The Story of Light

ARTISTS DON'T JUST LEARN HOW TO DRAW--THEY LEARN HOW TO SEE.

And what we see is all about light. How it behaves, what it illuminates, how it governs representational art.

This Tuesday, I'll be teaching an online class about how light hitting a form allows us to see its dimensionality.

​If you're an artist, you'll learn to render anything using simple principles of light, without having to take a long workshop or slog through hours of YouTube videos. You'll come away with a simple and effective understanding of values, color, and rendering.

​If you're not a creative, and you just want to learn how artists see, you'll find this fascinating. Who knows, maybe you'll want to pick up a pencil and try it for yourself!

​Either way, it's affordable (only $30), short (just one hour), and informative for anyone.

It's TUESDAY, 11/11, 5-6 PM PST ONLINE

​(If you can't attend, just sign up anyway and you'll have access to the replay so you can watch it later.)

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My dad was the original inspiration for this class, oddly enough. I say that because he wasn't exactly dad of the year. But he was a good teacher. His students loved him. And he knew how to convey a lesson that had lasting impact.

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I was sitting in the car with him one day when he told me we can't see light. I couldn't have been more than eight. When he said that, it didn't seem right to me.

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"But Dad, I see light over there, coming down from the clouds!"

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He smiled and said, "No, what you're seeing is light illuminating particles in the sky."

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Then I thought of something else. "I see light right there, at the end of your cigarette."

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Foiled again. "No, you're seeing flames consume tobacco." He blew smoke out of the car window and said, "We don't see light. We only see what light illuminates."

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He was a lighting professor at Kenyon College, a school that was known for its Drama department--so he knew what he was talking about. And I had to concede he was right.

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We don't see light. We see what light illuminates. And capturing that on a 2-dimensional canvas is how we make it look three-dimensional.

I like to think I inherited some of my dad's penchant for teaching. I know that I'm a nerd about lighting and art! But I think I've found a way to explain values in art that anyone can understand. It's how I start every painting class. And it's fundamental to creating representational art.

More info and registration HERE.

With Love and Light,

Maggie

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PS Whenever you’re ready to start working with me, here are three ways:

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1. Feeling stuck or lost in your work? Watch Uncover your Purpose as an Artist to reconnect with what motivates you to create.

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2. Do you sense you have some creative masterpiece inside that’s dying to get out? Get access to the program that helps you develop and complete a brilliant series of work that you’re proud to display. Hit reply with the word "Series" and I'll send you more info.

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3. Not sure where to begin? Feeling shy, insecure, doubting your path? Schedule a free 30-minute consultation and I’ll ask you the single most important question to help you become the artist you’ve always wanted to be.