Oil Painting with Judy Nocifora at Memphis Botanic Garden

Oil Painting with Judy Nocifora

February 21 and 22, 2015

At Memphis Botanic Garden

Contact: Registration Line 901-636-4128

Saturday 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., 

Sunday 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

All Levels Welcome.

Loosen up and learn to paint expressively! In a fun, stress free

environment, this class features a brief orientation and demo of the “Alla Prima” method of painting from life which includes the process of composition, values, edges, and color harmony. Participants will paint their response to a composition, using big brushes for confident brush work and

a palette knife.

My goal is to help beginners get a good start in painting with oils and for

intermediate painters, to you take your work to the next level! Instructor

Judy Nocifora is an award winning artist, whose work has been juried in

local and regional exhibitions. She has traveled and studied with some of

the top contemporary Master Artists. Learn more about Judy at

www.judynocifora.com.

Supply list provided upon registration. Prepayment due by February 18.

MBG members $75/non-members $95. Call 636-4128 for more information,

supply list, or to register.

Inspirational and Fabulous Atlanta Workshop

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a workshop with fabulous painter and instructor, Jim Richards of Atlanta, Georgia.  I met Jim a few years ago at AIS (American Impressionists Show) in Carmel and again when I've attended America's Great Paint Out in Apalachicola, Florida for the past two years where I got to watch Jim in action on the plein air circuit.  For sure, there is much to admire about this guy's painting ability, but there's even more to admire about Jim for his natural ability as a really fine teacher!  Jim is so present with you when he is at your easel and really digs into what's going on in the painting… the good and the not so good.  I know he took me to another level and there were many "aha" moments for me!  I can't thank Jim Richards enough.

Here are my efforts during this three day workshop.  I learned so much from painting these landscapes and had a blast!  Inspired beyond words!

'Til the Cows Come Home

18x18 oil on linen

©Judy Joy Nocifora

Provincetown Morning on Commerce St.

18x18 oil on linen

©Judy Joy Nocifora

From Cape Cod: Good Morning America!

24x20 oil on linen

©Judy Joy Nocifora

"Journey West"... wrap up

"The Artist's Cottage" by J Joy Nocifora ©2011

6 x 8" oil on linen canvas panel

The rest of Jennifer's workshop was, of course, all about applying what she teaches. I mentioned in my previous post that prior to using color, I painted a preliminary value study using white paint and mixing three values of grey paint. Then, I transitioned out in the field, to making a quick pencil, thumbnail sketch and then using three "cool" grey markers for the value study. The lightest would be the white of the paper and next was a 20% grey marker, the middle grey was 70% and the darkest grey was 90%.

This is a very cool, very necessary step before starting a plein air painting.

On the last day of the workshop, the group went to a charming location, The Farm at South Mountain on our last two workshop days. I was enthralled by The Artists Cottage and I used the side of the cottage as my last painting. Inside the cottage there was a little kitchen and all the rooms were artist's gift shops. Charming!

Finally, I must tell you that this was a wonderful experience. Jennifer McChristian is a fabulous instructor. I enjoyed meeting artists from Minnesota, Alabama, , Arizona, California, Washington, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. The weather was glorious and the landscape was so different from my home state of Tennessee. The Scottsdale area is beautiful!