American Art Retreat

04/25/2016

Today's the LAST DAY TO SIGN UP for the Disney Dinner and Presentation!
TWO UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES—TWO SPECTACULAR SHOWS!

Friday Night, April 29, 2016
“THE ART OF DISNEY® PUBLISHING”
Open Bar; Rustic French Dinner by Chef Claude Rodier; and Presentation

The Wyndham Hotel, 95 Presidential Circle, Gettysburg, PA 6:00pm–9pm
$85
$65 (under 21)

Join Ken Shue, Disney’s Vice President of Global Art and Design Development, and artist Hans Teensma, designer of Disney® picture books, as they talk about the process of creating Disney® art in storybooks and films, both old and new. They will also discuss developing good work practices, organizing studio spaces, finding inspiration, and overcoming artist’s block. And from the vault! they’ll be bringing a selection of vintage Disney® artwork that you can actually hold and examine closely. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.

For tickets, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-art-of-disney-publishing-tickets-21012266254 or find us on our website at https://www.americanartretreat.com

FAMILY FUN!

KIDS! Bring Your Parents

Saturday Morning, April 30, 2016

“MAKING MAGIC: THE ART OF DISNEY® STORYBOOKS”

The Gateway Theater 8, 20 Presidential Circle, Gettysburg

10:00am–11:30am

$10 per adult with one child; $5 per additional child (ages 0 thru 15)

Learn how to draw Mickey Mouse! Ken Shue and Hans Teensma will explain how Disney® creates art and show you selected illustrations from some of Disney’s most recent projects. They will even teach you how to draw Mickey Mouse! A question and answer period will follow the presentation. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

For tickets, go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-magic-the-art-of-disney-storybooks-tickets-21012945285 or find us on our website at https://www.americanartretreat.com
TICKETS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.

OUR DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS
Ken Shue, Disney’s Vice President of Global Art and Design Development, began his career as an illustrator, which led him to the art and design of children’s textbooks and picture books. He illustrated Hiawatha Passing, selected by The New York Times as one of “Ten Best Picture Books of 1995.” That same year he joined The Walt Disney Company. where he oversees the Disney Storybook Art Department. Ken is also an accomplished fine artist. He lives with his family in La Canada, California.

Artist Hans Teensma, founder of Impress, Inc. design studio, has designed well over 100 books and magazines. His career took off in 1978 with his work on Outside Magazine, which led to Rolling Stone, Rocky Mountain Magazine, New England Monthly, Eating Well, and FamilyFun. He continues to design Orion, a magazine that is passionately dedicated to the arts, culture, and environment. When he became director of Disney Magazine, he reconnected with his love of animation and began to design pictorial books that feature archival art from Disney's Animation Research Library. Hans lives and works in Northampton, Massachusetts.

03/23/2016

http://www.flipsidepa.com/story/entertainment/2016/03/23/disney-artists-give-presentations-gettysburg/81799644/

Ken Shue and Hans Teensma, who have both worked at Disney Studios, will give educational presentations about the beloved brand's art, storybooks and films in Gettysburg April 29.

01/08/2016

Coming in April! Save the Dates--More Details Coming Soon

“THE ART OF DISNEY: NINETY YEARS OF GENIUS”

The American Art Retreat (AAR) at Gettysburg is proud to host two very special presentations--one just for adults and another for children--from Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Our distinguished speakers are Ken Shue, Disney’s Vice President of Global Art and Design Development, and artist Hans Teensma, designer of Disney picture books and former director of Disney Magazine.

Friday Night, April 29, 2016
“THE ART OF DISNEY PUBLISHING”
Open bar, dinner, and presentation
The Wyndham Hotel, Gettysburg

On Friday night, Ken and Hans will discuss the creative steps involved in Disney art making, including the visual development of films, both old and new, and content from their Disney’s Animation Archives book series. They will then show how this art can inform personal work and provide insights into developing best practices, organizing studio spaces, finding inspiration, and overcoming artist’s block. A selection of original vintage Disney artwork will also be shown. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.

Saturday Morning, April 30, 2016
“MAKING MAGIC: THE ART OF DISNEY STORYBOOKS”
The Wyndham Hotel, Gettysburg

Parents, Bring your kids!
Disney artists Ken Shue and Hans Teensma, from Disney Studios in Burbank, California, will share both vintage original book illustrations from more than 90 years of Disney artwork, including selections of recent and newly illustrated story moments. They will even teach you how to draw Mickey Mouse!
A question and answer period will follow the presentation.

Don’t miss these unique opportunities to learn about the creative process behind the world’s most famous, beloved, and enduring brand.

