Watts Podcast – Meadow Gist Interview

  On this podcast, Jeff sits down with Meadow Gist to discuss her career as a fine artist and teacher at the Watts Atelier.

What’s on the Easel?

    This is a painting I just finished for Oil Painters of Americas National show.   It is a bit of a departure from my usual textural approach.  I wanted to work a bit more on the edge manipulation, especially around the head.  Good to exercise your rendering chops every once and awhile.  Overall… Continue reading →

Watts Podcast – Lucas Graciano Interview

  On this podcast Jeff sits down with Lucas Graciano to discuss life as an illustrator, fine artist and teacher at the Watts Atelier.

Watts Podcast – Stan Prokopenko Interview

  On this podcast, Jeff sits down with Stan Prokopenko to discuss life as a fine artist and teacher at the Watts Atelier.  

Watts Atelier 2012 Instructor and Student Show

[frame] In December we celebrated our 20th year in the education business by hosting a student show at the local Encinitas Library.  The New Library is an incredible facility with a 180 degree view of the Pacific Ocean.  We had a great turn out and the work was impressive.  We showcased instructor and student works demonstrating everything from Graphite to… Continue reading →

Annual Watts Atelier Holiday Party – 2012

[frame] Once again we hosted our annual Watts Atelier Holiday shindig celebrating our 20th Anniversary.  I can’t believe it has been that long.  I remember the first one and it had all of 10 to 12 people.  What a difference two decades makes.  Needless to say it went off without a hitch.  Thanks to the generosity of our wonderful instructors we… Continue reading →

New iBook Release by Jeffrey R. Watts

[frame] Hope all is well with you all and you had a great Thanksgiving.  Today’s blog post is to announce the release of a recent project that I am really excited about.   I cherry picked some of my favorite Portrait Gestures from over the years and put them into an iBook format so you can zoom in… Continue reading →

Watts Podcast – Erik Gist Interview

  Some of you may be wondering about the other instructors at Watts, and are a bit curious about their backgrounds and how they came to instruct at Watts as well as some of the trials and tribulations of being a professional artist.  I will be interviewing one of our instructors and posting it once a… Continue reading →

Composition & Staging for Visual Development

[frame] This class was designed and is taught by my father Robert Watts.  He designed the class to emphasize the brick and mortar concepts of picture making so often lacking or not really taught at all in today’s schools and institutions of art.  Although tailored to students looking to go into visual development this class… Continue reading →

9 Different Lighting Scenarios You Should Master

[frame] (1) DUAL LIGHTING:  Dual lighting is often used for theatrical purposes where lots of “impact” or drama is needed.  You will see comic artist, visual development artist and illustrators commonly favor this type of lighting.  The lighting is highly effective for this purpose but it should be noted that the use of two light sources will create a… Continue reading →

Life Drawing Progression

[frame]   I spent about 8 hours on this life drawing.  It was executed on a Vellum Bristol and done using graphite pencils.  We often use Charcoal and one could easily do that for these long efforts but I find using graphite to be a nice change of pace and excersises a different type of discipline.  This type of… Continue reading →

The Encinitas Years Part 1: Westlake 2000-2007

[frame]   Before I start this next chapter of the Atelier’s history I would like to preface it by saying I have seen so much in the way of human behavior and have helped to cultivate so many wonderful artists who have gone on to incredible careers.  Alas if only that was always the case.  Along with… Continue reading →

The Early Years Part 2: Del Mar Location

[frame]   I did not have a lot of time to consider the move from downtown to a new location and again I found myself with a dilemma. The only location I could find that would rent to a school would double my previous rent. I had no time to asses if the demand would… Continue reading →

What’s on the Easel?

[frame]   This is my most recent studio painting.  It is a 40”X30” Oil painting titled “Old Timer” and took about two weeks to paint.   Originally I had intended for this piece to go to the Portrait Society of America Show but decided last minute to send it as my second piece for this year’s Prix de West Show… Continue reading →

The Early Years Part 1: Downtown San Diego

[frame]   Many of my current students often ask or are curious as to how the present incarnation of my art school came about.  When a student comes in today it may seem like the school runs as a well oiled machine, and I am happy to say most of the time that is the case.  However,… Continue reading →

What’s on the Easel?

[frame]     The painting I am presently working on is titled “Pepper Falls”. It is 24″ x 30″ and painted in oil on lead primed canvas.  This painting is being done from a piece of reference I took on a recent trip to Teton National Park in the Bridger Wilderness.  We were hiking up to an… Continue reading →

2012 2nd Annual Watts Atelier Boot Camp

[frame]   WHAT IS THE WATTS ATELIER BOOTCAMP? The Watts Atelier Boot Camp was designed to be a thorough hands-on workshop with a heavy emphasis on exposing students of all levels to a plethora of training methods and exercises used in our full-time Atelier program. It will give the artist an opportunity to gain valuable… Continue reading →

Annual Watts Atelier Holiday Party – 2011

[frame]   I can’t believe we are celebrating our 20th year. Nothing signifies the passing of time more at Watts Atelier than our annual holiday party. It is always great to see old and new students along with their friends and family members. We are continuing our 6th year of doing the instructor round robin… Continue reading →

Message from Jeff Watts

[frame]   I would like to welcome you all to the Official Watts Atelier Blog! If you are wondering why I have not posted more often over the years as social media has started to encompass more and more aspects of our lives, I suppose I do not have a quick and easy response other… Continue reading →