Illustration Master Class Day 4

[IMC09 DAY 4 PHOTOS]

Day four's theme: Holyshititsthursday!

It's both more panicky and more sociable today. Not that it hasn't been sociable before but today's realization that the week will come to an end has pumped up the volume of work and support.

My biggest regret of the week may be missing 98% of Robert Sweeney's lecture and demo today. I knew I missed something right away when walked in and saw that Greg looked like a kid who just met Santa. Sweeney is a local landscape artist with a great ability to articulate the act of painting. The one point I did catch was Sweeney describing painters as dramatists -- every shape, color, value, and object can be seen as a balance of protagonists and antagonists, often changing roles as you paint or view the picture.

The afternoon lecture was by guest instructors Dennis Nolan and Gary Lippinicott, focusing on watercolor painting and children's books.

The evening lecture was by Charles Vess. One of the the great things about this combination of instructors is having so many equally valid yet contradictory styles and methods. Dennis and Gary (along with most of the full-week staff) spoke a lot about planning, sketching, and reference. And then Charles comes along and talks about minimal planning and referencing. More than anyone else, Charles seems to let he picture find him. Calmly sketching and letting the narrative elements, colors, and value grow into place...with the confidence that he can wrangle them in when necessary.

With only three days left, the late night hours have been met with even more frank critiquing, more talking, more painting, a bit more junk food, caffeine, and a dash more wine and whiskey. The push is on.

Tony Deterlizzi dropped by for a few minutes today. Tomorrow we have Jon Foster for a lecture and demo. Saturday is business day -- lectures from art directors at DC/Vertigo Scholastic, and some place called Tor Books. Sunday...frantic touch-ups, open studio, and sad goodbyes.