The Portrait Society's 2006 Portrait
Academies
The Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California
with Michael Shane Neal
October 13-14, 2006
By Amanda McCaughey-Apostol
On
October 13, over 100 people gathered in Bradley Hall at the Academy
of Art University in San Francisco, California to watch a painting
demonstration by renowned artist, Michael Shane Neal. Much of the
audience was comprised of AAU students who were able to attend the
evening's event on scholarship.
Throughout the demonstration, Neal shared a plethora of advice
on color, tone, and composition. He advised that it is important
to stay free and loose in the early stages of the painting, and
identify a focal point from which the painting can develop.
For Neal, painting is about constantly correcting mistakes, and
sometimes the artist is forced to sacrifice something that is good
to make it even better. He encouraged the artists to copy paintings
out of books or at museums, especially in the early stages of training.
By continually painting, an artist will begin to learn how to handle
mistakes and understand their subject more thoroughly.
It
was evident, as the discussion continued, that Neal's life has been
greatly impacted by his relationship with his mentor, Everett Raymond
Kinstler. He told the audience about his first encounter with Kinstler,
and the impact that his encouragement and guidance has had on Neal's
development as an artist. Thus, it is no surprise that Neal took
this opportunity to impress upon his audience some of the lessons
he has learned from his mentor, such as ensuring the transitions
between light, medium, and dark values are smooth. Likewise, Neal
advocated moving beyond painting exactly what one sees. He shared
how Kinstler has encouraged him to edit down the details while still
capturing the essence of the subject. Painting is not just a mechanical
exercise, but it has an important emotional component as well.
While the audience was captivated by Neal, they were also pleased
to find him approachable and willing to dispense advice on the more
mundane business aspects of working as an artist. He stressed the
importance of hard work, dedication, and a willingness to sell yourself
and your work. The students especially seemed to appreciate Neal's
candor.
On Saturday, thirty-five individuals returned to Bradley Hall for
a day-long workshop. Neal took time to speak with each person, offering
guidance and detailed instruction. The day culminated with many
of the Portrait Society members in attendance joining Neal and his
family for dinner to converse and reflect on the weekend's events.
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