When you physically visit a place, it enables you to appreciate its maginificence better and also to analyze its structure from a closer view so that later, when you want to recreate it on paper, it becomes much more easier for you to do so.
I want to become a digital artist, and right now i'm learning how to draw objects in the form of cubes. And my ultimate interest is learning character design in Photoshop or any other software.
I am a lazy photographer. I will admit that tripods and shutter speeds and f stops make my eyes glaze over. What I love to do is print. The more alternative the better. I’ll take emulsion off acetate and transfer it to any crazy surface I can. The only way I will take better photographs is if I’m forced to in a workshop setting. I would think a Black and White workshop would be right up my alley
(And maybe a little tweak of some creative infra red editing in photoshop).
I know the value of the trek. Yet, every experience, real or not, becomes a memory, imperfectly captured, inaccurately recalled, evolving over time with each retelling. It may be necessary to go to Africa in order to take the photo. But, Henri Rousseau never left France in order to paint any of the South Pacific islanders he never knew, never visited, who never existed. Either method captures the imagination and expression of the artist.
So that sounds a lot like our portfolio or upcoming book workshops that are all about curation, editorial work and then optimal presentation (paper selection, additional embelishments (text, image information, context, other art that's complementary to your vision/message, etc)
I don't know how you run your portfolio workshop. I have only been able to take your print workshop. In that workshop, I felt like I had come in in the middle and never quite caught up. I felt like it could benefit (or I could benefit) from a longer session. Possibly 2-3 days. That could allow for a more specific and focused response for each student. If your portfolio workshop works similarly, then perhaps an extended in person session would provide the kind of guidance that is more generalizable by the student (me!).
Also, I felt that your book workshop would have a focus on the mechanics specific to getting a book laid out and, perhaps, printed. This is not something I feel at all ready to do. I am still trying to figure out how to judge the quality of my shots. and then how best to print the ones I select for that.
This issue of judging the quality of my shots is currently a major (THE major?) artistic issue for me. I know what I like, but the feedback that I get doesn't consistently agree with what I think is "best." It doesn't always need to, but I'd like to have a better feel for the (personally valued) accuracy my judgements. If I could get this from your portfolio workshop, it would be a major win for me. But, aside from being able to get in, I am concerned about getting the detailed feedback needed to learn how to gain a sense of the accuracy of my judgement. And that's a time thing.
So, FWIW, that was the thought behind behind my comment.
I am sure Les will get back to you as well but just a few things regarding the Portfolio workshop:
- We start that workshop 2 months (minimum) prior to gathering in person for the 3 day final edit/printing/assembly of the physical portfolio box.
- We have a detailed discussion with each participant about the subject/theme/genre of their portfolio and their goals and artistic vision
- After that we have AT LEAST two more private sessions with detailed feedback on the image submissions we ask you to send us from that first mission.
- In each session we not only give detailed feedback but also guidance and suggestions
The result is the images you will bring to the workshop where that is further refined with the entire group in a small group where everyone is completely focused on helping each other put together the best presentation and images that meet each artists intent.
I am sure Les and I would be glad to talk to you about it in more detail if you'd be interested. Let us know and we can set something up but not this week/next week as we are swamped.
I would very much be interesting in discussing joining one of your portfolio workshops. I am traveling to Iceland 7/20-28 and so would look to have this discussion either before or after that time as is convenient.
I believe I saw you were booked into next year for this so is it correct that any workshop would be after that timeframe?
When you physically visit a place, it enables you to appreciate its maginificence better and also to analyze its structure from a closer view so that later, when you want to recreate it on paper, it becomes much more easier for you to do so.
I want to become a digital artist, and right now i'm learning how to draw objects in the form of cubes. And my ultimate interest is learning character design in Photoshop or any other software.
All your workshops sound great! But my faves in order of preference (essentially I would take all these workshops but in order)
1. 2.5 day advanced Awagami paper workshop (I have been trying to get my Epson 3880 settings to succeed in printing on Bizan.
2. 2 day creative use of Awagami Inkjet papers.
3. 3 day portfolio workshop.
4. 2 - 3 day custom book workshop.
