Session 2

Drawing on the Way to Watercolor

Benno Philippson: June 25 - July 9, 2008  

 
see photos below

Benno Philippson, architect and watercolorist, has developed a thoughtful
system for showing you how to prepare to paint by examining and sketching
the underlying structure of what you see, so that you are ready to complete
larger works in the studio. His travel journals that he will share with you
are jewels of sketches en plein air , tiny watercolors, value and gesture
studies as well as journal entries. In the richness of the Umbrian
landscape, in a different location every day, Benno will support artists of
a wide variety of skill levels to find their own way. Demos will delve into
perspective, composition and form, use of light, color and scale and will
include techniques especially for the traveler who wants to paint on site.
Over two weeks the neophyte artist will find a way of seeing and capturing
on paper that new understanding. The experienced artist will be supported
into expanding personal directions in painting. The media of instruction
will be pencil, ink and watercolor. Those who prefer to work in acrylics or
pastels will still find what Benno teaches to be of value.

Benno graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in
architecture, a master's degree in urban planning and nearly enough credits
in art for a second major. He has been drawing and painting since
childhood--ever since he could hold a pencil or a brush. His works are held
in private collections in the United States, Europe, Great Britain, New
Zealand and Japan. He has taught art to architecture students and still
teaches third graders about architecture each spring in the Architecture in
the Schools program in Portland, Oregon. He regularly shows his work at the
Village Gallery of Arts in Portland and has shown in group and one man shows
in the Pacific Northwest over more than three decades. He is a life member
of Oregon Watercolor Society. Benno is organized, systematic, relaxed,
gentle in his critiques and generous with his time and experience. A past
participant at La Romita, he is delighted to join the teaching faculty for
2008.

Here are some photos of Benno's work: