In this workshop, Vanessa will guide you through the main concepts of art that you would learn in any of the fundamental classes in art school, great for beginners. For intermediate artists this is also a very useful and fun class, reviewing and improving your skills in a supportive environment and then taking it to the next step with Vanessa’s one-on-one guidance. If you missed anything in your artist journey, you learn and gain the technical skills here!

Knowing and applying the core fundamentals of art is essential for creating a successful work of art and building a successful art career. You will learn to construct still-life items from basic shapes such as circles, squares, and cylinders. You will progress to more complex items and add more details with line working first in charcoal on newsprint, we will give you some solid foundation drawing skills for still life. Next, we will learn about values, the subtle changes from darkness to lightness that help give things volume and look 3 dimensional. We will work with Gouache paint on paper and focus on value changes initially in black and white. We will end with basic color theory and mixing, learn about color harmony, and complimentary colors, and paint a few still-life items in color. This is all designed to give you the core fundamentals you need!

Instructor, artist, editor/writer, curator, lecturer, and art dealer Vanessa Françoise Rothe was classically trained in fine art at Laguna College of Art and Design and has been a graphic designer, and professional working artist, exhibiting in top galleries and museums worldwide. See full bio below or visit her site at vanessarothefineart.com

Day 1

First we will be using charcoal on newsprint then gouache (Oils ok for intermediate artists. If they already are intermediate and paint in oils, those students can then use oils, but must bring their own oils and substrates.) Vanessa will do multiple short demo’s drawing at her easel, after which the artists will attempt the same drawing right away. Using a centerline, combing basic shapes to make objects, the concept of “ drawing through”, seeing planes etc. Hand outs will be given, or downloaded to their phones.

LINE First creating basic circles and straight lines and quickly turning them into well proportioned line drawings of still life items. Students will draw cups, plates, and organic round and odd shape fruits for basics to start. Emphasis is on training the hand to draw correctly and understanding what they see. Rothe will give drawing tips and tricks, … key shortcuts that only artists know!

VALUE We then review value and shading. Rendering to create volume. Starting ONLY in black and white at first. This is done with charcoal on newsprint. Students will be taught to read value in greyscale, with charts. value ideas and how to shade. Important focus given to SEEING light and shadow on the objects and adding core, cast shadows as well as light and mid tones. VIP!

PAINTING- We will begin to paint in black and white only the first day. Creating our own greyscale value chart that we can each use to refer back to as well move forward. Keep this value chart in your studio and use as you progress.

Day 2

Painting with COLOR! More discussions on rendering to create volume, and we will learn the basics of color mixing. Using 3 basic colors red, yellow and blue, plus our black and white we will learn to mix secondary colors and how to tint and shade those colors to create clever value puddles in color.

We will learn the importance of this PRE mixing 3-4 values and paint sill life items with color. Later we will discuss Warms and cools, complimentary colors etc. This day will include larger still life items and various sizes.

A few composition concepts will also be covered as well at the end of the day. Such as grouping the rule of thirds, varying depth and size. How to light your still life and set up different size objects.

The instructor will supply charcoal, gum erasers, newsprint, 2 paint brushes each, gouache paints and individual plastics pallets and high quality watercolor paper.

Oil painters must bring their own materials.

Once a successful Art Director/Graphic Designer working with Disney Press, Walter Foster and Sony, Vanessa Françoise Rothe has turned to a more traditional color palette for the past 23 years, as a professional editor/writer, curator, art dealer, lecturer and fine artist. She has owned and operated Vanessa Rothe Fine Art at 418 Ocean Avenue in Laguna Beach California for the past 12 years, showcasing her work as well as many of the top international artists in contemporary realism and impressionism, both in her gallery and in collaborations with celebrated galleries and museums worldwide. Rothe currently lectures, writes editorial, paints, offers workshops and demo's and curates innovative large scale exhibitions, and continues to make her mark in the world of art.

Rothe was born in Hollywood and grew up in the artists’ colony of Laguna Beach, California, the daughter to a fashion designer father and linguist mother. She first studied Business Marketing and French literature at the University of San Diego, and UC Irvine, graduating with top honors. She then received a scholarship for her classical art education at the Laguna College of Art and Design, achieving Dean’s list honors once again. She then started her fine art career with three successful solo exhibitions at Wendt Gallery in Laguna Beach in 2002,2003,2004 and was included in the Richard Schmid Fine Art Auctions. She was later included in an exhibition and listed among the ”Artists for a New Century” at the Bennington Center for the Arts in 2012 which further helped her make her mark. Her work has since been included in important exhibitions at top galleries and museums including: Arcadia Contemporary NYC, Abend Gallery, The Richard Schmid Fine Art Auctions, Galerie Prince d “lOeil, Paris, Galerie DDG in Paris,The Salmagundi Club, J.WIllott Gallery and Coda Gallery Palm Desert, The Laguna Art Museum, Paul Scott Gallery, AZ, The American Impressionist Society Annual Exhibitions, The Bowers Museum, the California Museum of Fine Art etc. Rothe's fine art work now appears in the permanent collection at the Hilbert Museum of California Art. Vanessa is a member of the American Friends of the Musée D’Orsay, a Signature member of the American Impressionist Society and served as its Educational Director for 4 years, an Artist member of the renown Salamagundi Club NY, and artist member of Oil Painters of America.

Owner VRFA Gallery

Curator, Editor, Lecturer, Artist

Contributing Editor for American Art Collector + American Fine Art Magazines

Monthly Columnist for International Artist Magazine

Art History Lecturer Hilbert Museum CA

Artist Member + PR Committee Salmagundi Club NYC

Signature Artist and 4 year Educational Director American Impressionist Society 2014-2018.

Published Author of “An Art School Approach to Oils” beginner book with Walter Foster Publishing

Founder Americans in Paris, Fine Art and Fashion and Realism Without Borders Exhibitions and Events

West Coast Editor Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine 2002-2018

There is limited accommodation available at Willow Pond House. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Willow Pond House is a private residence and you will be hosted by Carol and Jean Paquet and an on-site chef. Select your workshop under the tab of the room of your choice and the number of nights is automatically calculated for the workshop duration. If you choose to stay on site, your reservation will include breakfast and dinner. This is a separate booking from the workshop and is accessible under the GUEST ROOMS menu tab on Willow Pond’s website.

In addition, there are numerous AirBnB’s and VRBOs within a few miles of the property. We also recommend hotels in Pismo Beach and The Agrarian Hotel in Arroyo Grande. Both of these locations are less than a 10-minute drive.