When out in nature, we often discover a plant or tree that especially speaks to us. Beyond sheer beauty we can find our own soul nature expressed in the gesture of that plant. In this course we will use pastels to draw detailed studies of a plant, to look for its secret expressions.

The plant and the studies will guide us into watercolor painting and the task to transform the three-dimensional into two-dimensional planes of color. In the third session of the day we will work with watercolors again and the eventual goal will be of loosing all referents save the colors themselves. Here the journey leads us from the world space into the soul space and our own artistic reflection. No previous experience is necessary.

BRIGITTE BLEY-SWINSTON

 

BRIGITTE BLEY-SWINSTON grew up in Germany where she received a BA in art education (Berlin). She worked in various fields such as children’s theatre, film production and distribution and as translator for a publishing house. A two-year internship took her to Tuscany, Italy, to learn cooking, especially pasta making. An interest in acting brought her to New York City, where she became a performing member of Time & Space Ltd. She continued to study education as a Waldorf teacher and received her MS Ed from Sunbridge College in Chestnut Ridge, NY. For ten years, she was employed there and developed and taught art courses for all programs. She continues to teach in educational part-time programs as well as being the co-director of the Foundation Studies Program at the Brooklyn Waldorf School.