July 28 - August 1, 2008
(Space still available)

NEW CLASS! We are bringing in the energetic G Bjorn Thorkelson to teach a portrait workshop. Not only does his striking artwork sell well, but about half of it sells to other appreciative artists!

Thorkelson is an accomplished and enthusiastic art instructor. He currently teaches both head and figure painting at BYU Idaho while continuing his illustration work and keeping his galleries well stocked. Thorkelson made the Top 100 in the Arts for the Parks Show in 2006, and continues to do well in other exhibitions he enters.

After graduating with honors from Art Center College of Design, Thorkelson went into illustration to practically support his family while working toward his ultimate goal of becoming a full-time painter. Now, he grins every time he turns down an illustration job because he’s too busy painting. “I always knew what I wanted to do,” he said. “At some point, I just had to go for it and paint for myself.”

His 12 years as a full-time illustrator served him well in obtaining a foundation for his artwork. “I’m passionate about what I do. I wake up every day with a new hope of creating something special.”

Bjorn’s enthusiasm, energy, and talent are sure to rub off on his students in this great new class. “This is not work for me, and I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing!”

See more of Bjorn's work at Wilcox Gallery

CLASS DESCRIPTION:Students will apply the alla prima method while learning to apply proper size, angle, and position to achieve a likeness. A study of values will help simplify the complexities of the face into planes and limit the number of values necessary to create form. Students will also explore color in terms of warms and cools and learn to achieve proper atmosphere and color harmony in a painting. Proper composition and soft and hard edges will also be treated.

The real learning happens in the first few hours of painting a head. For that reason, students will paint two heads a day to avoid being bogged down in the details.

TUITION: $475