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Practically Painting with O'Keeffe
Start: Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 (check in after 3 p.m.) End: Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 (check out by 10 a.m.) Treat yourself to an adventure in Georgia O'Keeffe's own backyard, made famous by the landscapes she captured on canvas. Walk in her footsteps and try techniques that guided her art. Bring your favorite painting media and enjoy an unparalleled experience in the land that inspired O’Keeffe. Study with O’Keeffe's weekend companion, who went on to her own career in the visual arts. Open to all skill levels. Sign up for course G24100303 at ghostranch.org/program/g24100303/ |
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Itinerary and Activities (subject to change)
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Sunday, Oct. 13 — Check-in begins at 3:00 p.m. at the Welcome Center; Dinner is 5:30-6:30; Orientation, introductions, and course overview begin at 6:45 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 14 — 9 a.m.–noon in studio for an intensive "O'Keeffe exercise"; afternoon free; 7–8:30 p.m. studio follow-up to morning activities, presentation of O’Keeffe’s guiding principles Tuesday, Oct. 15 — 9 a.m.–noon in studio for experiments with composition; 3:30 optional O’Keeffe Landscape Tour by van (details below), otherwise afternoon free; 7–8:30 follow up on morning experience, exercise exploring value (light and dark) Wednesday, Oct. 16 — 9 a.m.–noon in studio learn O’Keeffe’s steps before brush touches canvas; afternoon free; 7-8:30 p.m. in studio to complete morning compositions, a special O’Keeffe “challenge” Thursday, Oct. 17 — 9 a.m.–noon in studio learn about color theory through O’Keeffe’s art; afternoon free; 7-8:30 p.m. in studio share completed work and work in progress, another “challenge,” and final Q&A about instructor’s time with O'Keeffe Friday, Oct. 18 — No scheduled activities. Breakfast, then room checkout 10 a.m. |
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Materials to Bring
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Materials Supplied
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The instructor will provide supplemental supplies for experimentation. Participants bring all basic supplies.
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Skill Level
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ALL SKILL LEVELS are welcome, from beginners to accomplished painters who want a new perspective or special "O'Keeffe experience.” I encourage individuality and creativity: My goal is for you to find your own creative center and make your own unique works utilizing O’Keeffe’s approach. We can anticipate a wealth of knowledge, ideas, and capabilities among workshop participants. Together we will foster a positive learning environment where all can explore.
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About the Instructor, Anna Koster
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I have been leading O’Keeffe-focused workshops at Ghost Ranch since 2014 and have taught classes at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (Santa Fe), Nevada Museum of Art (Reno), Palo Alto (CA) Art Center, and San Jose (CA) Museum of Art. I have two art degrees (BA and MFA) and worked at art museums for 35 years, including 15 years at Stanford University’s Cantor Arts Center. Learn about me at www.annakoster.com. See my resume for details. Visit the Facebook group “Lessons from Georgia O'Keeffe's Art, Life, Landscape,” to view posts or share ideas and art. Anna's Facebook page is Facebook.com/AnnaKosterArt.
If you have questions, you can email me through the "Contact" page at annakoster.com. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Questions specific to this workshop are below. For questions about Ghost Ranch food, lodging, and hospitality, visit https://www.ghostranch.org/things-to-do/faqs/. Travel information is at https://www.ghostranch.org/plan-your-visit/your-stay/travel/.
