Susan Lyon and Scott Burdick Workshop - My Review

 

 Last week I attended a six day workshop at Whidbey Island Fine Art Studio in Langely WA on Whidbey Island. This was my second workshop at the Studio and once again it was very well organized and the venue was well laid out with lots of room. They do a great job and I recommend them for workshops. I took our RV and parked in the fairground where the workshop took place - $15 a night - can't beat that.

We had three days each from Susan and Scott.

Each day they began with a new model, new lighting set up and new approach to starting the portrait. Each demo was about 2 1/2 hrs. Each afternoon we painted the same models for 3 hours.
Six days of full morning demos is a lot and can be hard to take - but not with these two instructors. Each day was filled with learning and suggestions and most participants , including me , were pretty much on the edge of their seats the whole time. This couple is so skilled at their craft , so full of knowledge and so willing to share it that you don't want to miss a minute. It was fun to learn of their painting adventures and their own journeys learning to paint.

And they are so different in their approaches that we got to see technique from two entirely different painters. I saw her as a prima ballerina and him as a cowboy - and it made it really fun to watch and compare.

Susan began with a thin wash sketching in the darks

Then adding the lights 

Notice the palette management - neat as a pin

Second day Susan sketched in darks with thin wash

Almost finished - gorgeous piece - the head is only about 4 in high

Susans third started with blocking in the lights

Then the darks 

and almost finished

Scotts first began with a bold block in of the lights

Then adding the darks

Almost finished - notice the palette management 

Second day was a vine charcoal drawing to start

Then the value patterns

Almost finished

Third day was drawn in with transparent paint

Amazing handling of thick paint 

Power paint added

Demo final - what an amazing piece it was

And one of my attempts:

11x14 on linen

And finally another of mine :

But this one I had to buy - one of Scotts prior demos

I was very pleased to be able to add a Scott Burdick to my growing collection. Wish I had one of Susans as well - but the budget only goes so far. 

In summary, it was an excellent workshop. Continuous delivery of information and demonstrations of outstanding skill. And the six days were made fun by the warm and sharing personalities of them both. 

Highly recommend them - and they don't do many workshops. 

Now got to get practicing so I don't loose it.