PAINTING STUDY GROUP
(An Independent Painting and Critique Group)

PAINTING STUDY GROUP (Todd Bonita
(8 Tuesdays) Jan 04- Mar 08, 2022 (1- 4:30pm)
...or....
(8 Wednesdays) Jan 05 - Mar 09, 2022 (1-4:30)
Todd Bonita Gallery. 39 Ceres St. Portsmouth, NH
8 Weeks (Limit 8) $320 (No session Jan 18, 19 and Feb 22, 23. Snow date March 15, 16 if necessary).
Our Painting Study group is an opportunity for like-minded spirits to meet with their peers regularly and establish a habitual painting routine, exchange ideas and get critical eyes on works in progress. The first three hours we will use to paint independently. There is no lecture, instruction or side-by-side easel assistance. The last hour will be occupied with our group critique where each person will put up their painting and one at a time, I will critique the work using the * Critique sandwich method and the * Seven elements of picture making checklist.
This is an excellent venue to exercise your understanding of the visual language of picture making through the critique process. I have pro-rated this group to be lesser than a structured class of this length and accounted for the absence of lecturing or demonstrating. This intimate club is small and limited to only 8 and will fill quickly.
(8 Tuesdays) Jan 04- Mar 08, 2022 (1- 4:30pm)
...or....
(8 Wednesdays) Jan 05 - Mar 09, 2022 (1-4:30)
Todd Bonita Gallery. 39 Ceres St. Portsmouth, NH
8 Weeks (Limit 8) $320 (No session Jan 18, 19 and Feb 22, 23. Snow date March 15, 16 if necessary).
Our Painting Study group is an opportunity for like-minded spirits to meet with their peers regularly and establish a habitual painting routine, exchange ideas and get critical eyes on works in progress. The first three hours we will use to paint independently. There is no lecture, instruction or side-by-side easel assistance. The last hour will be occupied with our group critique where each person will put up their painting and one at a time, I will critique the work using the * Critique sandwich method and the * Seven elements of picture making checklist.
This is an excellent venue to exercise your understanding of the visual language of picture making through the critique process. I have pro-rated this group to be lesser than a structured class of this length and accounted for the absence of lecturing or demonstrating. This intimate club is small and limited to only 8 and will fill quickly.
REGISTER

Call Todd to register (603) 819-9100
or email Todd: tmbonita@gmail.com
* $160 Deposit to hold your space. Balance can be paid at class or sooner if you wish.
We accept:
* Credit Cards (4% Process fee)
* Venmo: @Todd-Bonita
* Cash (for Teachers Pet)
* Checks. Made out to Todd Bonita and mail to:
Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
Greenland, NH 03840
Please write in the memo on the check, "Painting Study Group" for my book keeper.
or email Todd: tmbonita@gmail.com
* $160 Deposit to hold your space. Balance can be paid at class or sooner if you wish.
We accept:
* Credit Cards (4% Process fee)
* Venmo: @Todd-Bonita
* Cash (for Teachers Pet)
* Checks. Made out to Todd Bonita and mail to:
Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
Greenland, NH 03840
Please write in the memo on the check, "Painting Study Group" for my book keeper.
* CRITIQUE SANDWICH: a simple idea that examines your painting in three parts; What works, what's not working and how to fix it....therefore, we look at it as having a top, a middle and a bottom....sort of like a sandwich.

The Top: represents what works in your painting.
If you give a monkey a paintbrush, he will eventually make something that looks good. For this reason, its important to point out what is working so that in the unlikely event you did it by accident, after pointing it out, you can now repeat it in a future painting and paint with intent rather than by accident.
The Middle: Represents whats not working.
After we have softened you up with the positive affirmation of telling you what works, its time to stab you in the back and unleash the horror of whats not working...LOL...We will tell you what is not working in the painting and why.
The Bottom: Represents how to fix whats not working.
Finally, we will give you a concrete suggesting as to how to fix whats not working. We do not speak in sound bites and leave you hanging....Rather, we will give you a direct and articulate solution so you completely understand and therefor are completely in control of your painting.
* 7 ELEMENTS of PICTURE MAKING: The seven important elements to consider and compose in order to create a balanced picture. They are Design / composition, Values, Line, Shape, Color, Hierarchy, Unity.

One of our objectives is to examine your paintings using the below "7 Elements" checklist and exercise your understanding of their role and importance in your paintings.
1) Design / Composition
One of the "Holy Trinity", or one of the three most important elements that contribute to the pass or fail of a painting. (The other two are drawing and values). Without good design, some say, "You are polishing a turd".
2) Values
The relative dark and light shapes.
3) Shape
The abstract puzzle shapes that describe forms.
4) Line
Where two forms meet. Otherwise known as edges or contour.
5) Color
Some say Value does all the work and color gets all the credit. A sensitivity to warm, cool and neutrals is necessary to balance the subtlety of color.
6) Hierarchy
Like the hierarchy of Royalty; The King, the Queen, Prince, Princess and so on....Balanced paintings require an understanding and adherence to whats most important, secondary and tertiary. Whats most important in academic pictures is the focal point, followed by areas balanced with lesser degrees of importance.
7) Unity
Paintings derive their interest from juxtaposing elements; something big next to something small, something dark next to light, warm next to cool and so on. These opposites create tensions. The degree of those tensions is controlled by the balance of these juxtaposing elements to one another. When those tensions are balanced, Unity is created..and thus, an overall balance is manifested and felt.
1) Design / Composition
One of the "Holy Trinity", or one of the three most important elements that contribute to the pass or fail of a painting. (The other two are drawing and values). Without good design, some say, "You are polishing a turd".
2) Values
The relative dark and light shapes.
3) Shape
The abstract puzzle shapes that describe forms.
4) Line
Where two forms meet. Otherwise known as edges or contour.
5) Color
Some say Value does all the work and color gets all the credit. A sensitivity to warm, cool and neutrals is necessary to balance the subtlety of color.
6) Hierarchy
Like the hierarchy of Royalty; The King, the Queen, Prince, Princess and so on....Balanced paintings require an understanding and adherence to whats most important, secondary and tertiary. Whats most important in academic pictures is the focal point, followed by areas balanced with lesser degrees of importance.
7) Unity
Paintings derive their interest from juxtaposing elements; something big next to something small, something dark next to light, warm next to cool and so on. These opposites create tensions. The degree of those tensions is controlled by the balance of these juxtaposing elements to one another. When those tensions are balanced, Unity is created..and thus, an overall balance is manifested and felt.