Tuition

Q: To whom are the workshops directed?
A: The workshops are directed towards people willing to discover or improve hyperrealistic techniques in acrylic. You do not need a significant experience to fully enjoy the teachings, basics in acrylic painting are enough. More advanced painters will be able to perfect specific techniques. For intensive workshop the minimal age is 16 as you need to be able to concentrate over lengthy periods.

Q: What is a workshop day like?
A: After the installation and introductions, explanations/step by step demos of technical points or specific techniques alternate with their practical application by the students. Morgane spends time individually with each trainee to make sure that everything has been understood, to help overcome any possible difficulty and give personalized advice depending on one's level and expectations. Coffee breaks are usually scheduled mid-morning and mid-afternoon to regain some strength and put things into perspective. A longer time is allowed for a good lunch to relax and exchange views in a casual atmosphere. The workshop ends with a bit of tidying up, an assessment of the day and usually a good dose of laughter and cheers as trainees exchange contact details and compare masterpieces!

Q: Is there a limited number of seats?
A: Yes, to guarantee an optimal and tailored individual tuition in a warm, friendly and supportive environment, Morgane takes only a maximum of 10 students. Workshop opportunities with Morgane being quite rare and sought after, you are highly encouraged to book at the earliest (spaces will fill on a first-come, first-serve basis). Depending on who the workshop organizer is, a waiting list might be opened when the workshop has sold out.

Q: What will I paint?
A: It really depends on the workshop. For some sessions there is a precise theme and Morgane will usually provide a model to work from (for example an eye close-up). But for others the choice is yours entirely and you can bring your favorite photos or whatever inspires you!

Q: Is the studied technique only for painting a specific animal?
A: Off course not! The experience and knowledge you will gather during the workshop and the different techniques you will master can be used on many other subjects: hairy and feathery critters but also natural texture such as grass, rocks, etc.

Q: How is the atmosphere?
A: Excellent! Usually quite studious due to the nature of the workshop but relaxed and friendly at the same time. Students are encouraged to exchange between them and with Morgane during the painting sessions. The regular breaks are a good time to chill a bit, talk about everything and nothing and forge links. The cosmopolitan nature of the group also makes for an enriching cultural experience.

Q: Are supplies provided? What will I work with?
A: It depends on the workshop and what has been agreed with the organizer. When the art supplies are included, you will use the professional material Morgane works daily with. You will have access to a complete drawing kit, a choice of acrylic-ready medium in different sizes, a large array of Liquitex Professional acrylic paints, brushes of different size and shape including special detail brushes (which you will take home with you) and all the accessories needed for painting practice (palettes, etc.). You will have the opportunity to buy some supplies to bring home for yourself at the end of the workshop. A list of basic supplies will be provided if the material is not included.

Q: Will I need to take notes?
A: When possible, Morgane has a Powerpoint presentation on display on her laptop during the workshop to support and summarize what is being said/taught. You can of course take notes if you think that might help you but rest assured that the presentation/lesson will be sent to you by email after the workshop so you can get back to some useful tips or forgotten info later on. Morgane will also give you an email address to contact her in case you would have further questions after the workshop.

Choose brands with the highest pigment concentration to avoid muddy colors that will fade away or problems with opacity. If you can find a brand that offers different paint viscosity or intermixable paint products, that will allow you to experiment with flow, texture etc. As water can only be added to up to 30% on most supports, do not overlook mediums! No need to buy all the colors as wildlife painting usually involves a limited palette of earthly colors. Morgane's 12 base colors include Titanium White, Unbleached Titanium, Payne's Gray, Mars Black (to use sparingly), Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, Sap Green, Cadmium Red Deep Hue and Yellow Medium Azo. Depending on what you are painting, these colors can be useful to add to your collection: Ceruleum Blue, Light Portrait Pink, Dioxazine Purple, Vivid Lime Green, Cadmium Orange, Yellow Oxide, Red Oxide, Neutral Gray and Transparent Mixing White.

• Liquitex Heavy Body, Soft Body and Ink! for Morgane
• Medium for glazing (gloss finish for Liquitex brand), airbrush, gloss or mat, slow-dry fluid if needed
• Archival varnish with UV protection (Lascaux UV Protect 3 Satin for Morgane) to protect your finished (and perfectly dried!) painting and to get an homogenous brillance (if you have used several mediums you might have areas of glossy or mat paint).

You must pay attention to the fineness of the support because working in fine details requires a really smooth surface.

• Linen canvas with the finest grain possible, prepared with sevral gesso layers with light sanding every other coat (choose your gesso depending on your acrylic brand, Morgane's brand is Liquitex)
• Watercolour paper 140 lb minimum for small format/miniatures (Arches hot pressed for Morgane), easiest to used when sides are fixed on support or glued in bloc.
• Wood/masonite to prep with at least 3 gesso coats. Or better yet if you can find them, Ampersand Gessobord, already primed and ready to use.

Choose your detail brushes carefully, the hair need to be short and nervous to avoid unecessary work from your shoulders/elbows (beware tendinitis!).

• Fine and short for details, synthetic (less expensive, they will wear out quickly due to the repeated strokes for the fur), size 2/0 or 3/0 (4/0 if you are working on miniatures). Morgane uses Jaxhair Detail available here.
• Round brush for intermediate areas
• Filbert brush size 6-8 for glazing
• Flat brush size 16-20 for under layers (can be used for glazing also)
• Spalter for gesso (or small foam roll)

Morgane buys most of her material at Le Géant des Beaux-Arts (in France and Belgium, Great Art in the UK), a supplier with more than 50.000 fine art products & 20.000 colors and above all, the special brushes for details.