A Wee Mousie at Carl Purcell's Workshop

Ephraim, Utah's Snow College is the location of Carl Purcell's Summer Snow, a two week workshop for aspiring watercolorists.   Fairbanks watercolor friends Sherry, Dawn, and Phyllis, along with New Yorker friend, Jan, met up with me to attend the 2011 workshop and further our artistic development with Carl's guidance.  Here are some highlights from the second and final week of the workshop.

In spite of the generous art studio work space we have, we still manage to fill up every square inch of the table to overflowing with our STUFF.

Dawn keeps her sense of humor while I invade her space.

Sketches made on location and from photos help refine our compositions and values before we start to paint.

Painting requires many trips to the snack table to replenish our energy.

Emily and Gail take a break from painting to visit and share their thoughts.

George Durrant, along with his wonderful paintings, is a favorite source of inspiration at the workshop. 

Ranita Brazell, Carl's daughter, helps with the workshop and is a fine artist in her own right.  You can visit her website here.

Mr. Buster makes another showing, sticking his nose in Victoria's painting this time.  He's funny, but not as popular as George.

Back to serious work, Carl paints a wonderful snow scene to demonstrate some dry brush techniques.

I paint a similar scene once, 

then again, to practice using the dry brush technique on the trees.

After an afternoon of dry brushing we need to rehydrate and decide to toast Sherry and Dawn's "Headless Trike Boy," found discarded in a nearby field.  They have stuffed wildflowers down his neck and turned him into a table decoration, poor fellow.

After a few more toasts, we enjoy a few rounds of Moose Farkel, a fun dice game which Phyllis has thoughtfully brought along for our entertainment pleasure.  It is fast and furious, but we still don't know what a Farkel is.  We suspect it may be another word for "deposit."

During the last week of the workshop, Carl, with his talented wife Nan and extended family, hosts a wonderful barbeque turkey dinner for workshop participants.  The whole family provides entertainment, with Nan playing piano, Carl and daughter Ranita singing a lovely rendition of "O Danny Boy," and the grandchildren telling jokes, singing, and dancing.

After dinner and entertainment, Susan presents Carl with a wee mousie to help reinforce Carl's advice about not over-stroking our paintings lest we suffer the same consequences Lenny does in "Of Mice and Men" when he over-strokes his mouse friend.  Carl never over-strokes, so Mr. Mouse is safe with him.

This group photo shows workshop participants, with Carl kneeling in the center front (next to yours truly). 

I believe a great time was had by all, and am sure much beautiful art will result from Carl's wit, wisdom, and inspirational teaching at this workshop.  

Thank you Carl!