exploring gold leaf, florals, and creative flow in paint

November 9th -12th , 2023.

A unique, small group 4-day painting workshop hosted at carlos page studio in Cave Creek, Arizona

The technical focus of this workshop is two fold. First it is an introduction to using gold, silver, and metal leaf in painting and will step by step take you through preparing and executing a floral painting on metal leaf. The second technical focus will be on the arrangement of florals to create the most dynamic composition for painting. All the gold leaf supplies will be provided, as well as flowers. This workshop is for all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. The gold leaf and floral aspects are in addition to the foundational elements of art covered, such as light and shadow, color temperature, edges and brushwork. Finally this workshop also aims to explore the energetics of art making such as:

• Where do you paint from? Are you working with your mind only, in frustration and resistance? Or do you allow your intuition play a role in your work alongside technique?

• When you only operate with your analytical mind, you are working with a mere fraction of your potential. There is so much more. Are you ready to discover it?

• How does judgment and analysis play a role in your work? Is it limiting you from your full expression? How can technique be of service to your intuition?

The aim of this workshop is to help you answer some of the questions posed above through the mediums of metal leaf, florals, and paint, and, in the process, get you to a place where you enjoy more of what you make and enjoy making it more of the time.

If you feel there is more you want to say with your art, and it just isn’t coming through, this workshop is for you. If you are experiencing dissatisfaction in your work, welcome and congratulations. The dissatisfaction is exactly the sign that lets you know you have more to say. And the aim of this workshop is to help you let yourself say it. And, If you don’t know where to begin, this workshop is also for you!

Join me in this intimate and private small group setting in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert where striving turns into letting go, and all the efforting to force your idea becomes an allowing and bubbling up and over of your creative vision. This is a holistic art workshop, the first of its kind, where there is attention given to both the technical side of art making, as well as the very important intuitive and energetic aspects of art making. You can expect to receive technical guidance along with intuitive and conceptual wisdom to balance and support your artistic vision as a whole. This is the way forward to authentic art-making and finding your artistic voice.

Brief Overview

Each day will have a general theme, and the day will be loosely divided into a morning and afternoon session. The morning will consist of a brief lecture and a following demonstration. The afternoon will be the opportunity for participants to paint focusing on the material covered in the morning.

Participants are welcome to bring photographs to work from, and I will have photos available for students to select as well. We will have the opportunity to create our own floral arrangements and photograph them for reference, or to work from life as well.

Participants are welcome to work in oil or acrylic and are asked to bring their own brushes, colors, and two small to medium (9x12”. 14”x16”) or any size canvas to work on of their choosing. Gold and silver leaf supplies and wood support for leafing will be provided for you. Of course students may opt out of working on gold leaf if they prefer to use canvas. If you are missing anything I am happy to fill in a few colors here and there. I work mainly in oil and will have oil mediums and colors for you to play with as well as different tools for you to experiment with you may have not used before.

What We Will Cover

Each day with have a technical theme combined with an intuitive concept

• Day 1: Preparing Gold Leaf Surfaces and Arranging Florals for Painting/Releasing Resistance and Limiting Beliefs

• Day 2: Exploring the Gold Leaf Surface in Paint / Using Variety to Work with (or without) your Reference

• Day 3: Silver Leaf and Color Choices/ How to Get More of What You Want

• Day 4. Putting it All Together/ Receiving Inspiration

Please note that this workshop is suitable for any level of artist. If you are hesitant at all due to skill level please reach out to me at elizabethbutlerfineart@gmail.com so I can make sure you feel set up for success.