Ken Shue, Disney’s Vice President of Global Art and Design Development, began his career as an illustrator, which led him to the art and design of children’s textbooks and picture books. He illustrated Hiawatha Passing, selected by The New York Times as one of “Ten Best Picture Books of 1995.” That same year he joined The Walt Disney Company. where he oversees the Disney Storybook Art Department. Ken is also an accomplished fine artist. He lives with his family in La Canada, California.

Artist Hans Teensma, founder of Impress, Inc. design studio, has designed well over 100 books and magazines. His career took off in 1978 with his work on Outside Magazine, which led to Rolling Stone, Rocky Mountain Magazine, New England Monthly, Eating Well, and FamilyFun. He continues to design Orion, a magazine that is passionately dedicated to the arts, culture, and environment. When he became director of Disney Magazine, he reconnected with his love of animation and began to design pictorial books that feature archival art from Disney's Animation Research Library. Hans lives and works in Northampton, Massachusetts.

09/29/2015

An Evening with John Kascht was a hit! John's presentation was amazing. Thanks to all who attended and thank you John!

09/29/2015

Friday's plein-air instruction continued with Amy Lindenberger. She is such a gifted teacher. We also had a little time to create a watercolor sketch.

09/25/2015

Day 1: American Art Retreat. Amy Lindenberger taught an amazing class in Plein-Air colored pencil. And we had so much fun at the dinner afterwards. Thanks to all who participated. We do it all again today.

09/21/2015

Fun is only four days away!
For tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-celebrated-caricature-artist-johnny-kascht-open-bar-dinner-and-presentation-click-tickets-18087051859

09/21/2015

Only Three Days Away...

War. Art. Genius. And the CIA vs. the Soviet Union.
Don't miss this fascinating lecture by Wendy Allen as she uncovers the truth behind the forgotten women of the Abstract Expressionist Movement.
FOR TICKETS:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-the-shadows-women-abstract-expressionists-in-a-mans-world-open-bar-dinner-and-presentation-click-tickets-18303986717

09/16/2015

"In the Shadows: Women Abstract Expressionists in a Man's World" French Rustic Dinner (includes an open bar) and Presentation
Gettysburg, PA | Wyndham Gettysburg
Thursday, September 24, 2015 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM (EDT)

Celebrated artist Wendy Allen will examine the work and careers of several female Abstract Expressionists whose contributions are just now being reconsidered as integral to the very "masculine" art period of the 1940s and 50s. Elaine de Kooning and Lee Krasner, two of the artists to be discussed, created great art in the shadows of their celebrated husbands. Allen will also examine the works of Corinne Michelle West, whose extraordinary work is being reexamined after almost being lost from the history of American art.

FOR TICKETS:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-the-shadows-women-abstract-expressionists-in-a-mans-world-open-bar-dinner-and-presentation-click-tickets-18303986717

09/16/2015

The Joys of Plein-Air: Landscapes for Beginners
Thursday and Friday, September 24 & 25, 2015, 3:30-5:30 pm
Location: TBD

FOR TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-joys-of-plein-air-landscapes-for-beginners-click-here-for-tickets-scroll-down-for-details-tickets-18180231562

Join renowned artists and instructors Amy Lindenberger and Wendy Allen for this entertaining two-day class geared to teach beginners the fundamentals of drawing and painting en plein-air. All art supplies will be provided.

For thousands of years, artists have worked outdoors, creating landscapes that interpret the natural world round them. We therefore believe that today’s landscapes should also incorporate elements that reflect human impact, such as barns, fences, cars, and the like. But most importantly, we believe that whatever style is used should first be pleasing to the artist. This fun and interesting class will teach you how to approach landscape art these sensibilities in mind.

Day 1: Amy Lindenberger will familiarize you with the tools of the colored pencil medium, color applications, and fundamentals of color theory.

Day 2: Wendy Allen will teach you how to mix and apply watercolors and the principles of creating a strong composition.

09/16/2015

"AN EVENING WITH WORLD RENOWNED CARICATURE ARTIST JOHNNY KASCHT" Rustic French Dinner (includes an open bar) by the Wyndham's own Chef Claude Rodier and Presentation
Gettysburg, PA | Wyndham Gettysburg
Friday, September 25, 6:00-8:30pm
FOR TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-with-celebrated-caricature-artist-johnny-kascht-dinner-and-presentation-click-here-for-tickets-18087051859

08/26/2015

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2015/08/25/why-making-art-is-the-new-meditation/

If you can't find the patience to meditate, researchers say creating art offers some of the same benefits