Las Vegas Workshop Announced!

I just completed one of my workshops last weekend in Denver. We had a great group and a lot of fun drawing together for two days! Class artwork above.

I just announced one final workshop for 2023, this one taking place Dec 2-3 in Las Vegas. You can register for a spot here. The Lovely Anna is having knee surgery in early 2024, so there will be a pause on my workshops from then until probably the late spring or early summer. I MIGHT be able to get one squeezed in in early January before Anna goes under the knife. We’ll see.

People ask me why I don’t do these workshops online via Zoom or similar instead of going through the time, effort, and expense of traveling around and doing in person classes. Anyone who has actually taken one of these workshops can tell you the reason why… the joy of simple, human interaction.

There’s something different about people physically gathering together to participate in a workshop like this. There is an intangible something that you just do not get online, even via videoconferencing. First, it’s a major time and expense commitment for the student, and that guarantees they are serious about participating fully. No one comes to these workshops casually. They all want to learn and advance their skills, no matter what skill level they are at. That kind of attitude is infectious, and it energizes the entire group. Secondly, seeing the work of the other artists and getting their feedback on your work is another dynamic that adds to the value of the experience. There is always an atmosphere of support and encouragement in these groups, and even the most novice of artists feel welcome and appreciated. Thirdly, and not the least important, the group gets to know one another after intensely drawing together for two full days, and all leave feeling part of a community they want to keep in touch with.

I enjoy doing these, even if the travel and logistics of setting these up and doing them can be exhausting. I like working with a small group, getting to know them, and drawing with them in person. We have a workshop alumni Facebook group, and many students keep in touch there by sharing their latest work, or just looking and enjoying the work others post. Others keep in touch via email. It’s amazing how sharing an experience like this creates a bond that can last long after we’ve all gone our separate ways.

I know taking one of my workshops is expensive and time consuming, and that makes it impossible for many people. I am still going to develop an online version of the workshop that will consist of a series of on-demand videos and an optional personal critique of a student’s work. Once CLAPTRAP is done, I’ll be turning my attention towards that online workshop and hopefully have it ready sometime in 2024. However I will not stop doing these smaller, intimate, in person workshops. They offer something that no online class or lessons can. The interaction of the group makes it an experience, and those are priceless.