Patreon Online Education Program

Hello fellow artists and welcome to Patreon! I want to tell you a bit about me and why I've set up this page.  My pastel journey began in 2011.  Burned out in naturopathic medical school and ready for a change of scenery, I left Seattle and moved to the town of Sebastopol in the San Fransisco Bay area.  Throughout my life art was a constant companion, whether I was actively drawing and painting, or just thinking about art, and all the amazing artwork I would create "when I finally had enough time."   I had decided in 2011, at age 27, that art was to become a priority in my life and not just a fantasy, or a dream I would eventually pursue.  That year I traveled throughout the west and southwest attending workshops with some of my favorite pastel artists.  Pastel painting became an obsession, and I'd spend 10-12 hours per day thinking about painting, watching videos, reading books, and ultimately attempting my hand at painting.  Many of those first pieces, probably the first 75-100, were utter failures.  They were cringe-worthy, but I had caught the painting bug, and the subtle improvements I saw in my work were motivation to keep with it.  I heard the words of more experienced artists emphasizing that time at the easel was the way to become a better artist.  After that year of total immersion, I finished my degree and picked painting back up in 2014.  Though life has become very full over the last several years (wife and kids, dog, house, medical career...the dream) I have always made painting a priority.  With this commitment, I have had the good fortune to win several international awards including the Award of Excellence (2nd place overall) in the 2018 Pastel 100, 3rd place overall in the 2017 Annual Plein Air Salon, and 1st place in the 2017 UART Pastel Paper Online Exhibition, and awards in the Pastel Society of America 2017 and 2018 annual exhibitions.  I've also been fortunate to be featured in articles in a number of publications, including Southwest Art, Plein Air Magazine, American Art Collector, and the Pastel Journal.  And recent exhibits in 2019 include a group museum show at the Brinton Museum in Wyoming and a two person show at Kathryn Turner Fine Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.   One thing I always wished I had when learning to paint in pastels was a mentor, an instructor, somebody I could turn to when I felt stuck or needed support.  THAT is why I started this Patreon page.  In-person workshops are not always feasible, often fill up fast, and can be  expensive when you add up travel, hotel, food, and workshop fees.  Further, my focus is shifting from teaching in-person workshops to this virtual teaching format.  It's no longer sustainable for me to teach 10-12 workshops per year, help raise two young kids, and continue my medical practice.  So something had to give!  And quite honestly, I get frustrated with the weekend workshop format.  I get to spend 2-3 days with an artist, really get to know them, witness their artistic breakthroughs, and potentially never get to work with them again.   What I am offering through my page: My number one goal as a painting instructor has always been and will continue to be helping you achieve your painting goals, whatever they may be.  Whether your goal is to be an internationally known pastelist, or an artist who paints for the sheer pleasure of producing something with your hands, I want you to feel as fulfilled by your art as I have been over these past 10 years.  The graduated tiers I am offering run the gamut from video demonstrations to personal one-on-one mentoring.