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Well this was my third time taking a workshop with Matt Smith.

Back in 1993 was the first time, I knew nothing about painting or art but I had a blast .

         The latest workshop was "Awesome" it was different as it was inside and I loved ever bit of it !

Being inside, at first I was not sure I was going to like it BUT ....Then I started to think .....................

I could watch other students being critiqued by Matt and learn that much more.

        His teaching was strong and very well communicated to the student. He did several demos to reinforce what he talked about in his lecture. He was open to questions during his demo and after. He "HELPED each student at the level they needed to be helped at . I loved the 3 days I had with him. He is such a giving person and an awesome artist/painter too. In my opinion Matt's  brushwork is fantastic.  He is very disciplined using a brush for value shifts and different colors which in turn keep his color clean . He used lot's of paint as I watched him  load his brush,  giving  it some  twists, pushes & turning his brush in ever which way possible he created a fantastic demo . 

Some of the KEY points he made was :

   Nature will NOT give you a "paint ready composition", you have to use the  photo as a springboard.   

   Don't be "a slave" to the subject.  We are not painting photographs.  Paint like you or you will be just a second rate someone else.

• Always establish the horizon line 
• Cool /gray things off as they reseed into the distance ... look for shadows getting lighter and cooler in distance.   
• Establish a series of major shapes first, block them in with thin paint
• Shadows define the drawing....Pay attention to your Value pattern  
• Move the viewer's eye around the painting with good shapes and edges 
• Put down the paint with confidence,  or at least try to....... use more paint as its easier to manipulate 
• If you put it down a little dark ....it's ok .....it's easier to lighten a dark then to darken a light 
• The start of the painting might look clumsy push on
• The last 10% can take some time ... as you are fine tuning it ...be care full not to overwork it 
• Work your edges sharp ...and soft....
• Abstraction can be found in the natural world use it to your advantage ....
• The fundamentals are the most important and overlooked by many 
• Look at Form ....Not line 
•  Textural passages can be a real nice add to your painting BUT ... Don't use thick paint for no reason 
•  Thickest paint is usually around the lightest light or the focal point
• Mixing colors came up .....Lighter ...Darker....warmer ....cooler....Richer ....Grayer ......I kept hearing him tell students 
•  looking straight up toward the zenith this is the darkest part of the sky as you look towards the horizon it will change
•  Photos lie ........Period !
• Squint ............. 2 values come close together, make them one.
• The painting can be about value or it's about color.

  In my opinion : I would say take a workshop with Matt Smith and elevate your work. Matt is a fantastic artist who can teach. He  is willing to share what he knows and his paintings speak for themselves.  Matt is a rare find  !!