SALMINEN WORKSHOP IN SCOTLAND

John Salminen will be presenting a workshop in Scotland in July of 2002. Participants are to arrive at the Edinburgh Airport on July 2nd.

The workshop will include seven days at the beautiful Atholl Palace just outside of Pitlochry in Perthshire. Set in the midst of the wild and ruggedly beautiful Scottish Highlands, the Atholl Palace has a solarium and many walking paths on its 48 acres of wooded grounds, as well as many amenities. There will also be full day excursions to the fishing villages of the East Neuk and to the Loch Rannoch area of the Highlands.

John and Kathy have fully scouted this area and are prepared to make it a once in a lifetime experience. For more information contact:

John and Kathy Salminen
6021 Arnold Road
Duluth, MN 55803
(218) 721-3319
salminen@cpinternet.com 

WORKSHOP REFLECTIONS

by Kathy Brandiger

Kathy participated in John Salminen's workshop in 2001, given for the NPWS as part of its annual juried show.

As a participant in the John Salminen workshop September 22-25, I will probably never approach my subject matter in the same way again. ‘Do not let your subject matter cause you to make bad shapes,’ he said many times in many ways.

John took us all back to the basics of design as we worked on non-representational paintings for the first part of the workshop, and then on abstract paintings incorporating buildings and other manmade structures. His many years of experience in teaching art to high school students lent a clarity and organization to his instruction that is not commonly found at a painting workshop. He did not merely paint while we watched, but explained the choices he was making in color, value, and brushstroke as he developed his compositions.

Each participant received individual attention and encouragement. I particularly valued the critique sessions at the end of each day; it was fun to see how my fellow painters followed their own paths as they tried to incorporate John’s approach in their paintings, and I learned a great deal from his comments and those of other members. 

I believe my appreciation of John’s teaching was shared by everyone who was able to attend. I know that if I ever have the opportunity, I would sacrifice much to attend another John Salminen workshop.