Encaustic painting is an ancient process that dates back to 5th century BC. Pigmented beeswax is heated on a griddle and applied to rigid panels with brushes. The results yield luminous, richly layered work that has its own unique character. Students will learn classic encaustic painting techniques and explore how to combine them with contemporary processes, such as surface embellishment, image transfer, incising, collaging, and creating marks and images with oil paint, pastels, markers, and inks. It is an ideal complement or stand-alone process for oil painters, printmakers, collagists, sculptors, watercolorists, and other artists. So that students can continue their exploration of this versatile medium on their own, this lab provides information on supply sources, setting up a studio for encaustic work, safety guidelines, framing, and exhibition considerations.
Request ProgramGuidelines and Booking Info: Visual Arts Workshops and Performances
The VMFA Statewide’s Visual Arts Workshops and Performances are designed to stimulate greater community involvement in art and to provide opportunities for individuals to work closely with noted professional artists of exceptional talent. These artists have been selected for the merits of their work, their serious commitment to professional excellence, their teaching experience, and their communication skills. The many types of workshop and performance options allow the sponsor the flexibility to schedule programs that meet specific audience needs, and to satisfy different levels of skills and/or experience. To request a workshop or performance, simply click “Request Program” under the program description and complete the Form.
Fees and Costs
For each visual arts workshop, there is a non-refundable materials fee of $150 mailed to VMFA on receipt of an invoice near the date of the presentation. Performances are $250.
VMFA Statewide pays the artist’s fee of several hundred dollars and covers gas mileage.
Driving distances can occasionally necessitate that the Partner provide suitable overnight accommodation and meals for the artist.
VMFA Statewide Programs must be free and open to the public. Partner may suggest the students to pay a nominal fee, termed “Additional Materials Fee” or “Donation.”
Space Requirements
Artist workshops require a well-ventilated studio space with covered worktables, seating, and access to running water and electricity. Additional equipment needs are listed separately under each description. A staff member from the Partner must be present throughout workshops to introduce and assist the instructing artist or performer.
Length: VMFA Statewide workshops are designed to last about 5 hours to be a complete dive for the more engaged art student. The goal is for attendees to have a finished project to take home. Our artists are skilled at developing the students’ creativity with this in mind.
Lunch: Lunch break should be worked out with artist. Some prefer a lunch break, while some are okay with students snacking while working. It is highly recommended that the Partner venue provide lunch for the artist.
Cancellation: VMFA Statewide must be made aware of any type of cancellation at least five days before the event date or the host Partner must pay the fee. VMFA Statewide may cancel the workshop due to inclement weather or artist illness.
Scheduling
Workshop and performance dates are determined in consultation with VMFA Statewide, the Partner, and artist.
Priority is given to Virginia Partners beyond a 50-mile radius of VMFA. Our budget is limited, and our mission is to serve the entire state of Virginia. We invite those Partners within a 50- mile radius of VMFA to apprise their constituents of classes and activities given on VMFA campus.
Any VMFA Partner may host 3 programs per year. If our budget allows, VMFA Statewide can send 4-5 per year, if requested.
Please request a program at least two months prior to your desired program date and allow 2-3-weeks for confirmation. In case of urgencies, we will try to work with Partner requests made as little as 2 weeks in advance.
Availability
Artists and performers should be available July 2024–June 2025, with most available beyond those dates.
Publicity
For the Partner’s use in promoting the workshop or performance, images of the artists and/or their work may be available from the VMFA Statewide representative.
Acknowledgment Requirement
All publicity materials, electronic and/or printed, relating to the artists include the following credit line: This program has been organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is funded, in part, by the Paul Mellon Endowment and the Jean Stafford Camp Memorial Fund.
Audience
Due to the one-on-one nature of the Visual Arts Workshops, there must be a minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 participants. If there are fewer than 10, request approval from VMFA Statewide. For performances, there is no limit on number of audience members.
Checklist of Partner Responsibilities
The success of VMFA Statewide’s workshop program depends on strong audience development efforts, made well in advance of the event. To ensure success, the sponsor’s initial responsibilities are to:
- Email the Artist and VMFA Statewide with a complete itinerary at least two weeks before the program date.
