Fresh off the back of the Upping Your Paint Game article, The Weekend Workshop offer you the perfect chance to channel that newly found desire to push those skills as far as you can. I’ve been present at the last three of these workshops, and I can attest to their value. To sit with a master painter for two solid days, paint with them, talk with them, see their work first hand, have them critique your own work… there is a value to all these things that can not be understated. What is equally important, is the meeting of new painters, all of a similar level, all with a similar drive, and getting to hang out for a weekend of hobbying the likes of which you won’t often experience. They are listed as 10 hour days but honestly, not a single workshop I’ve attended has lasted any shorter than 11/12 hours, such is the amount of enthusiasm and passion to learn. The cost is more than made up for, and you will come away feeling as though you’ve got your absolute moneys worth. Check below for all the information you’re going to need.
This workshop will be with Spanish master Elias Alonso, and will focus on NMM. I’ve discussed NMM before, and Elias is responsible for the artwork on the Scale 75 boxes I recently picked up, so as you can imagine, this is a workshop I’m very keen to attend.
Places in these workshops are extremely limited so as not to disperse to much of the painters time. You will get a hell of a lot of one to one advice at this, and you will absolutely come away a better painter. Is there any higher accolade I can offer? I’ll allow John who runs the Weekend Workshop to explain in his own words what this is all about, and how to get involved. Carry on below for the information you need.
“The Weekend Workshop is back home once again and is preparing for it’s next workshop! For the second time we are inviting over one of the giants of the Spanish painting community, Elías Alonso! Elías has clocked up an impressive 14 demons in the last few years along with a plethora of other awards, Elías is also the lead painter for Scale 75, so if you have ever admiringly gazed upon Scale 75 box art there’s a good chance Elías painted it!
Elías will be teaching the secrets of light and non metallic metal over the course of 2 days, he will take you step by step through the ideas and theory of light and the technical side of NMM, he will demonstrate those ideas using the free miniature you will receive and you will then get to take those new skills and apply them to your own miniature under Elías’ guidance. It is with no exaggeration that I say that the skills and knowledge you will acquire aren’t being taught anywhere else in the UK and are limited to very few people within the sci fi and fantasy miniature painting community.
The workshop will run from 10am up until 6pm, the workshop will be broken up into 4 main chunks, morning and afternoon session over the 2 days, the morning sessions will be more focused on the theory and ideas of what Elías is teaching, with an hour or two in between demonstrations to get some painting done, the focus on the afternoon sessions is for you to sit down and get a good few hours painting in so you can really get to grips with what is being taught. Both myself and Elías will be there to give you feedback and reinforce the ideas, theories and techniques, give you advice how can improve your technical skills and answer any hobby related question you can think of! When the day is done we usually head out for a few drinks and something to eat, Liverpool is a great city full of wonderful pubs and eateries.
The workshops costs £95 for both days, included is your miniature, lunch and hobby support after the workshop, no doubt questions will arise once you continue to apply your new knowledge and we will be here, continuing to give feedback and advice, helping to push your progression!
Items that you will need to bring with you:-
Paints
Paint Brushes
A Lamp (or two) with a daylight bulb
Palette (ideally a wet palette)
A scalpel or X-acto knife
Fine grit sand paper/file
Pin vice, drill bit and brass rod
Superglue
Plinth or stand
Don’t worry if you cant bring all of these items or you forget some as we will have some spare that you can lend.
For enquirers and further information or to book a place on the workshop, gives us an email or contact us on Facebook or use the contact form on the Get Involved page.”
So they’re john’s words on the subject, and they definitely rung true. If you can get to Liverpool that weekend, then there are much worse, and much less productive ways you could spend your time I can assure you. Hear over to The Weekend Workshops page, and get yourself booked in.