✍️ New Group Project Concept (Please read and vote) 🎨🤝

Over the years, I’ve tried many group projects and challenges. While fun and valuable for a few weeks, they often struggled to unite the class or maintain momentum. Now, I finally have a concept that I believe can work, which I'm calling...

🎓 The Masters Project

🔴 The Idea (How It Works)

I curate one master artwork that we all study together
There are 5 different paths to study the same master work
Each path aligns with a different stage of the artist’s journey
More experienced students can support and mentor newer students (just like a real atelier)
Each week, I’ll demo one path, review your work, and give feedback
100% optional — this runs alongside your current studies
Participate as much or as little as you like

-----------------------

🔴 The 5 Learning Paths

Each path matches where you may be right now:

#1. Crafting the figure

#2. Crafting the head and portrait

#3. Light, form, realism and naturalism

#4. Painting: craft and color

#5. Picture making. The end goal: meaningful, beautifully crafted works

-----------------------

🔴 How You Can Study the Master Work

Choose the approach that fits your current focus:

#1. Figure focused study, which can be:

gesture & construction
anatomy
perspective and foreshortening
contour and design

#2. Portrait focused study

construction, planes and rhythms
facial anatomy
head turns and difficult angles

#3. Light, form and realism

light and form studies
shading techniques and materials
rendering hair, fabric, clothing, leather, satin etc.

#4. Painters

tonal composition
color composition
b/w drawing focused copy
full color copy
brushwork, technique and paint handing

#5. Picture Maker

deep composition analysis
detailed, large-scale drawing copies
detailed, large-scale color/painting copies

-----------------------

🔴 Why This Works

Everyone studies the same master work
Each path builds toward the next level
Some studies are quick, others more ambitious
The shared goal = Honor the master work, learn deeply, and pass knowledge forward

Instead of weekly group meetings, I’ll record live demos focused on one (or more) of the paths. These will be recorded and archived as long-term learning assets that we can all watch and review.

More advanced students are also welcome to record and share their own demos and insights, so we can all learn from each other.

-----------------------

🔴 What do you think?

I'd like to start in January. Cast your vote below and please reply with any questions or comments. Thank you 🙏

PS. Thank you to Gabe and Willy for helping to shape this idea.

YES! I'm in

Sounds good but I have questions/doubts/concerns..

This is a terrible idea. Leave me alone! I want will work on my own thank you :)

12 votes

4 comments