Workshop Frenzy

 

When we walk through the door in the morning to the sound of a ringing telephone, and see that the emails have piled up and there are six new messages on our answering machine, we can pretty much guarantee that Nancy Franke has posted the dates for her next workshop at Huff Harrington Fine Art!

Not only are we so fortunate to represent this talented artist, but we also have the privilege of hosting her tremendously popular one-day workshops.  This is all well and good except when we inadvertently schedule a workshop on Father's Day, and need to reschedule the participants for another time (which Nancy kindly offered to do), creating yet another round of clogging phone wires and emails, and a frenzy of eager participants.

Nancy Franke, Watch Me Go

Luckily, this all turned out for the best, and Nancy had another wonderful workshop at HHFA this past Sunday, painting children's portraits.  And when we look at the work that came out of this workshop, we know what all the fuss is about! In fact, we're so taken with both Nancy's inspirational paintings that she had on hand for the workshop, and by the work done by the artist participants, that we just had to share it with you.

Nancy Franke, Un Peu Curieux

How does she do it?  With these workshops, Nancy starts with a photograph, like this one of a familiar (and adorable) little pink model, who even from the back, coincidentally bears a strong resemblance to her talented grandma.

 

Then she sketches, using artistic license and resizing for the canvas ...

The rough sketch

... and with the loose lick of a brush, she makes it look way too easy!

Let's make her orange instead of pink!

Although we weren't able to stay for the workshop, we've been around Nancy long enough to know that all this is done with tremendous energy, enthusiasm, humor, patience and clarity, which is one of the reasons her workshops are so popular.  And why not?  Look at the fabulous work that came out of it in just a few hours (with the names of the artists shown under the paintings).

Martha Elder

Leslie Line

Elizabeth Lines

Kathy Bowman

Christine Bray

Carol Carmichael

Berthe Mobasser

Jacki Newell

Joann Richardson

So we’re more than happy to have our phone lines light up and the emails clogged when Nancy announces her workshop, because it’s all for a great cause.  Watching Nancy inspire other artists is one of the highlights of our job here at the gallery, just as it was for those of us lucky enough to participate in Bill Davidson’s superb workshop in Provence last month.

Oh and by the way, did we mention that Nancy added another children’s workshop date to the roster this summer?  It’s on July 22^nd …  Yeeeks, there goes the phone!

Ta ta …

HH