a demo. There were about 40 in attendance.  I wonder if there will be a dvd release of the footage?

After today’s lecture and painting for 3 hours,  I was exhausted by the time the demo started around 7pm. Having seen Steve paint for 2 days, I had an idea of what to expect. Despite this, it was still a great experience to be in that audience and watch Steve work his magic.

Steve not only painted, but used his charm and humor to put on a show. I got the sense that he enjoyed talking and sharing his ideas more than the painting that night. Being able to articulate  ideas and philoshopy is a gift among artists.  Hearing his 30 years of teaching and practice distilled into refined ideas was invaluable.

The main thing that I took away from tonight’s demo is that it’s not the technique that makes an artist’s figures stand out, it’s their unique idea.  I also learned the value of allowing the painting to emerge, experimenting with techniques and cultivating happy accidents.

Day 5 (Sunday, March 28th)

Final day of the workshop. Despite being exhausted and have my confidence crushed by yesterday’s painting exercises, I didn’t want the workshop to end. I could sense that my classmates felt the same way.  Knowing this was our last day together, everyone brought a lot of energy and was ready to dive into impressionist painting.

Steve characterized Impressionism, or ‘outdoor painting’ by their use of value and color. The impressionist value scale was much brighter than the Rembrandt/tonalist school. Their color palette was also much more complex. There was white, and a cool and warm for each primary. Black was strictly prohibited because it was an outdoor method, and the bright sun tends to wash out (lighten) dark shadows.

After the brief lecture, Steve did a quick demo focusing strictly on color studies. Specifically, how to harmonize colors on the palette, how to pick a color scheme by ‘keying’ off a color and how to add depth and interest using a color’s temperature (cool or warm) and intensity.

I needed a lot of help mixing, so Steve worked with me on mixing and being patient. He demonstrated on my palette his technique of ‘chasing’ to get to the right color and how to subtly mix colors. He continuosly stressed the importance of getting exactly the right color and being disciplined enough to mix until the color was just right.

I spent the majority of the day practicing mixing and observing color’s value and intensity. This day taught me that impressionism, and solid painting in general, is more about patience and discipline then technique. This insight was not just an artistic lesson, but a philosophical lesson that taught me something about myself. Quite fitting considering that’s how Steve approaches art and teaching.

Summary

I can sum up this 5 day workshop into 3 words, everything and more. It was everything I expected, but so much more. The first two days of drawing was exactly what I needed to break me out of a rut and put a spark into my drawings. I finally got to work one on one with my long time hero and learn gesture and structure from the master himself.

The 3 days of painting felt like a rock climb and a boxing match all in one. It was both a tremendous learning experience and a personal challenge that led to tremendous growth and insight.  Having learned Rembrandt’s simple and elegant approach to tone empowered me as a draftsman. Having learned the impressionist approach to color and mixing gave me the tools to observe color and the confidence to experiment with color.

Overall, it was a trememdous experience. I highly recommend Steve Huston as an artist and teacher. I congragulate LAAFA on organizing this event. It was well orgainzied and worth far more than the asking price. The have such a beautiful space that creates the perfect environment to learn and inspire. I also feel blessed to have the classmates that I had that week. We were constantly feeding off each other creating a dynamic and nurturing environment. I look forward to seeing their progress throughout the year.

My only gripe is that it was only 5 days. At the close of Sunday’s class, I didn’t want the experience to end. This could easily have been a 1 -2 year course, but Steve did a masterful job of condensing the information into the time we had.  Much love to Steve and LAAFA for this event. I will see you again in 2011 for the next Huston Workshop.

Myself (in the black shirt) gaining a new appreciation for Monet. Steve (grey hair and huge arms) working with a student on our last day of the workshop. Photo courtesy of LAAFA. See you guys next year!

www.laafa.org

Steve Huston:
Eleanor Ettinger Gallery /  Skotia Gallery

For these next set of Bay Area Figure Drawing workshops, we’re going all the way to San Francisco for 2 open workshops and to Oakland for an all day figure marathon. I’ve organized them by day, but times and day may vary. Please contact the organizers for their current schedule.

