FROM SEEN TO SCENE:
FRAMING YOUR VISION
With heavy hearts, we share the news of the sudden passing of our beloved instructor and mentor, Randy Sexton.
Randy's passion for art was matched only by his dedication to sharing his knowledge with others. He had a unique way of connecting with each student, guiding them on their artistic journey with wisdom, patience, and genuine care.
In honor of Randy's enduring legacy, we will transition his mentoring course into a self-study, self-paced format. This change will enable us to preserve his valuable teachings and make them available to all who aspire to learn and develop their artistic skills.
We will soon launch this course and invite you to join us in this journey of learning and remembering Randy's remarkable contributions to the art world.
WORK AT YOUR OWN PACE
SELF-STUDY COURSE
WHAT’S INSIDE
INTRODUCTION
“The world is your oyster!” (so they say), and that’s one mighty large pearl, to say the least! Inspiration can be found anywhere. It’s all around us. This course is designed to encourage artists at all levels to explore new ways of seeing the world around them, to recognize the potential subject matter in everyday scenes, and how to translate that into paintings that share one’s unique vision. Whether the scenes are inspired by exotic travels, memories of a favorite destination, or simply your own backyard, the success of any painting relies on a solid understanding of the basic principles of picture making in tandem with your creativity and passion.
MODULE 1 | COMPOSITION
We will review the fundamentals of painting with an emphasis on you as “The Designer”. A strong Composition is key to a successful painting, so we will start there. An understanding of Design, Value Structure, Focus, Contrast, and Basic Color Relationships will be the first thing in your toolbox to create more depth and clarity in your work. I will illustrate these points in a painting demonstration and discuss how to implement these all-important principles.
MODULE 2 | EXPLORING IDEAS WITH QUICK STUDIES
Exploring ideas, gathering references, following your passion, and sifting through them is the next part of the course. With constant attention to design potential, we will discover how to simplify, edit, and critique the reference destined for larger studio paintings. Quick studies or plein air sketches will inform your decisions leading to more resolve in the finished work. I will share some simple, but practical, methods to approach your studio work with more confidence and ultimately more success.
MODULE 3 | MANAGING FIGURES
We will focus on how to add figures correctly into any subject matter, either by including figures either in a broader scene or as a focus. We will explore why incorporating figures in the planning process of your painting is important. They need to have a good reason to be where they are as the eye is invariably drawn to them. I will illustrate this in my demonstration where I showcase a subject with multiple figures that require various light, shadow, and color harmony so they appear authentic while keeping detail to a minimum. By the end, my hope is you’ll be excited to place figures into your next painting instead of avoiding them altogether.
MODULE 4 | STUDIO WORK
We will dive deeper into how to develop larger paintings implementing the principles reviewed in the prior modules. Now it’s time to have some fun and really push some paint with intention. In addition, we will also explore various palettes as options in the process, address paint quality, build texture, practice loose brushwork and finish with techniques for working into a painting over multiple sessions at your easel.
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“Randy’s course is fun, and full to the brim with excellent painting tips, you’ll learn a process that allows you to paint whatever you like and enjoy it. Randy has an amazing way of sharing his knowledge. I would say this course is money well spent for artists serious about progress. Randy is a master artist with a gift for teaching. Lots of exercises, examples, step-by-steps, and critiques. Don’t miss out on this big value.”
“I hadn’t put paint on a brush for years. I just didn’t know the first step or how to begin that transition. Randy’s guidance dismantled the mystery of art-making into such simple, easy, understandable, and practical bite-size learning. I went from thinking, “Wouldn’t it be fun to practice painting once in a while?” to actually seeing myself as an artist. This journey would have felt impossible before I started. The transformation that has occurred for me is extraordinary.” Thank you for being a wonderful teacher, Randy, and to TAAO for creating this course!
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