Question: What's the scoop on the Tuesday, October 15 (3:30 p.m.) Georgia O'Keeffe Landscape Tour? Answer: This tour lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes and goes by motor bus to areas near O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch house that are otherwise off limits. The guide will point out sites of O'Keeffe's paintings and share information about her 50-year history at Ghost Ranch. The tour is recommended but optional and requires a fee in addition to the cost of the workshop. A discounted rate of $25 is offered to anyone registered in this course. Companions must pay the regular rate of $42. Deadline to ensure a seat for this tour is Oct. 13, call Rosemary Kaszans (Tuesday-Saturday) at (505) 685-1000. If she is not in, please leave a message. Q: Can I buy art supplies at Ghost Ranch? A: No, the Ghost Ranch gift shop does not sell painting supplies, and there are no art supply stores in the area. Q: How much time each day will be spent in the workshop? Will there be free time? A: A typical day will include 4.5 hours of organized activity (morning and evenings), with afternoons free. Participants can paint in their free time or take advantage of the many activities available at Ghost Ranch, including hiking, horse-back riding, viewing archeology and history exhibits, a variety of tours, and more. The studio will be open all hours for those who want to paint in their free time. Q: Will we be painting the same scenes as O’Keeffe and going to places where O’Keeffe painted? A: Ghost Ranch is the epicenter of the New Mexico landscape that O’Keeffe depicted. The subjects of her work surround us at Ghost Ranch. In addition, there is the optional Georgia O’Keeffe Landscape Tour to see specific subjects that she painted (see details above). Q: Did you help O’Keeffe with her painting? A: No, my duties were in the personal and domestic sphere. I was hired as her weekend companion, to stay with her Friday evenings to Monday mornings; I was usually the only person with her. I cooked her meals, ate with her, then cleaned up after. I drew her bath, washed her back, brushed her hair, helped her into bed, and read to her. I accompanied her on her daily walks, fed her dogs, and did anything that she requested. I worked for her from summer 1976 to winter 1977. During that time, she turned 89 years old. She had macular degeneration and limited sight, but with the help of John Poling, she began painting again (see book list below). I did not help her paint, but I did see her studio and the painting in progress. Q: Where will we be meeting? A: The Art Center serves as our studio and classroom. There will be opportunities to work outdoors, to make studies and sketches for use in the studio, and paint in the open air. The Art Center is available all hours for those who want to use it. Q: Will we be painting en plein air? A: This class is not about plein air style painting, characterized by loose brushwork, changing light, soft-focused forms, and impressionistic landscapes. My instruction, primarily in the studio, centers on O’Keeffe’s approach to painting. But there will be opportunities to work outdoors. If there is a request, I will cover traditional ways to depict distance (arial perspective) and mass (3-dimensions). Q: Will we tour O’Keeffe’s houses during the week? A: No, that is not part of our workshop. However, you can make plans on their own to visit O’Keeffe’s Abiquiu house: okeeffemuseum.org/tickets-and-tours. Both of O’Keeffe’s houses are owned by the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. If you want to visit, most of our afternoons are open for that or other free-time activities. Note: The Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center does not control O’Keeffe’s house on the seven acres carved out from the former dude ranch. That house is called Rancho de los Burros. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum does not offer public tours of Rancho de los Burros. The Georgia O’Keeffe Landscape Tour (by van) stops on the road by Rancho de los Burros. That landscape tour is offered as a discounted, optional activity during this course. Q: Will we visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum as part of the workshop? A: No. Visiting the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum before (or after) the workshop is recommended if you have the time. It is an hour’s drive to Santa Fe from Ghost Ranch; so if you have a private vehicle with you, it is possible to make an afternoon visit during our week together. Most afternoons are open for that or other free-time activities. Q: Will Anna Koster talk about O’Keeffe and share stories about her? A: Yes. In addition to illustrated talks about the O’Keeffe’s life and work, I will share personal insights and answer questions. Q: What about Ghost Ranch lodging? A: Housing is first-come, first-booked. Here is lodging contact information: 505-685-1000 or 877-804-4678, https://www.ghostranch.org/plan-your-visit/accommodation/lodging/, https://www.ghostranch.org/connect/contact-us/ For a full experience, I suggest staying at Ghost Ranch, however there are other options, especially for those who must bring their dogs, which are not permitted at Ghost Ranch. The Abiquiu Inn is 15 miles away. Other places are available though VRBO and AirBnB. Note: If you are very lucky, you can book a room in the O’Keeffe casita, the small adobe where she stayed in her early years at Ghost Ranch. Q: Can I extend my stay at Ghost Ranch beyond the workshop? A: You may be able to arrange an additional one- or two-night stay with Ghost Ranch staff: 505-685-1000 or 877-804-4678. You can also stay extra hours on the last day, after you clear your room for the 10 am check-out. You’d need to pay for additional meals if you want to eat lunch or dinner at Ghost Ranch on check-out day. |
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Optional Reading
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There is no required reading. Past participants have said that they would have appreciated an advance reading list. If you are of like mind, here it is:
• For its accuracy and detail, I like Roxana Robinson's biography Georgia O'Keeffe, first published by Harper & Row in 1989. • Portrait of an Artist: A Biography of Georgia O'Keeffe by Laurie Lisle, from Washington Square Press, is also respected and is easier to read (fewer details). Firsthand Accounts from others who worked for O’Keeffe: • Weekends with O'Keeffe by C. S. Merrill, published by La Alameda Press (She mentions me twice in her book.) • Remembering Miss O'Keeffe by Margaret Wood, published by Museum of New Mexico Press. • John Poling, my immediate next-door neighbor, wrote Painting with O'Keeffe about his experience helping Georgia O'Keeffe. His book covers much of the time I worked for her. • The Genízaro and the Artist presents Napoleón Garcia's experience with O'Keeffe, published by Rio Grande Books in 2008 NOTE: No reading is required. This list is only for those who want to do something extra before or after their week at Ghost Ranch. |
Photo Credits: All photos that include people are by Amy Hulse, amyhulse.com.