Friday, September 20, 2024: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM and Saturday, September 21, 2024: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

COST: $180 /  Maximum of 8; Minimum of 4 / All ability levels

It is convenient at times to think of composition as equivalent to design in representative painting.

While composition is a critical factor, there is also a range of other substantial design factors that determine a painting’s final impact. In this workshop, we will examine the elements of design (of which composition is one) and how to apply these effectively in landscape subjects.

Plein Air painting, as anyone who’s ever tried it knows, is an especially challenging form of artmaking. It requires the artist to improvise upon and organize the chaos of the natural world, while painting confidently and efficiently within tight time constraints and subject to the vagaries of the outdoors. 

To produce effective work under these circumstances, you need really a solid framework and strategy. 

During the first morning, we will formally examine the elements of design as they relate to landscape painting. We will paint outdoors in the afternoon, and then continue through the second day.  Participants will remain in general proximity, to make sure there is time for plenty of individual feedback from Helga and to provide opportunity to learn from one another. To conclude we will reconvene with our work indoors to enjoy and discuss our work.

For a workshop syllabus visit  https://helgawatkinsart.wordpress.com/workshops/.

Participants will meet at the Escalante Innovation Center media room at  9:30am. We will then paint outdoors in the afternoon.

Each participant will receive three prepared painting surfaces. Participants should bring their usual plein air painting kit, a sketchbook and their favored drawing medium such as a soft graphite pencil, grayscale marker, or pastel pencil.

Workshop Registration

Helga Watkins is a painter and designer. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting (MFA) Degree from the University of Notre Dame. 

Helga initiated the Bachelor of Design and Media program at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was a faculty member. Helga also taught in UNLV’s innovative Entertainment Engineering and Design program. While a tenured professor, she also maintained a professional design practice over two decades, specializing in identity design for resorts and restaurants. Prior to her academic career, Helga was Art Director (Interiors Division) at Young Electric Sign Company in Las Vegas, where she managed a large art department and designed large-scale environmental graphics, lighting, and signage programs for an international clientele. 

She recently retired from academics to have time to spend more time painting, and enjoys participating in plein air events. She has received multiple awards including Best of Show at the Escalante Art Festival Plein Air Competition.

You can see more of her work at https://helgawatkinsart.wordpress.com