Shirl took a one day workshop with Cynthia Packard at the Fine Arts Work Center in June 2007. "She's my favorite artist
/ mentor in Provincetown and I had waited 3 years to get into one of her classes. Although I wished it were a week long workshop,
I learned a great deal."
Cynthia's devil may care teaching technique is freeing. She taught some of her encaustic
approaches and reinforced the use of the entire canvas as part of your composition. "She's tough.. but I like that discipline
and 'shit or get off the pot' style of teaching. "
Shirl also received
a week long scholarship to the Fine Arts Work Center here in Provincetown whereby she studied with painter Richard Baker.
"I'm still trying to push the envelope in terms of gainig a better knowledge of interpretation between what I see and what
I choose to paint." She found Richards teaching technique especially helpful in the cerebral aspect of the interpretation
process. "Painting the still life was very helpful in getting back to basics while trying to move beyond what is there. Its
easier to do that with objects I think than the figure."
Shirl continues
to work toward pushing the envelope of getting away from 'rendering' and becoming more abstract. "I just need to get out of
my own way and remember to play. I fight the literal all the time. Its crazy!"
Her
work is on exhibit at various galleries and venues in Provincetown.
