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| “Edge of the Storm” by Spike Ress |
The Independent
Parowan painter Spike Ress will conduct a three-day painting workshop in Cedar City at Color Country Art Supply from Thursday, May 21, through Saturday, May 23. It will focus on building a strong foundation upon which to confidently begin and finish paintings. Each day, the workshop will begin at 8:30 a.m. with painting demonstrations and lectures in a a studio environment. Weather permitting, the afternoons will be spent outside sketching and painting.
Ress will cover topics including the guidelines of good composition, understanding color and light in landscape painting, simplifying shapes and understanding what you see, and laying down a foundation quickly and confidently. Participants can expect individual help, group demonstrations, and critiques.
Born in Long Island, NY in 1948, Ress had early exposure to the world of commercial art through visits to his maternal grandfather’s studio at Grand Central Station. Though his Air Force family moved from place to place, these early impressions never left him. In the 1960s, his family transferred to New Mexico, where Ress began his art career working for a local sign company. He quickly gained the skills needed to advance into better positions in new locations, eventually becoming art director for a major sign company in Las Vegas.
In spite of success as a commercial artist, Ress had felt the pull of fine art ever since first holding a brush. Weekends and vacations were devoted to the pursuit of his own artistic development, traveling with paints and camping gear to find the diverse landscapes that inspired his work.
In 1978, he left commercial art to pursue painting full time. He began with a focus on watercolor, a medium he still finds challenging and exciting. After gaining national acclaim as a watercolor artist, Ress added oils to his repertoire.
“I find the contrast between the way one must handle the paint and brushes in oil versus watercolor stimulates me to more creative and expressive use of both media,” Ress said. “No matter where I am, I try to respond with direct honesty to what is before me. It is my aim to capture the way a scene feels, not just the way a scene looks. Whether it’s the bright light of a hot Utah desert or a misty cold day in Alaska, I hope to communicate that feeling to the viewer.”
There is a $270 fee for the workshop. As space is limited, please send a $100 deposit to Carol Foster, 344 S 3450 W, Cedar City, UT 84720 to ensure your spot.
Color Country Art Supply is located at 390 South Providence Center Dr., Ste. 3, in Cedar City. For a list of suggested materials, please visit www.spikesart.com/workshop. For more information, please contact Spike Ress at [email protected] or (435) 477-8297. To contact Carol Foster, please call (435) 267-2163.
