"Capturing the Essence"
Summer Wildlife Art Workshop 2008

Led by Julie T. Chapman
in conjunction with the Triple D Game Farm

** Planned workshop schedule **

 WE PROMISE: you will be exhausted, exhilarated, and inspired to go home and paint after this event! You will obtain fabulous reference material that can't be gotten any other way, and you will have the benefit of one-on-one and group time with Julie for critique and discussion. Come and join us for this unique event in the beautiful Rocky Mountains!

 
* group events in the afternoon and evening will be held at the new Triple D conference room!
Wednesday 6/25/08   Arrive in Kalispell by Wednesday evening, as we will start early on Thursday morning. 
Thursday 6/26/08 ~6:30 AM Meet at the Triple D office and head to the day's location.

 

7:30 AM on Photograph several different animals; go for coffee; return to the conference room for sketching and critiques
Noon  Lunch break

post lunch until 4:30 or 5:00 PM
  • Drawing session from slides, with assistance/critique (the infamous 2-minute study sketches!!)
  • Group critique: participants bring slides of current work
  • Marketing / art discussion (if interest)
  • More in-depth drawing / development
5:30 PM -  Dinner, either as a group or separately
Friday 6/27/08 6:30 AM - 4:30 or 5:00 PM similar to Thursday's schedule; we'll continue each day's in-depth art exercises in a progressive fashion, always emphasizing drawing and values
Saturday 6/28/08 6:30 AM - 4:30 or 5:00 PM similar to Friday's schedule
Sunday 6/29/08 6:30 AM - 2:30 or 3:00 PM The focus today is on sketching and drawing only, though we may photograph one species in the morning. We will also debrief the workshop and our learnings.
   
 BEFOREHAND: Please be thoroughly familiar with your camera and how best to use its settings. Shooting animals - even captive ones in a controlled setting - can be challenging and require fast responses from both you and your camera. If any of the following describe you:
  • Shoot with an all-in-one digicam rather than a digital SLR
  • Shoot all your images in P (program) mode and don't understand exposure settings (metering, shutter speed, aperture)
  • Shoot only jpegs, and have no idea why anyone would want to shoot in RAW format

....then I strongly urge you to read a basic book on digital photography, such as Scott Kelby's The Digital Photography Book (only $12 at Amazon), before coming to the workshop. If you don't, you may wonder why your black bear becomes gray in your photographs - so take a little time to learn about photography before attending the workshop.
 

   
WHAT TO BRING:
  • 3 images of recent paintings on a CD for group critique and discussion
  • Camera gear (see below in "Camera Gear" for more detail)
  • Plenty of memory cards; Julie shoots with a 12 GB, 8 GB, and 4 GB card always available (and in Camera Raw format, NOT jpeg!)
  • Art gear (see below in "Art Gear" for more detail)
  • Tips for the Triple D staff (they work their butts off getting us great photography!)
     
  • Lightweight layers - summer mornings and evenings can be cool in the Rockies.
  • Hiking boots or sturdy shoes - we will have very short walks (50-100 yards) on rough terrain at some of our filming locations.
  • Water bottle, sunscreen, hat
  • A sense of humor and a realization that we are working close to animals and nature...which can mean going behind a bush to pee during the photo sessions!
   
CAMERA GEAR
  • Digital SLR - you can use a digicam, but most models don't allow you to change important settings such as exposure and shutter speed.
  • Lens - an 80-210 or similar lens is ideal; I shoot with my 100-400 almost exclusively at Triple D
  • Plenty of memory cards - I shoot with a 12 GB, 8 GB, and 4 GB card always available (and in Camera Raw format, NOT jpeg!). One winter workshop participant was always in a panic trying to drain off her card between shoots - don't chance it.
  • Extra camera battery - always. Don't take chances on this.
  • Small buttpack pack or vest - comes in very handy for the cards, lenses, and batteries
  • Monopod - very useful to support the camera during our several-hour shoots
  • A spare camera body - a very good idea!
  • Digital wallet or laptop - to drain off your cards in the evenings
   
ART GEAR

Exercise

Materials

2 minute sketches
  • LARGE sketchpad, at least 11x14, and preferably larger (eg, 16x20)
  • Dark chalk or conte - NO fussy, pointy pencils!
  • Chalk or conte in a different color for our "correction minute" after each sketch
  • Bring LOTS of paper: we'll do many 2-minute sketches, as well as longer sketch studies
Toned-paper exercises
  • 5-7 large (min. 11x14, preferably larger) pieces of medium-value toned paper (color doesn't matter)
  • Chalk or conte in both black and white
Monochrome paintings
  • Black and white in your preferred medium (acrylic, oil, etc.)
  • 3-4 painting supports (min. 11x14, preferably larger) - canvas paper or panels are fine, as these are exercises, not finished pieces
  • Brushes - the larger the better! I'm notorious for pulling little brushes away from my students and making them use #8s, #12s, etc.
  • If you normally use mediums or modifiers, bring what you'd like.
    Please let me know if you want me to bring solvent to the workshop (so you can avoid traveling with it)
IMPORTANT NOTE: Filming schedule and species offered in the workshop are subject to change, due to animal health and welfare or to changes in state and federal permits and regulations. That said, we will do our level best to provide quality photo and sketch sessions with a variety of exciting and popular animals!