Look forward to getting the announcements and the eBook on the half day introduction to Awagami papers.
Thanks. your articles get the creative juices going.
Thanks for the input. Stay tuned.
We're seeing what we can open up this year given our current schedule, more importantly we're taking feedback we get into account for 2024 planning.
As I live on the east coast, I would have to pair a workshop with a visit to the Bat Area.
Any particular subjects that interest you?
I am a lazy photographer. I will admit that tripods and shutter speeds and f stops make my eyes glaze over. What I love to do is print. The more alternative the better. I’ll take emulsion off acetate and transfer it to any crazy surface I can. The only way I will take better photographs is if I’m forced to in a workshop setting. I would think a Black and White workshop would be right up my alley
(And maybe a little tweak of some creative infra red editing in photoshop).
Havre de Grace MD
I know the value of the trek. Yet, every experience, real or not, becomes a memory, imperfectly captured, inaccurately recalled, evolving over time with each retelling. It may be necessary to go to Africa in order to take the photo. But, Henri Rousseau never left France in order to paint any of the South Pacific islanders he never knew, never visited, who never existed. Either method captures the imagination and expression of the artist.
I would be interested in a printing or bookmaking workshop that used paper other than Awagami paper that was longer than a weekend.
That would be portfolio or book workshop. I am curious as to your "other than Awagami" requirement.
Where would these classes be held? That impacts my vote.
Havre de Grace Maryland
I would be interested in multi-day workshops on printing on various papers and also on selecting prints for one (or more) purpose specific portfolios.
So that sounds a lot like our portfolio or upcoming book workshops that are all about curation, editorial work and then optimal presentation (paper selection, additional embelishments (text, image information, context, other art that's complementary to your vision/message, etc)
I don't know how you run your portfolio workshop. I have only been able to take your print workshop. In that workshop, I felt like I had come in in the middle and never quite caught up. I felt like it could benefit (or I could benefit) from a longer session. Possibly 2-3 days. That could allow for a more specific and focused response for each student. If your portfolio workshop works similarly, then perhaps an extended in person session would provide the kind of guidance that is more generalizable by the student (me!).
Also, I felt that your book workshop would have a focus on the mechanics specific to getting a book laid out and, perhaps, printed. This is not something I feel at all ready to do. I am still trying to figure out how to judge the quality of my shots. and then how best to print the ones I select for that.
This issue of judging the quality of my shots is currently a major (THE major?) artistic issue for me. I know what I like, but the feedback that I get doesn't consistently agree with what I think is "best." It doesn't always need to, but I'd like to have a better feel for the (personally valued) accuracy my judgements. If I could get this from your portfolio workshop, it would be a major win for me. But, aside from being able to get in, I am concerned about getting the detailed feedback needed to learn how to gain a sense of the accuracy of my judgement. And that's a time thing.
So, FWIW, that was the thought behind behind my comment.
Ps. We have done one-on-one sessions on request for people that have taken any of our workshops and want to arrange that.
Hi David,
I am sure Les will get back to you as well but just a few things regarding the Portfolio workshop:
- We start that workshop 2 months (minimum) prior to gathering in person for the 3 day final edit/printing/assembly of the physical portfolio box.
- We have a detailed discussion with each participant about the subject/theme/genre of their portfolio and their goals and artistic vision
- After that we have AT LEAST two more private sessions with detailed feedback on the image submissions we ask you to send us from that first mission.
- In each session we not only give detailed feedback but also guidance and suggestions
The result is the images you will bring to the workshop where that is further refined with the entire group in a small group where everyone is completely focused on helping each other put together the best presentation and images that meet each artists intent.
I am sure Les and I would be glad to talk to you about it in more detail if you'd be interested. Let us know and we can set something up but not this week/next week as we are swamped.
Thanks.
RB
I would very much be interesting in discussing joining one of your portfolio workshops. I am traveling to Iceland 7/20-28 and so would look to have this discussion either before or after that time as is convenient.
I believe I saw you were booked into next year for this so is it correct that any workshop would be after that timeframe?
I look forward to our further discussion.
David Margulis