Frans Aeyelts - Workshops

Workshop in Provence, April 30 to May 14, 2012

From 30 April until 14 May, 2012, we are organizing a Drawing/Painting workshop around Arles, Provence, Southern France. You will be in the heart of the area where the great impressionists, Henri Matisse, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin painted.
This is a lovely time to explore Provence, avoiding massive tourism and oppressive heat.
We will draw on site (2 small drawings per day) and paint these images in the studio the following day. For further information refer to the link: www.globalj.org/Frans.html

"Paint Your Favourite Scenes",
with Frans Aeyelts

Are you at this stage in your development as an artist where you would like to enhance your skills in drawing and painting, but don't know where to start? Do you need assistance in transforming your favourite photographs into paintings?

Frans Aeyelts of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia also conducts workshops, which are designed to help students paint their favourite scenes from original photographs. His aim in the workshop is to assist students in developing their own style. Once a workshop is organized, he requests that students send him an enlargement of each photograph intended for the use at the workshop. Prior to the workshop, Frans gives advice on composition, design, colour and centre of interest. At the workshop, Frans offers individual attention and hands on support to students who desire some assistance in transforming their favourite pictures into their own paintings. The goal at "Paint Your Favourite Scenes" workshops is to send each student home with completed paintings.

Frans is available for one, two or three day workshops. Students who are interested in having a workshop conducted in their area may contact him at 902-634-8918 or by e-mail info@fransaeyelts.com
Mailing address: Frans Aeyelts, PO Box 803, Lunenenburg NS B0J 2C0.

Frans offers art lessons Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and every other Saturday, from 10 am to 1 pm, October through May (9 am - 12 noon, June through September). Cost per class lesson is $25 or $150 for 6 lessons. Private instruction: $30 per hour.

During classes, drawing is taught involving such topics as: perspective, design, composition, shading, etc. The second half of each class is devoted to watercolour techniques. The aim is to complete one painting per class.

Please read Frans' essay "Everyone Can Draw".

Upcoming workshops

• Unless otherwise indicated...the following workshops are all held at St. Andrews Hall Community Recreation Centre - 6955 Bayers Rd, Halifax, NS. Going west on Bayers Rd. (toward Bayers Rd Shopping Centre), turn right at the first driveway after the lights at Romans Avenue. Free parking available.

• There are 12 spaces available for each workshop based on a first-come first-served basis. To register for workshops call 902-634-8918 or confirm by email: info@fransaeyelts.com. Fees: $50 per person per workshop. Payments can be made by cash or cheque. Your space will be confirmed upon receipt of your payment. PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO FRANS AEYELTS, PO Box 803, Lunenburg, NS B0J 2C0. Each workshop requires a separate cheque as the cheques will be cashed at different times.

• Time: 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, lunch break included. Please bring your own lunch and snacks. Water available in machines.

• Please bring all your DRAWING and PAINTING materials (see material list).

• For each workshop, handouts are distributed which describe in four easy steps how to initially draw the subject. On the reverse side are the step by step instructions on painting each scene. The first two hours are devoted to the drawing aspect, then there is a lunch break, after which the subject is painted along with instructions and comments.

Workshop Schedule

Thursday, September 15, 2011
Early Morning Reflections

The oppressive humidity is no longer burdensome. Indian summer is ahead of us, with warm days and cool nights. Enjoying the cottage on the lake, the barbeque and the canoe are the simple pleasures we look forward to. While the mist still hangs over the lake, two people are ready to set out for an enjoyable time.

Primarily painted in mauves, with some complementary yellows, the focal point is the red canoe, leading your eye via the floating docks to the cottage. It's a very simple concept... which fits well within this scene.

Thursday, October 20, 2011
En plein air drawing and painting workshop

This workshop will concentrate on developing your drawing skills in an outdoor or indoor setting. Through clear and concise, step by step instruction, drawing on site will demystify this topic. You will draw small scale sketches, approximately 4" x 6", revealing "the big picture", without going into detail, which is a very common trap. All sketches are done with pencil and pen, a stomps can be used for shading. The idea is to keep it very simple!

The simpler the sketch, the greater the visual impact it will have, consequently the easier it will be to paint it. Don't forget: a good drawing seldom results in a bad painting, a bad drawing goes nowhere. You will be surprised what this will do for your observation and drawing skills. If you want to read a bit more about this, look at everyone can draw on my website.

Small sketches can be directly photocopied, enlarged, or traced onto watercolor paper and painted.

What to bring along: A small folding seat or chair, a sun-hat, sketchbook, (110 Lbs. paper weight preferably), pencils,(2-B, 4-B and 6-B) an eraser, a stomps, various pens, fine tipped and broader tipped ones. (A "double Sharpie" is great !).

If you paint on site, then add the following: a small paint tray (make sure your paints are not dry and crumbled, spray them with water the evening before), 1 small round, 1 medium round, 1 medium flat brush, and a small water container, paper towel, some tissues, and a bottle of water.

Location: The Cenotaph, Parade Square, downtown Halifax. In case of inclement weather, the workshop will take place at: Saint Andrews Community Centre, 6955 Bayers Road, Halifax. Please take along some of your favorite photos from which you can draw and paint. Make an effort to select uncomplicated photos.

Thursday, November 10, 2011
Autumn Colours

Autumn in Nova Scotia is for most of us our favourite season. It is nature's splendid finale, before it retreats into its long hibernation.

This is a typical one-point perspective leading your eye through fall's gorgeous colours towards the undefined distance.

The basic complementary colours: blue-orange, red-green and yellow-purple, are all found in this scene with the first mentioned complementary colours dominant, giving the painting a crisp quality echoing this lovely season.

Thursday, December 1, 2011
Midnight Barn Party

Design and paint your own season's greeting card for email. Surprise your family and friends with your designed card and message.

No paper, no envelopes, no stamps, no wastage, no hassle — and it is very green. They'll love your unique creation and may elect to download or print the image as a keepsake!

In this image, the cold moonlit night is warmed by the cheerful barn-party atmosphere. Painted in almost monochromatic hues, the reds of the barn punctuate it, enhanced by the warm yellow-lit windows reflected on the snow. A touch of green adds to the festive season. The party goers give it the human element extending the anticipated cheer. Wouldn't you like to be at this party?

Thursday, January 12, 2012
After the Snowstorm

The sun is out on this cold day after last night's snowfall, leaving everything covered in a blanket of fluffy snow. Few people are out, except this hardy couple walking their dog.

Warm colours offset the cool blues and mauves. The white spaces, fringed by the soft blue edges, play a great role giving the painting "space". Most shapes are merely suggestive.

All workshops include detailed handouts with step-by-step drawing and painting instructions. Full size 10" x 14" drawings are included which you may use to trace the image directly upon your quarter size watercolour paper, if you find the drawing aspect too challenging. You can use the handouts as many times as you wish, change the composition, colours or alter any aspect you fancy. Photocopying the full size drawing onto "cardboard stock" paper, allows you to experiment with colours and brush techniques in an economical way. Glue the paper onto "foam board" with spray adhesive. This way it doesn't buckle and your end results will be better. Inquire at your local photocopy centre whether their copiers will copy the image onto your pre-cut watercolour paper, i.e. 11" x 17", or smaller. Have them print the image on both sides! This will enable you to execute multiple paintings in a short time.