Mark Mehaffey Returns from France-June 29, 2007
CCP artist/instructor Mark Mehaffey took a lucky group of students to France. Here is a short description of the experience written by Mark!
The trip went off without a hitch, the group was willing to try 
everything I presented both conceptually and technically. They ranged from a beginner with just a month of drawing/ painting experience to folks that had been traveling and painting for years. There was so much to see and do that the hardest part of me was finding enough down time to actually 
paint. As an instructor I tried to cover all the bases for a painting and exploring trip…how to use the view finder of the camera to start the Artistic process, using the sketch book to record both written and graphic ideas of “place”, using the sketch book to define value and shape in preparation for painting,and using photographic references as a source. We actually brought a small printer so we could print a few photos everyday, it worked well! Demo’s included using watercolor over a pen and ink drawing, simplifying shapes and assigning value from photo references, Painting on site to “capture the essence”, using 
gouache to add the light ( the beginners really appreciated this lesson as they did not have to worry about “painting around” the lights a necessary procedure with transparent watercolor.) , using neutrals and neutralized color to create mood ….and the biggest lesson of all…how to eat all that fabulous French food and not gain a pound! -Lynn-