Class Price: $1400 for 5 days of class and 6 nights lodging.

This will be my first workshop focusing on large scale work. This is thanks to the expansive facilities at the hacienda, as well as the 5 day work week. This will be the only workshop of its kind this year. It will be the closest look you can expect to get at my process, ideas, techniques, and methods. With techniques that promote introspection, through random actions, methods and expressions, we will build up and break down and edit multiple mixed media paintings over 5 days. The perfect amount of time to take on a project of large scale and really get a feel and full experience of how to best engage in these techniques. There will also be plenty of time to step away or into the pool to get a fresh perspective on our work.

Each day will include various painting demos on techniques and engagement in the creative process.. most pronounced will be learning to see our work as it happens rather then seeing it before it happens. For me this is the truest and most fluid way to engage in ones work. through layering editing and accessing our steps we will learn to let go of our inhibitions and find our truest selves in our work while learning to paint free of tension. The biggest piece of the puzzle to becomming a great artist is to enjoy your process so you are driven to create and push yourself a little bit further each time.

There will plenty of inspiration, space, and time to get the full experience of the primitive abstract narrative. A process of understanding all the bits of influence and quick moments that create our life and ideas yet in many cases these moments seem to go by without notice. My process will offer a way to make sense of what is most important to you on both a base and abstract level, by engaging and reaching for the highest level of freedom in your creation. Changing direction whenever a new path appears, using our hands to actually feel the canvas and paint. engaging us with our materials and the tactical experience of making art. Writting our thougths as they come regardless of what sense they may make in the moment as it is always hind sight that is clearest. This will be the outcome of our finished works a path that twists and turns but in the end tells a clear story of purpose and understanding.

• 3 surfaces between 2x2ft and 2x4ft- heavy paper (bristol, cold or hotpress at least 100lb) or gesso canvas will be best so it can be rolled for the trip home.
• Non toxic acrylic paint ( we will be painting with our hands) primaries - red, yellow, blue, white and black oil pastels - 2 black, 2 white, blue, yellow, red, and any others you may want.
• Clear acrylic medium and a foam roller paper or canvas for collage brushes - (low quality) 4 inch flat, 2 inch flat, fan brush, 1 inch flat.

- For Visual Examples of My Work and Process Please See My Site -
http://www.jessereno.com

Links to Images of Process and Murals
http://jessereno.com/piece/563/grace-mural/
http://www.jessereno.com/feature/2007-07/winnipeg/site.php
http://jessereno.com/feature/2007-09/bumbershoot/site.php
http://www.jessereno.com/feature/2007-04/bmg/site.php

This entire process is based on working in reverse and out of time with our thoughts. This method forces us to learn to see. meaning we see what is rather than the idea of it. Its easy to get caught up with the ideas in ones head. We aim to learn that a plan is just a start point at best and its always ok to change our direction. a rigid plan can confuse us with let downs and expxectations. Just because things arent going as planned doesnt mean they are going poorly, Ive found in my past that sometimes even when things are working out better, it easy to still be confused and frustrated based on the idea that things are not going as planned. Best to not look ar the plan but rather whats happening so we dont miss anything.

This class is not about painting a specific thing or outcome, its more about how we create that is important. The technics can be applied to any style of creation as well as living life. By watching what happens we cansee what is happening above expectations and thus make clearer decisions about the future. Changing direction rather than following a preconcieved idea we came up with before any of the steps had taken place. I like changing my mind. Especially when I dont like my first choice. If somethings not working out it can often be far more productive to drop it and start over then forcing broken pieces together.

Once we realize this our ability to learn becomes less painful and limitless. When mistakes are just eccounters to be corrected, learned from, or left as the perfect accident we learn not to fight or fear our actions. I like to use approaches that shouldnt work this takes away our desire to expect imediate results. We expect less and get more. This brings us back to learning to see rather than expecting to see. This is crutial to openning us to new experiences and in turn rewards us with unexpected results in the process.. this will in time breakdown our ideas and fears of the unknown allowing us to encounter new things with greater ease and less fear.

The truer we become with our desires the more we attain them. Finding what you want in yourself can be the hardest part. After this its basically not giving up and pushing forward. If we move in this manner we eventually get where we want to go. Frustration distracts us and pushes us back. Fun and excitement move us forward. This is why I look for techniques and approaches that are stress free, physically and mentally fun. Constantly learning to try something new, look, see, wait, and then decide with a fresh eye what you really see. Its amazing what a fresh look can show you.

Within this process it is the questions you ask yourself that are most meaningful. Let these guide your creativity and help you find what your looking for. Learning to know your steps when you see them. Changing your mind and direction when needed. Make choices patiently, deciding what exactly is not working and what is then move forward by eliminating what doesnt work with a new choice. Continue in the this manner and your work will inevitably move forward and work itself out organically and naturally. Overtime you will develop a style and techniques that are meaningful and very much your own.

By searching out meaningful directions and imagery you will maintain excitement and reward in your creations. It is meaning that creates the feeling of accomplishment. We accomplish things that mean little to us every day and we dont recognize or care to remember them. Its the interactions with meaningful outcomes we remember. When we include this level of meaning and importance in our work it becomes very powerful. We gain confidence in our work, as well as ourselves and even learn to see ourselves more clearly.

Using the wrong brush hand utensil etc is always a good idea it insures low expectation - the reward of getting more then expected is very motivating. This will also force us to learn to look clearly and stop us from expecting to see something else. Its easy to overlook things when we have expectations. Using akward utensils devolps technique by default. Color inconcistancy using small brushes for large areas creates diversity of color without even trying an organic active field is created effortlessly while blocking out we create depth and variation. In the opposite direction using a large brush for a small area forces us to bevery focused. It in time breaks us from thing everything needs to be so exact as it is in our minds it forces our details to be come out loose no matter how tight we make them. After reviewing enough work created in this way it will be easy to see and understand its not so important or procuctive to be tense and exact when seeking to achieve something that is loose, fluid, in more emotional than precise. Once you get over not doing what you expect you will see very free renderings of your intentions.

Mixing color. Mixing color. Mixing color. You dont end up with variation of color without mixing. The quickest way to engage in this is on surface mixing. Dipping betwen two or three colors mixing each time you go to get more paint is a good idea. The color will be similar yet vary keeping things from looking flat or drab. Its not neccasarily alot of extrememly different colors that make things brilliant its a few with alot of subtlty. To create distinct seperation use opposites always opposites. For me it all breaks into hot against cold. Red, yellow, orange, pink, against blue, or green.

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