Review: Beginner Workshop, Augsburg, Germany

by Roman aka jar


"I went into Roman´s class armed with a heavy chunk of theoretical knowledge i obtained from various Patreons, Gurney´s color theory and countless articles; however i lacked in practical knowledge and painting experience. Additionally, the information i had felt like an unsorted mess of Lego pieces inside a box deep down in my brain. With every bit of information Roman provided the pieces started connecting until i began to see the bigger picture infront of me. The ability to see and analyze colors by their value, tonality and saturation is a tool way more powerful than any "paint by the numbers step by step " out there. It allows for sophisticated analysis of paintings and empowers you to make your own decisions based on knowledge rather then sketchy gut feel. As if that wasn´t enough, Roman´s feedback and instrutions guide you just enough to push yourself over the edge towards creativity and the next goal. Be it the creation of a base you never imagined you could build or the next step in completing your figure.

It feels slightly tragic how great artists like Roman and Alfonso Giraldes strive to push miniature painting as an artform while being belittled by big brother canvas painting. But maybe it is the lack of social and economic appreciation that spurs the development of such passionate, friendly and ground-leveled personalities. I am very grateful that i got the chance to learn from a great artist and that i met such a sympathetic person.

With best regards,"
- Dominik and Viktoria



"Having arrived in Augsburg on a Friday evening after a 4 hour car drive, I was kind of exhausted. Honestly, I was not looking forward to focussed and concentrated painting that evening...and then Roman started teaching and all my concers were blown away. His calm and measured personality is reflected in his teaching and he manages to engage people of all ages and abilities to listen and create some miniature art. There was never any stress or performance pressure, no rigid timetables and deadlines, and always good humor and encouragement.
The content of the class focuses on setting an atmosphere, base building/painting and minitature painting. If you lean towards a sciency/technical approach and struggle with the artistic aspects of the hobby (like myself), the workshop will be a boost to your attitude and teaches you to sit down and think about a theme, instead of smooth blends and cool highlights.
The class is incredibly valuable for beginners in the hobby and can be recommended without any doubt. Grab a friend or go by yourself and have a great time. If you already have experience with base building, but struggle with miniature painting (or vice versa), you will still take away a lot from the weekend. Should you already be adept at both these topics, maybe consider enrolling in the advanced classes. I am already looking at the road map for my next classes!"
 - Dominik




"I am painting for less than a year now and Roman's teaching has helped me a lot to feel more free and courageous in painting, to listen more to myself and not to run after any ideal but to find my own way and style, and to not deny it. I thank you very much for that.
The toolbox you have given us is great, not only the techniques, but also what has already changed in my way of thinking about painting." 
- Achim




"Danke für das Handout und vor allem vielen Dank für den wunderbaren Workshop!"
 - Leon





"Vielen lieben Dank für das wirklich schöne Wochenende, ich habe eine Menge gelernt und werde deine Kurse auf jeden Fall weiter empfehlen und wenn ich wieder die Zeit finde selber gerne noch mal den ein oder anderen Kurs besuche.
  - Jonas"I'm painting miniatures for 20 years now, most of them for tabletop
gaming. Since two years i felt that my skill in painting miniatures
struggled and I only got faster, but not better. Than I decided to take
part in Romans class - and it truly opened my eyes! Not only from theory
or skill, but also from a side of feeling - yeah, I know, it sounds
strange but I can't describe it a better way!

Now I know in my heart what I've missed all the years, now I know why my
miniatures sometimes looked like LEGO, now I know how to became a better
painter and how I can have more fun during painting miniatures. I'm
excited like 20 years before, when I held my first miniature in my
hands. All the stuff Roman teached is so very helpfull and he and his
work is truly inspiring.

I could tell you what we've learned this weekend, but than you have no
need to join one of his classes.
But one thing I can tell you: If you struggle with you painting,
struggle with your motivation or even with your inspiration, join one of
his classes. 


After the class you will see your hobby with other eyes. I promise.
Thank you Roman for this amazing weekend, I hope, no, I know our ways on
our painting journey will met again one day!"
 - Hagen

____________________________________________________

Hello Jungle of Massive Voodoo,
welcome to a review of another one of my Beginner Workshops.
Some weeks ago I had the pleasure to welcome a large group of painters travelling from all over Germany and the Netherlands to my hometown, Augsburg.
First, I want to thank everyone for joining up and the will to learn from me. Thank you all for a splendid and fun weekend together and the nice time spent and enjoyed togehter. You have been a wonderful group of students. I was especially amazed to see many new faces to this seminar and only two repeaters of the class.
                                                     The gang

I really enjoyed guiding you through this weekend's content and I am always amazed by the variety of your individual results. As a teacher it is important for me to show you tools, but not limit your imagination. And I am always happy if this goes well and smooth.

