Specialty Pro-Seminars
Take your pick from these many specialized seminars. Taught by Cobalt and guest artists/instructors (and industry legends), these 3-5 day Pro Seminars are great professional development opportunities for scenic artists and instructors alike.
If you're looking to broaden your knowledge and skills, join us for these informative and interesting hands-on seminars. These programs are given for the full-time SATP students during the academic year and accommodate additional enrollees of all levels. Participants receive lots of individual attention.
If your schedule conflicts with these seminars and you are unable to attend, consider our Advanced Independent Studies Program for which you create a custom-made session that addresses your interests and fits in your schedule.
SPS GENERAL INFORMATION
Dates: See individual Seminars below
Instructors: See individual Seminars below
Deposit: $150
Note: Your deposit is ultimately included in the tuition cost and is credited toward the total of fees due.
Tuition: (tools & materials included) 3-Day Seminar: $450 4-Day Seminar: $600 5-Day Seminar: $750
Room & Board: Included
Visa, Discover Card and Mastercard accepted
Enrollment Max: 10
Deadline: Space is limited, so plan ahead and call early!
*Except for the Anti-Freakout Job Roundtable weekend. See below.
SPS - Curricula
All seminars are incredibly informative, hands-on workshop-style classes. This list is chronological to the current academic year. Check back regularly for updated schedules and information.
SPS - Admission Requirements
Open.
SPS - Application
None.
SPS - Registration
Please register as early as possible as class sizes are small. In order to reserve your place send a $150 deposit check to "Cobalt Studios" or call us with credit Card information at least two weeks in advance. Deposit is fully refunded if seminars are full or cancelled.
SPECIALTY PRO SEMINARS
Please go to the Instructors page to learn more about Instructors/Hosts for the seminar you choose.
2011-2012 Academic Year
ANTI-FREAKOUT JOB MARKET ROUNDTABLE
February 24 (evening) and 25 (all day), 2012
Roundtable Host: Rachel Keebler, et alThis is a short Scenic Artists Conference designed to relieve anxiety about JOBS.
Cobalt Alumni and other working Scenics converge to share experiences
with students and each other; recommending products, giving industry
advice, and sharing portfolios.*** SPECIAL
SESSION ON FLAMERETARDING!
Saturday Afternoon with Peter Monahan of Rosebrand
Arrive
by 7:00 p.m. Friday night, when the roundtable begins over dinner.
Saturday's sessions alternate between roundtable discussions, sharing
portfolios and good eats!. Focuses mostly around getting, doing, and
being successful at jobs. Other subjects include safety, resources and
new materials. Stay over saturday night if you want, and Sunday we wrap
up the networking and folks make their way home.Bring $10 to toss in for the food kitty. Call ahead to reserve a bed or a couch.For more information about this exciting annual event, click HERE to read the invitation.
USING PNEUMATIC SPRAYERS FOR SCENIC ARTWORK
Feb 27 Thru March 1, 2012 (4 days) Instructor: Kamilla Harkless
Pneumatic sprayers, cup guns, detail sprayers... Clouds, ombres, quick gradations... all are in this seminar. Intensive hands-on projects guided by Kamilla Harkless from LA, where spraying is BIG! Participants do LOTS of spraying, enough for the sprayer to became an extension of your hand! Walk away with 4 sprayed projects and the confidence to continue!
PAINTING FOR fILM AND TELEVISION: Textures, Techniques, Terms, Talents for Media Scenic Art
April 23 thru 27 2012 (5 days)
Instructor: Donna Wymore
Highlighting
Scenic Art as a career in the Media Market, Donna Wymore draws on her
years at Lexington Scenery in Los Angeles to cover the Basics required
to work in this fast-paced field. Working environments, equipment,
materials and the career market are discussed, Painting techniques are
demonstrated and you try them out! Some techniques covered are Aging,
Texturing, Crackle, Paint-spraying, Woodgraining, Wallpapering.
PAINTING TRANSLUCENT BACKDROPS
April 9 thru 13 2012 (5 days)
Instructor: Rachel Keebler
How to create those magical translucent backdrops that scenic and lighting designers love as a focal point. Rachel Keebler de-mystifies the process and guides you through the testing and painting processes that result in a finished project of your own. The final afternoon we have our very own light show on the projects, with a full discussion of the work.
FUTURE COBALT SEMINARS — Dates yet to be Determined
FOLIAGE II: TREES, BRUSHWORK, YOU AND THE ARTISTS
TBA Sometime during the 2012-13 School Year (4 days)
Instructor: Rachel Keebler
Rachel presents the brushwork styles used in Historical Theatre-style Foliage as part of this busy seminar which focuses on being able to follow any artists' style as they are used in theatrical and mural applications. Your confidence will grow as you are painting beautiful examples. Foliage I is not a prerequisite.
