Karen Margulis Workshop Blog

Welcome! Important Information on Workshop Logistics

Meet Georgia our workshop mascot!

Welcome artists! I am so excited to have the opportunity to share with you through this virtual workshop! Thank you for joining me. My goal is to make this virtual workshop experience as close as possible to a live in person workshop. In many ways it will be even better! My goal is also to share tips, concepts and techniques in simple and clear presentations. I want to make sure you have a FUN experience.

Please take time to read this introduction. It includes information on the logistics of the workshop.

Timing of the workshop: This is not a live class. It is meant to be completed in one day but there is some flexibility. The final feedback video will be released one week after the start of the workshop. You can watch the video sessions at your leisure however if you want to have your work included in the final feedback video you will need to complete the painting assignments and submit them to me by email within 4 days of the start of the workshop.

The workshop is presented in the form of video lessons and demos. There will be FOUR videos in this workshop. You will receive the links by email and they can also be found here on this blog. The first three videos contain the actual workshop content. The content is divided into three sessions. Each video session has a lesson/lecture, full demo and painting assignment. The fourth video is the final feedback and FAQ session. It will be available one week after the start date of the workshop.

This blog is Workshop Central. This is where you can find the supply list, bonus handouts, expanded lessons, and workshop assignments. You will be able to comment and communicate with your fellow artists in the comment section of each post. The blog is searchable and you can easily find content through the tags on the right side of the blog. You can also find everything you need at the tabs on the top of this blog!

Feedback Information! One of the benefits of a live workshop is access to the instructor for feedback and questions. You will be able to receive virtual feedback in two ways.....via email during the workshop week and via a final feedback session video available one week from the start of the workshop. You can contact me AT ANYTIME during the week with your questions via email. I will get back to you as soon as I can. You can send me photos of your work in progress if you have questions or if you are stuck. When you are finished with your assignment paintings you will send photos to me via email. I will post them to this blog as well as in the feedback video. You can send both paintings or choose just one for feedback. Write down my email address: karenmargulis@gmail.com

Workshop Supply List

Welcome! I am excited to have you join my virtual workshop. I look forward to sharing with you. Now is the time to gather your supplies and get ready for class to begin. I am sharing a list of suggested supplies. These are only suggestions. I will be using these supplies in my demos (not these particular pastels. I will be using my set of Floral Landscape Terry Ludwig pastels. See the photo below if you wish to match the colors) There is no need to purchase anything for the workshop. Feel free to use what you have. I will be available by email to answer your supply questions. karenmargulis@gmail.com

Selection of your favorite pastels. Be sure you have a variety of values including colorful darks and lights. You also need some grayed colors along with the pure intense colors. Don't worry if you don't have a large pastel collection! Remember the cavemen painted with charcoal and dirt! If you are new to pastels and have a limited collection consider supplementing your pastels with a set of hard pastels such as Nupastels. These inexpensive pastel sticks will help expand your collection.

Black pastel or some type of black painting medium for underpainting. I will be using black Art Graf pigment squares but any black medium will work. https://www.viarco.pt/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/artgraf_tonsterra-pt.pdf

Paper. Have available several pieces of your preferred paper in a variety of sizes from 5x7 up to 11x14. Plan on using at least 2-5 pieces of paper available. UArt paper is my preferred paper and works well for wet underpainting. LaCarte paper will not work for some of the techniques I will share. I’d rather you have more paper available than not enough!

Backing board and tape: Foamcore works fine. I get mine at the Dollar Tree. I attach my paper to the board using artist tape using tape hinges. See this blog article describing my process: http://kemstudios.blogspot.com/2017/04/my-favorite-tip-for-attaching-paper-to.html Avoid using colorful painter's tape as it adds a new color to your palette!

Rubbing alcohol 70% and cup

Inexpensive brush for wet underpaintings

Pencil for initial drawings

Blending tool. Anything to spread the pastel around. I use pipe insulation foam. Viva paper towels work well.

Grayscale markers for value thumbnails. I use three… a dark gray a middle value gray and a light gray. You can also use a pencil, charcoal pencil or pen.

Index cards for thumbnails. I use the 3x5 inch size.

Optional: Workable Fixative. I use Blair Very Low Odor workable fixative

REFERENCE PHOTOS: I prefer that you use your own reference photos for the workshop. I will be doing landscape demos. Gather some possible landscape photos for your painting exercises. I will provide a link to some of my reference photos that you may download and use if you don't have any of your own. The demos are NOT paint alongs so you will need to have reference photos available!

Here is a photo of the pastel set I will be using. You don't need this set for the workshop! Use the pastels you have on hand. I am sharing this photo in case you would like to match what you have to these colors. If you do wish to purchase this set it is available on the Terry Ludwig website.

https://terryludwig.com/collections/frontpage/products/60-floral-landscapes-karen-margulis

Reference Photos for Workshop Paintings

As you prepare for the workshop assignments you will want to gather some potential reference photos. It is always better to paint from your own photos and as you will discover in my lessons, even bad photos can inspire good paintings! I will be painting landscapes for my two demos. To get the most from the lessons and demos I recommend that you also choose landscape reference photos.

If you don't have any photos of your own I am sharing a selection of 25 photos that you may use for workshop paintings only. To see all of the photos click on the link below. You can download and print the photos you'd like to use.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DIVDCOpGXllD3kFOXZqZlweVNO5VK9jf?usp=sharing

Please note that I don't want you to use my demo photo for your painting assignments.. I want you to take the lessons I present and apply them to your own painting subject. You are welcome to copy my demos for your own personal use but I won't be able to offer feedback on those paintings.