North Carolina 2004
 

I am sitting here in my hotel room in North Carolina. It is 11:45 p.m. of day #3 (not including the introductory famous lecture

Wow Janel,

Good for you! Please keep us all posted about your workshop experience as our reporter in the field.

Thanks in advance,

Garth

A few months ago, when I introduced myself to the forum, I made the comment that I would like to meet Marvin someday. I wrote this because I had a very strong feeling, after reading his posts, that he was the teacher to help me reach my self inflicted high goal of being an excellent portrait painter someday.

You can read this in the Introduce Yourself section, Marvin wrote back to me "ever hear the phrase, be careful what you wish for?"

I am careful and I can honestly say, I will never regret writing what I did, because, for the next few months after writing that, Marvin generously gave of himself by answering my emails and taking my calls to help me with my questions. I was even more convinced that I needed to study with him in person so I signed up for his workshop in North Carolina.

So, here I am, in Durham and I have 4 days of the workshop under my belt. So far I have been extremely impressed with the amount of new information I have learned in such a short amount of time. Marvin not only loves painting, but he loves passing on what he knows to help others. And here is the really great part. He is an extremely gifted teacher. Not all great artists are great teachers.

Up until yesterday, I was stuck. I knew what I wanted to do in my own paintings, but I didn't know how to get there. The big un-sticker for me was learning how to use Marvin's palette. Now when I am stuck, my answers will be in front of me in an organized and logical way.

If you can't tell, I am very much enjoying my learning experience at this workshop and so far it was worth every penny I paid to attend, and I have two more days to go.

Yipee!!

Hey, look who I found. Anyone recognize this guy?

So nice to see Patrick's smiling face again! Did you get him to play the piano for you? And who is the lassie?

Janel it is great to hear you enjoyed and learned a lot at the workshop!

I love the picture with Patrick! I'm glad for all the ladies he ended up bringing his kilt, I hope someone had a camera at dinner one night! ;)

I am looking forward to seeing some of the work every completed during their busy week.

Linda,

Yes, Patrick did play the piano for me during the very little off time we had. Fortunately there was a piano in another room of the building we were in, it was a real treat for me. He is a very talented musician .

Ahhhh yes, the lassie. You reminded me that I do not have a photo of myself on the forum so all of you readers have no idea what I look like. I am the lassie in the photo with Patrick.

Beth,

Words can not express how much I learned at, and enjoyed, this workshop. Thank you, again, for the helpful information you gave me back when I was deciding if I should go to it or not.

If anyone out there is contemplating whether or not they should study with Marvin, do not waste any more time or mental energy on the question.

JUST DO IT!

I will be brave and post my painting. I would like to preface it by stating this is only the second time I painted from life so don't hold this against Marvin. I am confident that the rewards from information I got from the workshop are yet to come. To Marvin's credit, though, it is 100% better than my first attempt.

I watched Marvin's demos more than I painted so this is not a five day effort. If Marvin had a paint brush in his hand, I was behind him watching. That was so valuable to me. This is more like 2.2 days worth of painting time.

Be kind.

Oh, one more thing.......I am the lassie in the photo. :)

What a lad he is--and how he can put away the Guinness! He and I consumed several pints last year in Scottsdale. Please give him my very best.

Gary Hoff

Gary,

This workshop is over now so, unfortunately, I can not pass on your best wishes. But, Patrick does frequent the forum; hopefully he will read it himself. If I hear from him though, I will pass it on.

Janel

Here is a group photo. (My model is the lovely young lady in the lower right corner, hope you could tell) :bewildere

To TK and Irene, (who are also SOG members) If I had enough courage to post my painting the two of you should post yours with pride. Both of yours were really, really good, in my opinion.

The whole class produced really nice stuff, but most are not members of this site or I would have extended the invitation to them as well.