“Artist Friendly” Perspective
Drawing & Sketching Architecture at the National Building Museum
Friday–Sunday, March 28–30
$300

For this weekend workshop, visiting instructor Nick Raynolds isn’t approaching perspective with math-heavy theory, but based on the premise that this essential tool of naturalistic painting is all about identifying and describing a convincing depiction of space.

This workshop will be taught both in and out of the classroom, revolving around a trip to the National Building Museum. Students should have some drawing experience. In addition to their drawing or painting materials, students should also bring a piece of plexiglass, around 8″ × 10″, and a black felt-tipped marker.

Here’s Raynolds’s plan for the workshop:

On the first day of this workshop, we will be in the studio talking about the theory of linear perspective and composition. I will present a slide show and lecture in which we will discuss master paintings of architecture and an outline of the principles relevant to the subject. In the afternoon I’d like to get everyone to do at least one drawing of an invented space; we’ll work through this together in one-on-one critiques.

The next day we’ll spend the day on location at the National Building Museum in DC, where participants will pick a location and work up a drawing all of Saturday and Sunday morning. I’ll be coming around to everyone and offering individual critiques. On Sunday afternoon, we’ll have a class wrap-up back at the studio, look at everyone’s efforts, and tackle any lingering questions.

Occasionally you’ll find art students, both beginners as well as those more advanced, who are surprised to find that linear perspective applies to more than just drawing buildings. Though we will be focusing on architecture, the study of linear perspective deepens one’s understanding of other subjects such as still-life and the figure (see George Bridgeman for example) and is an essential component to representational painting.”

Register here for this workshop!

About the instructor: Nicholas Raynolds’ formal studies in art were conducted in Düsseldorf, Germany; Vancouver and Halifax, Canada; Seattle, WA and in New York at the Water Street Atelier and Studio 126. Raynolds has taught in New York at the National Academy School of Fine Arts, The Art Students League of New York and the Long Island Academy of Art. He has also taught at the Gage Academy of Art (WA) and Studio Incamminati (PA). Mr. Raynolds has exhibited nationally and abroad and can be found in national and international collections, including The Forbes Collection (NY). He is represented by the Eleanor Ettinger Gallery (NY) and the John Pence Gallery (CA) and Haynes Galleries (TN). His work has been published in American Artist: Drawing Magazine; The Artist’s Magazine; American Art Collector and on the cover of John Updike’s novel, Seek My Face.