Instructor:  Steve Chmilar

Title: Drawing Imaginative Realism

Medium: Drawing media (graphite, charcoal, pencils)

Level: Beginner to advanced.

Drawing experience is recommended, however, any ambitious beginner is welcome if they are open to a mind-expanding challenge.

Dates: July 1-4, 2024 (4 days: Monday-Thursday, 9am to 4pm)

Fee: Early Bird—$550; $600 after February 29

About the workshop

Steve will deconstruct one of his masterful drawings while simultaneously guiding you to reconstruct it for yourself. His creative process draws on references from art history, narrative inspiration, actual building of sculptured maquettes. Along with thumbnail sketches and compositional planning he experiments with photo shoots, lighting and digital editing. This workshop functions as a condensed atelier experience. 

“In this workshop, I will demonstrate in detail, how I invent other-worldly narrative scenes. From the first thumbnail sketches, to larger sketches, photography and digital compositing, followed by many hours of fine rendering. My goal with this workshop is to make sure that everyone leaves with an abundance of new technical skills and a mindful of inspiration and new ideas.”

The first two days will be full of fundamental drawing exercises. By the third day we will start to prepare our final larger drawings on toned paper by compositing parts with the instructors help. This will lead to a final fourth day of review and time to render details in the final drawing. 

Supplies list

Download the supplies list for the workshop.

About the instructor

Steve’s teaching style is patient and encouraging. “I strive to make a learning environment as relaxed as possible while giving out a lot of information. A light-hearted, low-pressure space that is full of positive energy is the best place to absorb new ideas and experiment”. 

Steve Chmilar is one of Canada’s foremost New Contemporary painters. Since his debut show at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in 2011, he has painted full-time by selling his work internationally to private collectors. In 2012, he won best in show at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit (Canada’s largest juried exhibition) and Prix De La Meilleure Oeuvre (Prize for Best Work) Mtl en Arts in Montreal. He has been featured on HiFructose.com, John Dalton’s and Andrew Tischler’s popular YouTube art podcasts. His work was recently shown at Beinart Gallery in Melbourne Australia, Jonathan LaVine Gallery in Jersey City, Figure Ground Gallery in Seattle, Modern Eden Gallery in San Fransisco and the Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles. While not working in studio to keep up with his art collector waiting list, Steve enjoys teaching one day per week to help build and foster a greater relationship with the local art community.

On the web

Visit the artist’s website at: stevechmilar.com

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