Drawing them in

Suzie Harrison

Start an art workshop featuring world-renowned artists, have it in

scenery-rich Laguna Beach and they will come.

Such is the premise and success of Laguna Art Workshops, whose

doors opened at the beginning of May in Laguna Canyon.

It provides student and professional artists with the chance to

work with some of the best.

Instruction includes painting, drawing, sculpture and photography

in an environment that allows for intense, personalized instruction.

Laguna Art Workshops is the brainchild of local artist Paulette

Martinson who has the help of esteemed plein air artist Ken Auster,

who has twice won the Laguna Plein Air Invitational held at Laguna

Art Museum. He also came home with a second prize honorable mention.

Peggy Kroll-Roberts, who won the Laguna Plein Air Invitational

last year, is instructing at the art workshops for the second time.

Another popular artist at the workshop this September is Ray

Roberts, who won the Quick Draw competition at the Invitational and

also received an honorable mention.

The workshops are three-to five-days of intensive learning and

hands-on instruction, giving the student full attention and

instruction.

“The whole concept is based pretty much on the fact that Southern

California is one of the high density areas with more artists per

capita than any other location,” said Auster.

Martinson and Auster said they are finding that a lot of baby

boomers want to fulfill their passion for art.

They’ve been spending 30 or more years on their career and now

that they are retired and looking into things that they have wanted

to do.

“Art schools around the country have always attracted people in

large numbers, especially in the Laguna Beach area. It’s a great

destination,” Auster said.

Martinson did a lot of research and spent about six months

organizing and calling artists around to see if they would be

interested in teaching at the workshop.

“The response was overwhelming,” explained Martinson. “Laguna

Beach artists can receive some real intense instruction for a

five-day period. It’s a unique opportunity and part of the definition

of what Laguna Beach is all about as an art destination,” Martinson

said.

Integral to the success of the workshops is that not only do they

want the best artists, but artists who are the best teachers and best

in their medium.

Auster finds that attending a four-year art college for some is

not fathomable.

“Artist can learn more in five days than in a semester because

there is intense one-on-one instruction not usually found in large

classes.”

Because Auster and Martinson are both artists, and were art

students in the past, both know what it takes to make instructors

comfortable and students feel wanted.

“You don’t just teach as a commodity. You want it to be a

pleasurable experience, as well as a learning experience. Most of the

artists who teach are friends.”

Laguna Art Workshops are year-round. Some of the upcoming classes

include Cynthia Grilli, Figure painting in Oils; Peggi Kroll-Roberts,

Figure Painting in Oil or Watercolor; Ray Roberts, Landscape Painting

in Oil; Neil Boyle, Figure Painting in Watercolor or Oil; Matt Smith,

Plein Air Painting among others.

Regular tuition is $500 and is available for beginners to

professionals. For information about the workshop and classes, call

(949) 494-9525 or go to www.lagunaartworkshops.com.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321.