Painting Oak Branches and Galls in Gouache Workshop with Lucy Martin

Oak galls, an apple-like deformity on oak trees caused by chemicals injected by insects, are one of the most fascinating ecological phenomena found in the Laguna de Santa Rosa and a subject that warrants further examination. Lucy Martin is known as a botanical artist whose paintings are all about close observation, which often leads to increased understanding of the particular object at hand. She paints mainly in gouache (similar to watercolor but more opaque), with the addition of watercolor and occasionally colored pencil. In this class, we will take a close look at oak branches and oak galls that are present in abundance on the oaks throughout Sonoma County. Lucy will present techniques such as layering from dark to light, dry brush for texture, and using gouache to achieve intense color, which are methods that help create a painting that has a sense of depth and density. She will also demonstrate each step in the painting and provide one-on-one guidance as the students create their own compositions.

Lucy Martin lives in Sonoma County, California. She is mainly self-taught, with some formal training including classes with Mary Jo Koch. She exhibits in the Sebastopol Gallery and Calabi Gallery, as well as annually in Art Trails, the juried Sonoma County Open Studio art tour. Her work was purchased for the Permanent Collection of the Special Collections and Archives Department at the McHenry Library at UCSC. She has exhibited in international shows of the American Society of Botanical Artists and solo shows at the Library at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Her art exhibit focused on lichens was on display in Heron Hall during the summer of 2018. Visit her website at www.lucymartinart.com