This year, we had multiple sessions with 20-30 students (grades 3-12) with four docents assigned to each workshop, allowing for smaller groups and more discussion. Sessions are free of charge, run three hours in length and all art supplies are included.

Some members of the SDMA Student Artist Workshop team. From left: Cara Dealy, Anne Minteer, Seena Ailor and Renee Bareno

 

 

A 35–40 minute gallery tour focuses on landscapes and seascapes and students are encouraged to consider expressions of comfort and calm. For example, they see 8 examples of California Plein Air painting. What images make them feel most calm? How does the artist’s use of color affect their emotions? How do artists communicate mood in nature through light, shadow, color, and time of day?

 

One of the SDMA works in the tour: Peter Hurd, Eve of Saint John, 19650

They break down the painting and observe foreground, middle ground, and background. How many shapes do they see? How has the artist used space? Imagine you are lying in the middle of this work. What would you feel, hear and see?

Students begin their morning in the art studio where they see examples of landscape and seascape paintings and tone their canvases.

 

 

 

Next the students are divided into small groups and head to the galleries with their docent guide.

 

Then students return to the art studio and begin to experiment with color mixing and value to create mood on their own canvases.

 

Then students return to the art studio and begin to experiment with color mixing and value to create mood on their own canvases.