Mastering the Texas Landscape
Painting with Control & Spontaneity
with Mike Mahon
April 13 – 17, 2021
Sponsored by the Amarillo Art Institute
3701 Plains Blvd. #117 • Amarillo, TX 79102

 Beginners through Advanced Artists-Oil, Pastel, Acrylic
Thursday-Saturday 9 AM-4 PM
 Cost $????.00

To register contact Rachel Flores at 806-354-8802 or [email protected]
OR CLICK HERE

 
  Preliminary Videos

Prior to the workshops, each participant will receive links to introductory videos to Mike’s teaching principles which will be expanded on during the worksho

Background

Mike has been a professional artist for 49 years and has been teaching painting workshops for the last 19 years.  He has won many awards for his work including many best-of-shows and has taught and exhibited in various museums in Texas and California. His work is recognized for its strong sense of design and dynamic and painterly use of color and value. He is the inventor of the unique pastel handling system, Mike Mahon’s Pastel Porter™.

Samples of his work and testimonials can be viewed on his website at https://www.mmahon.com. Painting demonstrations in pastel and oil can be viewed on his Youtube channel at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/mikemahonfineartist1

For more information and call or email Mike Mahon, 505-795-4639 or email, [email protected].

Teaching Approach

Mike has had great success using Paint-Alongs to teach his pastel process. The more controlled step-by-step procedure of a paint-along is very encouraging to those who want to master the seemingly contradictory qualities of control and spontaneity. You will learn how to think in Aesthetic Categories which form the foundation of all forms of art.

Workshop Schedule

1st Day

and Paint-Along Procedure

Mike will begin with an introductory discussion, a question and answer session, and review of everyone’s equipment. Mike will do a painting demonstration followed by a workshop Paint-Along. In the Paint–Along sessions, Mike will supply students the identical landscape pictures to paint as the one he is using. Mike will demonstrate his step-by-step painting process, stopping at each step to allow students to reproduce what they have just seen him paint. He has found that this is the fastest and most effective way to build confidence while learning his painting method. During the day 

Schedule – 2nd & 3rd Days

On the  second day, the paint-along from the previous day will be complete. Depending on the progress of the class, another paint-along will be begun or the students will begin painting from their own source photos. Mike will work with each artist regarding choosing their source material and cropping it. At the end of the 3rd day, there will be a comprehensive class critique of all the work produced during the workshop. Many artists consider this one of the most useful sessions of the workshop experience.

A Systematic Painting Process 

You will also be introduced to Mike’s “Aesthetic Categories” ©, a 7-step systematic approach to painting based on classical principles of art which are logical, learnable, and memorable. Also known as the Divine SETUP, this systematic process will free you to be more spontaneous, while still in control of your painting. You will learn the necessary steps and the order in which they must be used to accomplish a good painting.

In addition to a demonstration painting and paint-alongs, Mike utilizes PowerPoint presentations to help you be more productive. Each student will receive a comprehensive workbook that covers the material presented at the workshop.

Video Instruction & Review

In addition to the above, videos of full demonstration paintings will be made available following the workshop. These videos and the workbook will be your way of reliving and reviewing the learning experience you receive at this workshop for years to come.

Reaching’ for Sk

Registration Information

Click here to go to the AAI registration page for adult workshops or

Contact Rachel Flores at
806-354-8802 or
[email protected]

Click here to view Mike’s time-lapse video of a landscape painting demonstration.

This painting video, produced at the Pastel Society of Southern California, in Redondo Beach, CA, has been compressed to only 17 minutes, but it includes Mike’s audio commentary explaining his painting process, along with helpful painting tips. You may view the video whenever and as often as you like.

After seeing the video, click here to subscribe to Mike’s YouTube channel if you would like to see more videos as he produces them.

Your success is Mike’s goal!
“Success is where preparation meets opportunity.”
Pastel painting is a pleasurable experience. However, it has unique challenges that can be overcome by proper preparation!

Testimonials

     “…You are one of the hardest working artists I’ve ever known, bar none.
Not only did you spend every minute talking us through the fine points of scaling art to fit a canvas, but you did two paintings of your own AND spent time with each of us, from the oil neophyte to the more advanced oil painters in the group.
      All of us were most appreciative of your tact, attention to detail, and desire for us to do the best paintings we were capable of producing in 3 days…
     You don’t pull your punches. If a painting has elements that are not well done, you say so, and work with the artist to make improvements. I have been distressed in past workshops or in critique meetings when no real critique was provided, other than the false critique of gushy flattery…
     Thank you for your encouragement and your expertise. I greatly admire your painting AND teaching skills.” [capitalization emphasis is not mine]
Martha Wofford, PhD., Dalhart, TX
*****
     “Mike, you have a great teaching persona.  I think you have given me some great insights in to how my students feel!  And I think I’ve learned some good things to pass on to my students!
Deb Wheeler, art teacher, Andrews, TX
*****
     “Being a novice, the step-by-step process has given me a solid foundation on which to build any work in any medium that I may choose.  I have learned more this week than I have in all the other workshops I have taken this year – combined!”
Joy Russo, Hot Springs, Ark.
****

Mike’s Signature Memberships

As a signature member of the Pastel Society of America, Pastel Society of New Mexico and the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, Mike is the perfect instructor to advance your painting skills in producing landscape paintings.