Thank you all for your beautiful feedback and the additional photos for the review.




The theory parts contain:


- Learn to see your world with different eyes
- Introduction into basing composition
- Learn how to feel harmony in different aspects
- Important contrasts for figure painting
- Explanation about how to paint a light situation on your figure
- Understand colour theory and learn how to use it properly
- Learn about different materials, their unique properties and learn to paint them
- Learn to lose fear of doing something wrong
- much more!

The word 'beginner' might be confusing to many first time participants of this class.
It is not a class for 'only' beginners. In fact it is a class for every person, at every age interested in figure painting, whatever their experience level is.

'Beginners class' means here that Roman aka jarhead gives an introduction into his way of thinking while painting, in detail a lot of important theory is explained while doing a walk through Art History and is used in practical exercises. During the weekend you will not only learn to improve your painting skills, you will also learn the 'Why?' behind everything explained and with that you will be able to teach yourself in your own hobby future by just recognizing what nature has to offer.



When it comes to basing
 I got to thank the supporters of this class who made the class wonderful due their help in sponsoring some of their products, beside my own crazy material collection:


This review is quite mixed up when it comes to photos. It will not follow the structure of the class.
Call it a freestyle review  :)

Like glass




Just an amazing miniature painter and kid ...




Hands ...
Sushi ...









Every good painter has neck problems ...

A ninja visitor checking cold and warm colors ...

Good Morning Motivation call!


... and if you do not own a wet palette for painting, you can imagine it really strong and even can paint with it. It is just all about imagination ...


Pft!                   Pft!




"It was an amazing weekend: so many friendly people together in a room for such a long period! All were so considerate to eachother and to me. Warmth!

You are a truly extraordinary guy, with passion for your work, your environment and the people that surround you.
I obviously learned a lot, but my dendrites need some recuperation for the lessons learned to sink in." 
 
- Alexander 





"My husband and child share a hobby: the love of painting of miniatures.

I am a total noob at this as anything having to do with paintbrushes eludes me: it’s like I am being dissetic. – Yes, I just came up with that – when I hold paintbrush (setis in Latin) in my hands, I feel like my dyslexic students: I know exactly what my paintings (big or small) should look like, but I just can’t do it. The colours don’t match, perspective is all crooked – you name it. In the end (if I get that far…) the result looks naïve, I am unsatisfied to an extend that I don’t even start any more. So, instead, after years of unhappiness, I turned to photography and sewing. (As it so happens, both have to do with colours and the composition of elements as well – coincidence?)

So now, to help me with my sewing, my husband signed us up, as a family, for the beginners’ course Roman Lappat held at the end of October this year in Augsburg. Both of them have taken the course before, our son the first time about three years ago when he was eight. So, naturally, all of us got to further our knowledge (albeit on a whole different level for them…), but it was their time to repeat and revise what they had learned before, and my time to face my fears.

Everyone attending Roman’s beginners‘ course has to paint a demonette. I knew this well in advance and I hated even the thought of having to paint one – honestly, they are just plain ugly and I find them disgusting. So, weeks in advance I was in a bad mood just from thinking of that weekend.

But then, we get there and the whole weekend went totally and unexpectedly different from what I had thought. It went well. Really well. AND: I am happy and happy with my results.

Friday night was kicked off with a lot of theory on light and shadow – and a lot of fun building our bases. Our son, eleven, knows all the answer at a speed that makes me dizzy. What a sharp mind, incredible observational skills and the vocabulary to express himself clearly. Well done, mom and dad! 😊

So, elements of light in a painting lead the observer’s eye. Well, that’s nothing new, I thought, but in the course, it actually began to make sense! If I, before I even start painting, decide where I want the focus to be, I can actually compose my picture, my painting, my miniature, my base – like a piece of music.

*PING* (or should I say „d’uh“?!) 


Roman provided us with so many incredible – and incredibly little – pieces of paraphernalia, it was like being in a mom-and-pop store! So many things to look at, so much inspiration awaiting its time. Once I had laid my eyes on a teeny-tiny ring, my inspiration was right there: I was going to create an underwater scenario! The ring was modified so it looked like a crown, a piece of cardboard turned into corals, another demonette’s head was turned into seagrass waving in the current by burying it in the milliput.


