Desert Colors
Unlock the secrets of plein air painting in the beautiful saguaro filled scenery of the Sonoran Desert with award winning artist Bill Cramer. Daily demos and discussions will illuminate a variety of approaches that can be used to create meaningful studies and finished works. Bill will offer real time critiques of your efforts with an eye toward expanding your artistic sensibilities. Classes will take place outdoors in the composition rich deserts surrounding Tucson.
More Info
All Welcome
Takes place outside of Tubac
About Bill Cramer
I grew up in the west and have always had an interest in exploring nature and creating art. As a longtime rock climber, I spent (misspent?) much of my youth enjoying the more vertical aspects of the landscape. After receiving a University of California fine arts degree, my wife Michelle and I moved to Arizona to be closer to the scenery we both enjoyed. It was there that I discovered the delight and challenges of plein air painting. My plein air work, along with my outdoor adventuring, has provided me insights into the landscape that I bring with me back to the studio.
I work in a style best described as Impressionistic Realism, where strong brushwork and colors are used to express the vitality and beauty of the natural world. I look for a balance between the actual scene and my reaction to it – not to paint precisely what I see, but to paint what I want the viewer to see. Every landscape is greater than the obvious visual elements. The push of an evening breeze, the feel of sun baked sandstone, the scent of sagebrush or the sound of a raven suddenly overhead are examples of the many unseen elements that inform my work. I’m satisfied when a painting is as rich as the landscape that inspired it. My goals are to keep exploring the southwest’s wild places, search for new ideas and express what I find exciting about landscapes and about painting.
Selected Shows, Competitions & Awards –
• Oil Painters of America Annual Salon Show (2018), Landscape Award of Excellence.
• Phippen Western Art Show (2018), Best in Show, 1st in Oils and Art of the West Award of Excellence.
Bill – thank you for a great workshop. I enjoyed your insights and skillful instruction. I learned that hard edges and soft edges interact with the eye in different ways – I didn’t know that! Thanks for all the valuable tips. Your generous sharing is appreciated.
I was honestly and completely satisfied. Bill was prepared, generous with his time and knowledge and attentive to each students needs regardless of their level. His enthusiasm was infectious and I believe everyone left the class a better painter with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the landscape.
Bill Cramer was mindful of the environment and took great care of our surroundings. He is an awesome instructor. He took the time to explain geology of the canyon when necessary that helped us understand how to paint and compose our paintings better.
Bill provided but with information on the geology and history of the area. It was incredibly helpful when, in class, he built on that foundation. Bill taught specific painting techniques, various approaches for composition under a variety of weather conditions and ways to simplify the structure visually. I found all of it very helpful.
Bill, It’s been a wonderful, enlightening and enriching couple of days! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. I will carry this valuable information in all my plein air painting. Best
Hi everyone,
Everything Steve said was just perfect. All I can add is that I have been a fan of Bill’s work (and Bill too!) for probably about 10 years. Coming to a workshop of his has been a bucket list item of mine for probably 1/2 that time. But I was very nervous about not having enough “brush miles” to even be a participant, but everyone was just lovely. So this past weekend was sort of a dream come true for me with the most delightful bonus – the aspect that I couldn’t have imagined was that I would also get to spend two amazing days with some of the most supportive and encouraging artists anyone could hope for. I look forward to following everyone’s work and hope we get the opportunity to paint together again one day.
Just a short note to all my new friends and a thank you to Leslie, Tim and of course Bill! I had a wonderful time, learned a lot and came away truly inspired. The world looks different this morning!
Good luck to you all and keep painting!!!
Address
4 Calle Iglesias, Tubac, AZ 85646
PO Box 5112, Tubac, AZ 85646
workshops@tubacschooloffineart.org
Phone
520-398-2589