MONDAYS

San Francisco @ 23rd Street Studio
3747 23rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
http://users.rcn.com/mcm.dnai/
Time: 6:30 – 9:30 pm (also available Monday afternoons, Sunday and Wednesdays)
Fee: $16

Having the day off for President’s day, I was itching to draw. I decided to make 45 mile drive up to San Francisco and draw at 23rd Street Studio, and it was well worth the drive. First, I corresponded with artist and organizer Michael Markowitz and was able to secure a drop-in slot.

The feeling I got upon entering Michael’s studio was a sense of awe and relief. The studio is well lit, well organized and well designed for drawing from the model. Having Michael’s beautiful and expressive figure drawings on the wall makes an inspiring background. The lighting set-up is exquisite and is by far the best lighting and room I have seen in the Bay Area. There was also a lot talent in the room that night which always raises everyone’s drawing level.

Overall I highly recommend Michael’s studio. It was an excellent environment for figure drawing and Michael is a great host. He even served homemade cakes and tea. The night I attended was Monday, but he also offers drop-in workshops on Sunday, Wednesday and Monday evening. Please contact Michael and sign up for his mailing list to get the latest schedule and updates.

The model was incredible, and the stage and lighting were excellent. What a night! 2 minute poses, 2/15/10, charcoal on paper.

5 minute pose, 2/15/10, charcoal on paper.

20 minute head drawing, 2/15/10, charcoal on paper.

SATURDAYS

San Franisco @ SOMArts Cultural Center
934 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
http://blog.somarts.org/post/101240149/figure-drawing
Time: 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM / Fee: $8

Having a free weekend means I’ve got time draw. I decided to spend a day in San Francisco and start my day at SOMArts. This workshop is one of the longest, ongoing workshops in S.F. The drawing room itself is medium size. Tables and horses are available. The only downside is the poor, ambient lighting.

Despite the lighting, I still recommend SOMArts. The group was very welcoming, the drop-in fee is low ($8), and it’s at a perfect time slot to start your day with a figure drawing session.

The lighting was ambient and was brutal to work with. Luckily I was able to squeeze out a few decent drawings. 5 min pose, 3/6/10, charcoal on paper.

20 minute head, 3/6/10, charcoal on paper. The lighting was really tough to work with, but still makes good practice.

SUNDAYS (Occurring Quarterly)

Oakland @ Merritt College
12500 Campus Drive, Art Bldg., Rm. A122, Oakland, CA
http://bayareamodelsguild.org.tripod.com/marathons.html
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (event occurs quarterly)
Fee: $40 full day, $30 half-day/students/seniors

OK, where do I start? Having taking a year off of life drawing, you would think I would warm up gradually, but that wasn’t the case. I jumped right in to my first 6 hour(!) drawing marathon. This one happened to be the legendary Bay Area Models Guild quarterly marathon.

The room set up for this event is a huge converted warehouse. Which was a good thing because it was filled up with artists, and models on 4 stages. Thats right, 4 stages. One of the reasons why this event is so revered is the set-up of 4 stages, each of which are dedicated to a set time. One stage was 1-2 minute gestures, the second was 5-10 minute poses, the 3rd was 20 minute poses, and the fourth stage had 3 hour long pose. This made for an amazing experience and a visual feast for a ‘figure addict’, and for a lot of drawing variety.

There were a few horses, easels and chairs available. The only lighting was ambient daylight was the only downside. However, the excellence of the models at this event made up for this shortcoming.

Overall, I highly recommend the BAMG marathon and I will definitely plan to be there when it happens next in April.

5 min pose, 2/7/10, charcoal on paper. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Only my 3rd drawing session after taking a break of over 1 year.

2 – 5 min poses, 2/7/10, charcoal on paper. Like I said, lot of variety at the marathon.

2 min. poses, 2/7/10, charcoal on paper. I started my day at the gesture pose stage, but got a little burned out on gestures after a couple of hours. The rust is evident here…bleh.

***

If you are in the San Francisco area and would like to attend one of these workshops, please contact their organizers to confirm time and day. Once again, I would like thank Andrew Cahner of www.artmodelbook.com for his incredible directory of figure drawing workshops.