By Amy Beck, marketing and communications manager
There’s something mysteriously magical about the
unfurling of a leaf.
Wendy starts the week with examples. |
Botanical artist Wendy Brockman led workshops for
teens and adults, gallery walks, and painting demonstrations during her six-day
residency at the Woodson Art Museum, thanks to a Community Arts Grant from the
Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin.
One man drove from Madison to learn how to paint feathers during Saturday’s class.
Those who pulled up a chair during Wendy’s
in-gallery demonstrations on Sunday saw her make precise additions to a
painting of her grandmother’s elaborate feather hat.
Watercolor painting of feather hat |
Others who joined her gallery walk, felt samples of
vellum which is a form of leather made from calf, goat, or other animal skin. A
shipment, she explained, arrives in the shape of a calf, but she assured
visitors that vellum is made from the “leavings;” animals aren’t killed to
harvest the skin. Artists praise vellum as “forgiving” because paint from an errant
brushstroke doesn’t soak in the way it would on paper so can be scraped safely
away.
One workshop participant said she was surprised and
delighted to discover it possible to learn essential skills – rather than be
born with the talent – to create botanical paintings.
Even while conveying practical advice (always test
color by dabbing your brush on a scrap of paper to prevent a too-dark color from
covering the lines of your drawing), Wendy alluded to the intrinsic magic of
botanical painting. “Mixing color is the fun part,” she said. “It’s like mixing
potions.”
Wendy works with Linda Haney. |
Even so, all participants produced lovely work, each
reflecting aspects of their personalities, from delicacy to effervescence. That
individuality – evident in each artwork and captured on paper – will endure
even after the season’s flowers fade.
P.S. You can see artworks created by Wendy Brockman and
workshop participants on view at the Woodson Art Museum through August 26.
Wendy’s work is installed in the gallery adjacent to the Museum’s main
entrance; workshop participants’ work is installed in the gallery adjacent to
Art Park in the lower level.
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