Working with milliput is awesome! Yes, we did prints / hachure in art class in high school, but mostly of leaves and definitely without much sense behind it all. In Roman’s class, it all came together, yes, it made sense! – If I want to create an underwater scenery, I’ll need to make it. If I want it to look like an abyssal plain, I’ll be able to make it. And because I don’t want it to be flat (the divers amongst us know that it’s never flat, there’s always a current!) – I need something to imprint into it. And of course, I found it in the „buffet“ of all (?) of Roman’s mingel-mangle. – So, I made my seabed. With help, but I.MADE.THE.SEABED. That made me very happy.

Insert another *PING* here! 





I don’t think art, that is: me working with paintbrushes (even though we hadn’t even touched them as of that moment!), has ever made me happy. Cheers to you, Roman!

Day two: The colour wheel by Itten. Oh man: blue and red make purple, red and yellow make orange, blue and yellow make green – you have no idea how many times I have heard that. I know it by heart, it’s old news to me – Or is it? In Roman’s class, I actually had to paint the wheel myself. And putting the theory into practical experience is a whole new ball game altogether! Trust me, I tried using blue first and then adding red. Nope, no purple came of that, no matter how much red I added. Can you imagine how frustrating that is?! – Once I took red first and then blue, however, I was able to create purple. Can you imagine how satisfying that is?! 😊

Up next: painting one’s skin colour – by only using the three primary colours, black and white. Yeah, right. As if that was possible. – Guess what: it was really satisfying when I managed to paint my hand in exactly the same colour as my hand – if it hadn’t been for the shimmer, you couldn’t even see the difference. Incredible!


Yes, that was another *PING* moment.  I can do that! I actually DID that! I painted my own skin colour!

And all I could think of was this: if only my art classes in high school had been like that; if only my art teachers had been able to connect theory with practical exercises like that; if only my art teachers had taught me with as much enthusiasm as Roman has …

I think that was the moment when my bad mood, anxiety and exasperation went away. I was even able to accept having to paint a demonette. And all these feelings of anger, frustration and despair of something so unattainable for such a long time all went into my underwater scenario. My demonette screams because she is so angry that she accidentally dropped her crown. It broke and because of the current now rests close to a dark abyss – and she is unable to reach it and pick it up. She lets out all her anger and despair – so much of it that it sets her hair on fire.



Thank you, Roman, for an incredible class! Your very detailed step-by-step instructions enabled me to put everything into action. I know, I know, I mentioned less than half the course’s contents – but these were the most important moments for me. You explained everything so that I created a painting that I like and that makes me happy. And, last but not least, I created a demonette that is now part of an exhibition of incredible pieces of art by far more experienced artists participating in your workshop. Happy Painting, indeed!



Terimah kasih,"
- Rebekka





 A duel ...


A teacher's uniform ...


:D

Really?


Early morning reagge style toothpicks ...

Allright, 
here comes my fail. We had this thing going on with toothpicks. All of you who participated know what I mean. Well and I was quite the idiot with my camera. Instead of telling you to wait until I got everything ready and setup I just clicked and ... failed. Super blurry, but still with love and the question what your profession is ...















Really, really, really, really sorry :/

At least I managed to do proper photos of your beautiful creations ...




























Well, 
again I want to thank everyone for attenting this seminar.
It really made my heart jump with joy to hear your beautiful feedback and see you all learned a big deal of my way of happy painting and what it means for me and for you from now on. Like I said, everyone of us is on his own journey on growth and collecting experience. I am really proud of you!

Thank you all for your support in my teachings and art!

Keep on happy painting!
Roman


_______________________________________________________________________________

If you want to learn from me
in your very own private coaching session, do not hesitate to contact me for further details via
jarhead---at---massivevoodoo---dot---com

2019 is closed in terms of private coaching and fully booked, plans for sessions in the first half of 2020 are in the making. I will be there for you and your personal growth as a painter!




You can find more information
about upcoming group workshops via this banner



_______________________________________________________________________________
You want to support Massive Voodoo? 
If you like to support or say thanks the monkeys of Massive Voodoo in what they do, please feel invited to drop a jungle donation in their direction via paypal or check their miniatures they got on sale here.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Comments:

There are 0 Kommentare for Review: Beginner Workshop, Augsburg, Germany

Post a Comment