Chris Saper says portrait painting is less about personal expression and more about getting things right. "Either the nose is in the right place, or it isn't," she says.If you go
› What: Portrait Painting Workshop and Professional Development Labs› Where: Townsend Atelier, The Arts Building, 301 East 11th Street› When: April 7-10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.› Cost: $550, pre-registration required online or by phone› Contact: 423-266-2712 or peggy@townsendatelier.com
Nationally known portrait artist Chris Saper has completed nearly 400 commissioned portraits since 1991 but says she still finds certain styles of painting daunting.
"Painting anything well is a challenge, which is part of why it is such an engaging activity," she says. "Since that's what I do every day, I don't necessarily think that portrait painting is the most challenging. To me, landscape painting is more difficult - so many variables: How many trees? How big should I paint them? Where should I put them?
"In portrait painting, either the nose is in the right place, or it isn't."
Saper, who's coming from her home in Arizona to Chattanooga to lead an upcoming workshop on portrait painting at Townsend Atelier, recommends that any artist seeking training should be discerning.
"Do your homework in selecting an instructor," she says. "Not every fabulous painter knows how to teach. Your time and energy - and finances - are too important to leave to chance."
Peggy Townsend of Townsend Atelier says the fact that Saper is coming here for a workshop "underscores the fact that Chattanooga is a center for the arts."
A native of Wisconsin, Saper also has published books about her work, including "Classic Portrait Painting in Oils: Keys To Mastering Diverse Skin Tones," "Painting Beautiful Skin Tones With Color and Light," "For Love or Money: A Business Handbook for Portrait Painters" and "Mostly Monochrome."
Her love of art has been a lifelong passion, she says, and she published her first drawing when she was 9 years old. Still, she says, it was up to her to continue her studies in the field.
"While I had wonderful encouragement from teachers along the way, no one really encouraged me to pursue art as a profession," she says. "I just decided and developed an approach to make it happen."
Despite her love of art, she had a backup plan in case a career didn't pan out. In fact, she spent almost 20 years in an alternate job.
"I have a bachelor's degree in fine art, but never thought I would make a career out of art, which is why I got a master's degree in health administration," she says. "It was only after a 17-year career as a health-care executive and my first child was born that I became serious about transitioning careers.
"In so doing, I built a business plan to effect the change, and the nuts and bolts of how to develop such a plan is one of the key things I will be teaching at the Townsend Atelier."
Though her master's degree is in a business-oriented field, Saper says she's a proponent of a liberal-arts education.
"I think economics discourages people from pursuing the arts," she says. "The lack of attention to and funding for the arts in public schools is more discouraging in general because it encourages a one-dimensional education which, in turn, can result in one-dimensional thinking and problem solving."
For her workshop in Chattanooga, she recommends that only intermediate and professional painters sign up.
"I find that what I teach is too frustrating for someone who doesn't yet have basic drawing skills," she explains. "There would be so much to address concurrently - drawing, values (light to dark tones that create the illusion of form), color and working with a live model.
"Part of what I do teach students is how to get excellent reference photographs because, for the most part, portrait painters will at some time be working from photos. However, I think learning is critically limited when artists do not practice regularly painting from life, for every genre, and most certainly when learning exclusively from photos."
To keep her skills honed, she takes workshops led by other artists.
"I usually take a workshop once a year or so," she says. "There is always something to be learned from another accomplished artist."
In addition to the workshop, Saper will be doing a free public demonstration on April 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Townsend Atelier.
Contact Karen Nazor Hill at 423-757-6396 or khill@timesfreepress.com.