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William E. Elston

Lectures & Workshops

Intro

Lectures & Workshops

William E. Elston is available for lectures and workshops. Here are a list and brief descriptions of potential lecture and workshop topics. Lectures are generally 1 - 2 hours. Workshops can be one day or up to three days.

Lectures

The Shape of Things - realism and contemporaneity

Contemporary Realism is part of a tradition that spans nearly two centuries. This lecture discusses why Realism is still a compelling philosophy for artists, and what its relationship to Modernity is.
The Place Where Mind Dwells - plein air, environment, community

The past three decades have seen a burgeoning interest in plein air painting, with groups both amateur and professional sprouting up all over the globe. This lecture presents a survey of plein air painting worldwide, and discusses the ideas behind its practice.
Shape of Content - the study of methods and materials

The past century saw a marked decline in the study of painting methods and materials, in favor of radical experimentation and fugitive novelty. At the same time, beginning in the early 20th Century, the systematic, scientific investigation of the physical construction of paintings was undertaken by the professions related to art conservation. At no time in the history of painting have artists known less about the interactions of the materials that they use, their physical properties and their persistence through time. Yet at the same time the most accurate information available is right at our fingertips. This lecture provides a practical introduction to the literature of art conservation for artists.
Digital Marketplace - artists online

This lecture is a wide-ranging discussion of the tools available on the Internet for self-promotion, networking and research. It covers the various kinds of information available and the tools necessary to take advantage of the unprecedented array of opportunities that the wired world presents.
Exploding Canons - the invention of art history

This lecture deals specifically with the construction and dissemination of canons, their use as a means to effect social and economic goals, and why we should be skeptical of canonical narratives of art history, especially as they pertain to the present.

Workshops

The Big Light Effect - Plein Air Painting Workshop

This workshop lasts between 3 and 5 days, with an emphasis on traditional plein air practice. Work takes place in the field, with ongoing demonstration and individual critique.
Inside Out , Outside In - Studio Practice For The Plein Air Painter

Often the plein air painter must rely on studio work to bring paintings begun in the field to a successful conclusion. This workshop deals with the various techniques and technologies that make that possible.
Hit and Run - The Sight-Size Method, In Drawing And Painting

Sight-Size is a method of working that was utilized by John Singer Sargent, Edmund Tarbell, William McGregor Paxton, and many other Nineteenth Century painters. It is also an excellent training method for improving perceptual acuity. The technique is fully explained, with lots of hands-on practice.
Color Intensive - A Perceptual Approach

How do we see and represent the color of the natural world? This workshop provides the tools for doing just that, in a spontaneous, improvisational approach that does not sacrifice accuracy or realism.
Different Strokes - Mastering Bravura Brushwork

What are the various styles of brushes for, and how does one use them in painting. This practical workshop deals with both the history of the paintbrush, and their method of employment.

Calendar

Workshop Calendar

This calendar lists lectures and workshops being offered by William E. Elston. For information regarding exhibitions and events, please visit the exhibition calendar on my painting website. This calendar does not list plein air classes, as that schedule is only available to enrolled students.