Painting Flowers Alla Prima Workshop

Hydrangeas Alla Prima
12 x 16
Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello
$600

Taught a fun, new workshop this weekend at the Art School of Sandy Springs in Atlanta- Painting Flowers Alla Prima in Oil. Shared the approach I like of doing a transparent color block in then coming in with a 2nd phase with opaque paints while the first layer is still wet. It feels really natural to me and helps  the colors to stay clean and beautiful- especially important for painting flowers.

This was the demo painting from day 1- I apologize for the glare, still really wet when I took the photo on the easel under really strong light.

Had a great group of students and really appreciated their openness and willingness to suspend their usual way of doing things to try something new. I've heard the saying from Eastern philosophy that the way one becomes a master is to keep a "beginner's mind".  That is, approach each new learning situation as if you are a beginner, don't have all the answers and are open to soak it in anew without any preconceived opinions. If you come in thinking you already know, there's not much possibility for new learning. 

Tomorrow I'm off to a workshop with Laura Robb, so I will remember to pack my "beginner's mind"  as well to make the most of that workshop experience.