2025 Lorenzo Chavez Workshop
PAINTING LANDSCAPES INDOORS
Two-Day Studio Workshop
The workshop is conducted between hours of 9am to 4pm. We will try to cover all the Fundamentals of Landscape Painting topics during the days the workshop is held. Shape design, four value planes, notan design, color inspired by the 3 types of natural light and atmosphere. Atmospheric and linear perspective, line movement, edge design and color harmonies.
Students are asked to bring 10 – 15 printed photographic references or on your smart devises; and/or Plein Air Painting sketches for indoor use.
DAY ONE
– Discussion of materials for painting in pastel and oil.
– Utilizing Photographic references and field sketches.
– Discussion on the use of design stems, notan, center of interest, leading the eye through a painting, simplifying, and composition.
– Thumbnail compositional studies
– The use of four value planes in nature
– The use of the Golden Section and rule of thirds.
– Black and white design studies of major shapes, notan simplifying and design with masses.
– Studio demonstration incorporating the topics discussed during morning session.
– Starting your designs and paintings afternoon session.
DAY TWO
– Discussion of values and color and their application on atmospheric perspective in painting.
– Color—the color wheel, color harmony and working with a limited palette.
– Edges—the study of edges in nature and analyzing their contrasts.
– Reflected Light—what causes reflected light and their color effects.
– Sky Light—sky lights affect the colors of nature. (Outdoor Demonstration)
– Form—the five degrees of light and the use of edge control to create form.
– Demonstration incorporating these topics and review of topics covered during Day One.
– Review of the work
Pastel Workshop Supply List
Pastels
Largest assortment of colors possible; Rembrandt pastels are a fine pastel to begin with; conte crayons, earth tones. A great pastel box for working in the field is the Heilman box.
Paper
Bring your favorite pastel surface. I enjoy using Canson Moonstone and Art 400 sanded paper. For studio classes, work larger 12 x 16, 16 x 20.
Drawing Board
In the studio, bring a drawing board for 12×16 or 16×20 sheets.
Small sketchbook
8.5 x 11, bring a black broad tip marker
Masking tape
1″
Kneaded eraser
Paper towels
VIVA is a good brand.
LORENZO CHAVEZ
Lorenzo Chavez was born in New Mexico. His inherited connection to the colorful and historic Southwest as well as seeing the Taos Society of Artists works as a young boy was the catalyst for his art career. He graduated with honors from the Colorado Institute of Art in 1983 and continued his art education at the newly founded Arts Students League of Denver starting in 1987.
Chavez has been an active professional fine artist for 40 years. He has participated in many national invitational group exhibitions. In addition, he was featured in a successful one-man show at the C.M. Russell Museum. He has participated successfully in several C.M. Russell Art Auctions and Coeur d’Alene Art Auctions. His work is featured in articles in Southwest Art, Artists of the West, Pastel Journal, American Artist, Plein Air Magazine and Art-Talk, The Denver Gazette. Books include, Pure Pastel 1&2, Pratique de Arts France, Colorado Landscapes, Beautiful Landscapes Painted Outdoors.
Chavez was raised in Albuquerque and has an affection for the surrounding vicinity. He has many fond memories of time spent hiking and running in these areas and feels that it was a major influence in his decision to become a landscape painter.
His suggestive renderings and fluent technique in both oil and pastel have earned him numerous awards and many devoted collectors throughout the United States and he is considered by many to be the west’s premier pastel painter. He has been the recipient of awards and honors from such notable groups at the Pastel Society of America, California Art Club, American Impressionist Society, the Russell Art Auction, numerous pastel societies across the United States, Society de Pastelists France, the C.M. Russell Auction, and Artists of the West Pioneer Museum.
Chavez is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America, Signature Member of the California Art Club, Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, and the Pastel Society of Spain. He was also a member of the Northwest Rendezvous of Art and a past Signature member of The Plein Air Painters of America,
Chavez’s work is featured in six galleries in the United States and is included in many prominent Private National and International, Corporate, University, and Museum Collections such as The Western History Collection in the Denver Public Library, Children’s Hospital of Denver, Phippen Museum Arizona, Mesa State University Art Collection, The Children’s Hospital Denver. Hockaday Art Museum Montana, Koshare Museum in La Junta.