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These two classes were an inside look on how the very talented and creative instructor Connie Furgason sees life around her. It was an exploration into the world of representational art, suggested images and more concisely, Connie’s favorite mantra, the essence of what the subject revealed. With the simplest of brush strokes, using her favorite papers and a few minor brush manipulations everyone in both filled to capacity classes was successful in turning out some beautiful pieces.
Connie took us through the process of observing nature from its most realistic form to interpreting it as the essence of an object. We literally were lead down the garden path with actual walks into the street to observe and appreciate the shapes, colors and textures of flowers, trees and bushes as they grow in their natural state. Then with gentle coaching and Connie’s expertise, we were all taught how to represent these items by just capturing their essence.
We learned how to hold the brush to lay in color, and just how much water we nee ded to use on our brushes to get the desired effect. What we were trying most of all to avoid were the sequential brush strokes that make a painted object look like a colored- in- the -blank -space project. With just a few simple and easy stokes we learned to create beautiful flowerpots, brick walls, rock walkways and flowers. As part of the curricular Connie gave us a number of exercises to follow which were not only fun but yielded some very pleasing results.
O n the first day we drew a number of geometric shapes and then easily turned them into ordinary recognizable objects. We used watercolor to bring these objects to life. Another exercise was drawing a rectangle and placing connecting multi-directional lines throughout the box. We then made small circles within the converging lines and the result became an irregular stonewall. We were now ready to take the journey with thin black marker in hand around the pots, bricks and flowers “as if we were tiny bugs exploring the shape of each of these objects”. This s uggested definition enhanced what we painted.
Seeing Connie’s current artwork and much of her previously painted vignettes and little books, along with all the other materials she brought for us to examine, one coul dn’t help but get the feeling that here was something beautiful we would never forget. Her warm subtle colors and interpretive objects leave the viewer with a willingness to trade the laws of reality and detail for the instinctual essence of an object.
Lest I forget, Connie introduced us to a wonderful new word- WONKIE. It’s fun to say and I’m sure we’ll get much use out of it as it describes something that’s gone astray, not working or goofed up. Now say it, smile and get back to creating good art!
Marsha Vanetsky
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