MASTERING IMPERFECTION is my most complete courseware to date and, as a result, you will receive many hours  of the latest materials and techniques not only for putting brush to paper, but for the mental and emotional game necessary for creating individual art that has depth and personality.  Letting go of your fears, embracing what you previously labeled as mistakes, building confidence through practicing in a way that focuses on being open to discovery and, ultimately, freeing yourself to become the artist you want to be.

Interpretive portraiture is the conduit through which ideas will flow in this course, but what we will be exploring goes far beyond that and can be applied to other creative endeavors.

It’s critical to understand that mistakes are crucial to advancement.

The focus will be on process and emphasizes individual expression. I will guide you through the process of painting intuitively and expressively and in doing so will share the valuable things that I have learned through my many years of practice. Every move, every mark, every color choice has a purpose, a reason for being and will be seen as an experience, a path to something else, a part of the process.

This course is delivered in 5 Master Modules, all of which are broken down into lessons and exercises that will deliver hours of focus and enjoyment.  All in all, there are 35 different sections.

And right now, there is a Bonus Lesson that will help advance you even further in your aim to become the artist you want to be! 

The Modules have been pre-recorded so you can view them on your own time, at your own pace, and re-visit them as often as you wish.  It’s yours to work through….again and again.

Also, the courseware is expressly designed so that after each pre-recorded module, there is an opportunity to post individual comments to which I will respond. 

The Course Objectives are designed for you to master:

• An approach to painting that will become yours, and yours alone
• Loosening up
• Embracing mistakes that lead to more feeling, interest and depth in your work
• Different ways to utilize tools and mediums for assertive and confident mark making
• Maximizing small blocks of time to increase momentum to move your work forward
• Becoming proficient at interpreting, abstracting and expressing the portrait in a number of ways
• Building layers for a deeper, richer, more sophisticated look
• The courage to  tweak, modify and edit your work for its maximum effect
• The Art of Color Mixing
• The Concept of Composition

And much, much more!

Module 1

Module 1: Introduction x Supplies x Proper Mindset for Success

During this course, and beyond, I will make recommendations for supplies about which I am passionate and that are practical for achieving excellent results for the suggested exercises. Of course, you always have the freedom to use these recommendations and/or to explore new supplies that you find, or with which you have found your own comfort. 

Mindset is arguably the most important tool in your toolbox. In order to approach your work in your most creative state, it is important to let playfulness and discovery find their way into your process. We’ll discuss this and learn new ways to loosen up, tap into your intuition and embrace your individuality.

We’ll do lots of warm-up exercises. This is exactly as it sounds. We will begin with fundamental warm-ups that encourage you to put tools to the paper; to loosen up, to play.  And I’ll show you a way to take it a few steps further to start a painting with collage and confident bold mark making. 

Module 2

Module 2: Staying in the Game

As with everything I do this lesson focuses on momentum and the value of contemplating and practicing when you have limited time. Observing, doodling, drawing, experimenting will all contribute to moving your work forward. We will discuss strategies for this notion of “Staying in the Game.”

You will learn various techniques for finding your inspiration.  It’s everywhere.  You just have to learn how to look for it, and how to receive it. In this regard, we’ll look at other artists’ work and at our surroundings.  Color, shape, composition and texture are abundant, if only we pay attention.

We’ll also:

Mix lush colors intuitively and in so doing will make color swatches and collage material, providing endless ideas for future palettes and paintings.

Learn how to maintain momentum over time by practicing your drawing skills, with an emphasis on varied mark making.  

Module 3

Module 3: Your Skills Will Set You Free

I strongly believe there is great benefit to putting the portrait aside for a moment to work on “the fundamentals.”

We will spend significant time discussing why I believe this to be true; we will discuss the critical nature of color, shape, texture and composition.

I’ll demonstrate how limiting your color palette, and shifting and manipulating your colors can lead to beautiful, harmonious color palettes and how ultimately, it can improve your work.

I will demonstrate two different ways to begin an abstract painting and you will get a feel for how liberating that can be.

Module 4

Module 4: Play Like You Practice

There are innumerable ways to interpret one reference image. I will work with you to understand this concept and will demonstrate ways that you can create a variety of paintings from the very same image.  

I will paint 5 different paintings, in fact, which should provide a guidepost for you as to how to expand your thinking. The possibilities are limitless. You’ll see.

Module 5

Module 5: More Practice; More Paintings

I will paint 4 more interpretations of the reference as I demonstrate how to continue to search and discover.