October 2-4, 2017

The Beauty of Imperfection

Jen Evenhus

Gilded Aspen by Jen Evenus

Jen Evenhus is a nationally recognized, award winning artist. Jennifer's bold use of color is what first attracts the eye. Her subject is often paint itself, fascinated with the painterly effects one can achieve with pastels, or the wonderful transparency and opacity of oils. Whether with oils or pastels, Jennifer enjoys the process of painting as much as completing the work. Always sorry to see the journey end, Jen describes the process as a journey through unknown territory. Even though she has a good idea of the outcome she wants, she is careful not to become locked into an idea, staying open to all those little accidents that happen along the way, careful not to cover them up so the viewer might experience her travels and discoveries. These accidents she describes as unforeseen treasures that give a painting character, depth, and movement. Jennifer's work is often very abstract, using earthscapes as a starting point, she paints out most of the detail, leaving just enough for the viewer to become lost in a new world.

Jennifer has exhibited work in New York City at the National Arts Club; Denver, Colorado at Carol Siple Gallery; Sacramento and Redding, California; New Orleans at the World Trade Center; Coos Bay and Bend, Oregon and Seattle, Issaquah, Everett, and Anacortes, Washington to name a few. She enters and is accepted in many juried shows each year and has numerous national awards to her credit.

The Beauty of Imperfection – Releasing the Expressive Ego

We will use mental exercises to tap into your inner artist, setting him/her free to have fun and experiment with color, shape, line, edges, value and design. You will explore your inner voice, your ego, by letting go of perfection and playing with a variety of materials to create bold energetic, expressive works of art as we step fearlessly into the unknown.  Using timed exercises to loosen up and reveal your innate intuition forces you to use bold strokes with wild abandon, creating happy little accidents and mark-making that reveal your true self and personal style.

Students will work with landscape photos provided by instructor, with their own photo reference, with still life objects, and, weather permitting, do some plein air sketching. Along with a good variety of soft and hard pastels, and good sanded pastel paper, other materials like ink, markers, brushes and graphite will be used. We will use contemporary impressionist, expressionist, and abstract styles as we explore composition, positive and negative space, bold vs neutral color and mark-making.

There will be challenging exercises, instructor demos, one-on-one coaching, critiques, discussions, and painting throughout this intense fun 3-day workshop with PSA Master Pastelist Jen Evenhus.  Come with an open mind and willing spirit!

Check out Jen's website for more inspiration.

Iris 1 by Jen Evenhus

Registration for the Jennifer Evenhus workshop will open on Sunday, March 5, 2017. Dates for the workshop are October 2,3,4 - 2017. Since we expect this to be a very popular workshop, we are allowing PSSW members in good standing to register one week earlier - February 26.  A deposit of $100.00 (refundable until September 2) will assure you of a spot in the workshop. Contact Marie Maines by email (rm_maines@hotmail.com) or by phone (817-503-8371). Deposit checks should be mailed to Linda Smith at 2121 Gent Drive, Plano, TX 75025 - or brought to the meeting on March 5. A phone call or email will hold your spot until the March meeting. The class will be capped at 18. More detailed info will be emailed to registered participants. Please let me know if you have questions.

For more information, call or email Marie at: 817-503-8371 or 817-727-9432

Email address: rm_maines@hotmail.com

Pastel Society of the Southwest website:   pssw.info