- Have the art room in order and ready to go for the artist upon arrival. This includes any audio-visual needs.
- Have a representative of your organization introduce the artist to the students.
- Become a VMFA Partner (or renew). Simply complete a brief Partnership form at this link. No charge applies.
Evaluation
Within five days after the workshop or performance, the partner must provide VMFA Statewide with an evaluation of the program. These can be emailed to VMFA. Please include information about the attendance figures and publicity arrangements, as well as comments and suggestions on the overall workshop. When this is sent, the partner must include copies of some related publicity and printed materials. Some photos of the event would be greatly appreciated.
Address all questions to:
trent.nicholas@vmfa.museum or call 804-204-2681.
Drawing for the Rest of Us: An Introduction to Drawing
If you can write, you can draw! Drawing is just another form of visual communication, a skill that can be developed by anyone. This workshop is an introduction to basic drawing tools, drawing warm-up exercises, and techniques that can be used to help you build a foundation to experience the joy of drawing.
Request ProgramBotanical Watercolors
This workshop teaches basic watercolor techniques through exercises designed to help the participant understand the different color properties and improve brush control. Information on paper, paint, and drawing techniques used in botanical art will be discussed. Basic drawing skills are required to draw the botanical specimen from which you will paint an elegant botanical watercolor.
Request ProgramAn Introduction to Drawing in the Manga-Anime Style
Do you love reading manga or watching anime, and wish that you could create your own stories and characters? This workshop is for anyone who is interested in drawing in the Japanese Manga-Anime style. Students are introduced to the techniques used by manga and anime artists to help transform their ideas into manga-style drawings. Some drawing experience is helpful, but not necessary for this workshop.
Request ProgramAbstract Watercolor Exploration
Watercolors have the reputation of being the most challenging painting medium. The unforgiving white of the paper and the uncontrollable nature of water make this medium intimidating. Through a series of exercises, participants will learn how forgiving white paper can be and how to control water and pigment. Focusing on color and composition, participants will practice techniques while creating small and large abstract paintings. This class is designed to motivate every participant to love watercolors.
Request ProgramThat’s Me!: Portraits
Who are you? What are the important ideas and symbols that express your wishes, dreams, and everyday life? From Ancient Egypt to modern times, man has used art to record his identity through portraits, self-portraits, and symbols. In this workshop, students use a mixed-media approach, including monoprint, chine colle, collage, and stamping, to construct a self-portrait that captures their identity and puts it on display. No drawing experience necessary!
Request ProgramMobile Glass Studio
Share the unique experience of glass blowing — even add an educational component to exhibitions —with this mobile hot-glass studio, created by artist Ryan Gothrup. This studio can be used for lectures, demonstrations, workshops, or multiple-day residencies.
Request ProgramLooking at Our Lives: A Tile Mural Workshop
n the venerable tradition of landscape, farm, and animal paintings that are featured prominently in the Mellon collection, artist Beryl Solla encourages students to think about the people and things that give their own lives meaning and value. Students identify common ideas and develop images that best represent them. Using broken tile and quick-setting thin set, students design and install a small broken tile mural (approx. 3′ x 4′) in their school or community center. The installation includes designing the mural, drawing it on the wall, breaking the tile (using protective glasses), and placing the tile on the wall. The tile is then grouted and cleaned. A highly decorative and imaginative frame (also made from broken tile) that reflects the aesthetics of the Mellon collection and supports their own concepts surrounds the image(s). The mural is permanent, beautiful, and maintenance-free.
Request ProgramClay Animation Moviemakers
This workshop is for anyone who has ever wanted to make a movie! Students learn the steps used by the pros to go from character creation to construction — and sometimes destruction. Using real animator’s clay, students sculpt original characters, design sets, and work together in small groups to make a three-minute animated movie with sound character voices. Who says a movie can’t be made in a day?
Request ProgramAbstract Mixed Media
Looking to the “father of modern art,” Wassily Kandinsky, and comparing him to 21st-century artists Julie Mehretu, and “Stadia III,” students explore lyrical expression and measured marks as they apply to abstract art. Using a variety of traditional and nontraditional materials as well as a mini-psychological profile and music, students create large-scale works of geometric and organic origin.
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