The Inspired Landscape: Orchestrating Realism and Abstraction with Colette Odya Smith

Concept

This workshop is designed for the artist who wants to bring their personal expression to the forefront of their landscape paintings without completely abandoning their source imagery. Working from your own photos and using pastels over a watercolor underpainting, explore ways to work through the false dichotomy between realism and abstraction. With Colette as your guide, aim to find the balance between rendering nature faithfully, while allowing for necessary poetic license.

Experience

Direct instruction, examples of Colette's work and process, and demonstrations share useful techniques along with the how and why to make them effective. Individualized guidance and encouragement is provided throughout generous working time each day. A collaborative atmosphere encourages growth and exchange.

Skill Level

Some prior pastel experience required. This workshop is not designed for beginners.

Instructor

After leaving her position as an art teacher in the public school district and on the flipside of a serious illness, Colette Odya Smith came to her art career midlife. Since then, she has built an award-winning practice, complete with Master Pastellist recognitions from multiple societies. In the classroom, she creates an atmosphere of trust where everyone learns together through listening, looking, sharing, laughing, and eating chocolate. When not making work, Colette loves to travel, garden, connect with her grandchildren, and watch black and white movies.