WORKSHOPS

Patricia Watwood paints nudes, figures, portraits and still lifes in the classical tradition. Patricia draws on allegorical, mythological, and narrative themes, and wants to continue the classical pursuits of representational painting, with her eye on the contemporary world, to share it with a modern audience. The recurring theme in Patricia's painting is the spiritual human presence of the subjects in the paintings. Whether it’s a “Flora”, or a “Bacchus”, or a portrait subject, she wants the viewer to connect with the spirit of the subject, the soul if you will. One of the central guiding principles of her work is that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. The connection of the spirit between painter and subject, and between the subject and the viewer, shows the resonance of all human interaction. Formal training is the indispensable underpinning of my practice. Patricia seeks to follow and build upon the artistic intelligence and traditions of the past, and bring them anew to her own generation.

Patricia lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. She is excited to be a part of a growing school of New York Classicists that are seeking to create beautiful representational paintings that will add our contemporary experience to the tradition of painting.

Patricia sells through galleries, such as John Pence Gallery in San Francisco, Hirschl & Adler in NYC, and the Grenning Gallery in Sag Harbor, NY. She also does commissioned portraiture, and is represented by Portraits, Inc.

This workshop is designed to refine and strengthen the creative process of artists in two tangible ways: learning how to create a pleasing portrait composition from smaller sketches, and improving technical skills in portraiture and oil.

Students will explore creating narrative compositions by integrating the figure or portrait model within a setting, using costume and props in order to create a narrative theme. Ms. Watwood will demonstrate the development of an initial study using a model and a setting to create a composition. She will discuss strategies for completing a painting based on this composition. Lectures and discussion will explore finding subject matter, possible sources of inspiration, and honing the theme of a painting regards to portraiture and figure painting.