STAGE FLOORS AND THE SCENIC ARTIST TBA- 2012-13 SCHOOL YEAR (3 days) Instructor: Hannah Davis Explore the landscape of stage
floor surfaces! Hannah will share her wealth of knowledge, information
and problem solving techniques. She is a firm believer that practice and
adaptability are essential for any artist. Under her direction, you
will make full scale samples, poke and prod your way across the stage
floor in this very hands on seminar.
INTERIOR-GRADE WOODGRAIN
TBA - OCT 2012 (5 days)Instructor: Nels Christianson
From New York City's Christianson Lee Studios, Belgium's Gold Medal of Excellence for Decorative Painting winner Nels Christianson arrives at Cobalt for his exclusive teaching engagement. This rivetng seminar reveals the European realistic style Faux Bois in oils and beerglazing techniques. Nels is a meticulous guide as you make your own Maple, Mahogany, Oak and Walnut samples.
FAUX MARBLE: Interior-grade Marbelizing
Dec , 2012 TBA (5 days)
Instructor:Rachel Keebler
After a thorough introduction to the Faux Painting Business, Rachel Keebler guides you through the magical process of
marbelizing (using primarily Beer glazes). Learn to let the Marble flow
out of your hand, using the tools and procedures to make many quick,
beautiful and sophisticated samples.
FOLIAGE PAINTING I: Photo-real Foliage painting Techniques
TBA - OCT 2013 (5 days)
Instructor: Rachel Keebler
Commume with nature on the Cobalt grounds and master the techniques of rendering foliage photo-realistically! This seminar provides a fresh approach to looking at and painting trees and leaves. Special attention is given to reproducing realistic colors and textures. Learn how to use appropriate contrast, scale and perspective to add depth to your treescapes. CLUE IN ON THE FASTEST WAY TO GET SPECIFIC TREES (eg. OAK, MAPLE)! You will be making three big tree projects.
SIGN PAINTING: THE ART OF LETTERING FOR THEATRE AND FILM TBA - NOVEMBER 2012 (5 DAYS)Instructor: Theresa Dringenberg
This in-depth seminar addresses traditional sign materials, tools, alphabets & lettering techniques. Included is information on aged signs,special effects and unusual surfaces. Theresa Dringenberg draws from her Classical lettering training and over 25 years' experience to guide you and transform your timid stoke to a firm, sure one. Lots of practice and signs of your own to take home
ALL ABOUT FOAM
TBA-Sept 2013 (5 days)
Instructor: Donna Wymore
Thie
seminar covers the subject of flexible and rigid foams used in the
entertainment industry. A thorough presentation of various types of
coatings, tools and paints used will inform you as to how to use these
foams: how to attach, form, protect and paint them. This hands-on
workshop includes PLENTY of product information, safety practices and
finished pieces for you to take home. A FOAM LOT OF FUN!
THE ART OF SCENE PAINTING: THE HISTORICAL METHOD
TBA-OCT 2013 SCHOOL YEAR (3 days)
Instructor: Lance Brockman
Part I —
Lance begins with historical drawing techniques, and continues by
covering painting from a pigment wet-palette system. As always, be prepared
for lively late night slide lectures documenting the incredible scenic
painting tradition of the 19th century, the training, work, life and
times of Scenic Artists of the late 1800's.
For examples of historic
scenery, visit this extensive scenery collections database: Scenery
Collections Database. Get enthused with the energy of this type of painting
to enfuse it into your painting!
PERSPECTIVE FOR SCENIC ARTISTS
NOON MONDAY THRU NOON FRIDAY , 201? (Four Days)
Instructor: Diane Fargo
KNOW your perspective! Diane guides you through the steps it takes. Lots of Hands-on practice, by the time you leave you will understand! Includes using the tools and shop to draw Full-Scale perspective drawings.
FURNISHING YOUR BACKDROP
TBA- 2012-13 SCHOOL YEAR (3 days)
Instructor: Susan Crabtree
Legendary Instructor and Co-Author of the textbook "Scenic Art for the Theatre" Susan Crabtree shares her innovative techniques for rendering not only furniture onto backdrops, but infusing them with depth and light. Come learn the shortcuts which Susan uses for quick project turnarounds and accurate artistic representations.
LANDSCAPE PAINTING FOR MURALS AND THE STAGE
TBA-SPRING 2013 (5 days)
Instructor: Bob Moody
Study with Brandeis University's legendary professor and lover of painting large scale dramatic landscapes. This seminar will take you through a 9' x 12' landscape of your own! You will learn how to masterfully render the elements of landscapes - skies, mountains, fields, rocks and trees. Bob clues you in to design choices in his favorite medium.