Advice for attending Daniel Greene workshop

[Steven Sweeney]

Melinda,

The Scottsdale location undoubtedly trumps a number of my observations about how the workshop will proceed, and I'm sure you can sort out the things that will be different from the experience I described. Better natural winter lighting in Phoenix than upstate NY, for one thing. For another, he may not have some of those prints and other materials in tow. I'm sure there are any number of other ways that the workshop will be modified for the location, but I'm also sure you'll get the same valuable instruction.

The issue of transporting paints in airline baggage is vexing. I used to do it -- before 9/11 -- even on international flights. I think it's probably still "okay", as tubed paints, though flammable (but so are books and clothing), are not volatile. I decided I didn't want to ever have to argue the point, however, with a Chinese customs officer, so I just purchased duplicate sets of the recommended paints to have in the U.S. and overseas. I do, nonetheless, think you could fly with tubed paints (I'd keep them in carry-on and not checked baggage, so I could at least be present if baggage inspectors decided there was a problem,) but most certainly you shouldn't carry any solvents (turps, brush cleaner, etc.), and I'd even pick up some fresh medium (linseed oil or Liquin or whatever you use) in Scottsdale.

(I'm responding hypothetically, because I, in fact, drove from my then-home in Minnesota to New York. That also dealt with the "how to transport wet canvases" problem. I built custom wooden crates for transporting the two paintings completed at the workshop, as well as a number of landscape oil sketches I went on to do on Cape Cod. I suspect that your "solution" -- especially if you elect to use the larger-dimension canvases that Greene permits -- is to bite the bullet and ship them home.)

By the way, since I'm back in the thread, I'll mention something that should be obvious, which is to show up with a palette large enough to accommodate that pre-mixed array of paints. No 10" x 12" disposable palettes or such.