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          William Cochran

            teaching

                   Trompe L'Oeil 'Mastery Program

                       Exclusively at The Faux School

 

A Handful of Keys is a trompe l'oeil (fool the eye) mural, painted by the artist by hand. The children, door and stone are all flat illusions. The mural was commissioned by The Village of Great Neck Plaza, Jean Calendar, Mayor, for this historic Long Island downtown. It is located on the exterior wall of the Great Neck Center for the Visual and Performing Arts on Maple Drive at Middle Neck Road. Click any image in this portfolio to view it at a larger size.

 

Rockville Town Center - The artist's design will become part of the new Town Center in Rockville, Maryland. The mural site faces North Washington Street, a centuries old roadway that saw Native American, Colonial, African, Revolutionary, and Civil War history and, later, important civil rights activities. In this large trompe l'oeil mural painting, three gossamer banners are suspended in the background with historical text that includes the "X" marks of illiterate freedmen who founded a school on the site in 1867. Carved into the "Cornerstone" above are the key words from Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Lincoln's first foray into presidential politics occurred in Rockville in 1948, and his forces occupied the half-black, half-white city as the Civil War began. For the next century, Rockville was contested ground where profound issues of race, equality and American identity were settled forever.

View a class in progress

The art of Trompe L' Oeil is nearly as old as humankind, yet it retains tremendous appeal. Trompe l'oeil painting is about fooling the eye into experiencing three dimensions where there is really only a flat surface. Even in the digital age, photography has never been able to rival the mind-blowing power of a trained trompe l'oeil artist to create convincing illusions of depth and dimension. Yet high quality painted illusions remain quite rare, not because extraordinary talent is required but because the mechanics of trompe l'oeil are so poorly understood by most practicing artists, who often attempt to learn ineffective tricks, stunts and "secrets" to make paintings appear real
Student work in progress

Mr. Cochran will teach a week-long hands-on workshop focusing exclusively on the mechanics of trompe l'oeil -- the fine art of illusion. This five-day workshop will allow a small group to learn directly from a master illusionist how to create painted illusions that truly fool the eye. The methods are straightforward and no-nonsense, although self-motivation is required to truly master them. The instructor states that there are no "tricks" to this process, and if there is any "secret," it lies not in learning how to paint but in learning new ways to see.

students working under during a recent class
Breaking this fine art form into four simple, easy to understand fundamentals (value, temperature, edges, color), trompe l'oeil master William Cochran will train a small group of artists in the basics of illusion. He will teach them to see anew, and to understand the mechanics of trompe l'oeil painting in ways that will provide a firm foundation for successful illusionism.

an example of Mr. Cochran's work

The class includes some lecture-style presentations with examples from art history and the artist's own work, but most of the class time is spent working hands on under the direct supervision of the artist, who will lead the class through a series of carefully planned painting exercises. The small class size will allow for extensive one-on-one instruction. Students will complete the class with at least one trompe l'oeil sample panel and a stable foundation of understanding upon which all of their future illusionist painting will be built.

This is a class in illusionist painting and will only tangentially cover issues of painting materials, drawing, composition and perspective. Extensive knowledge of these subjects is not necessary to derive full benefit from the class.

This class will teach you the techniques that will elevate your skills to new levels. Unlike most classes in the industry, you will not create a large panel with little detail. You will create a 24x36 inch high quality panel.

October 2005 class picture

Frederick, Md

September , 2006
4- 8

Orlando, FL

October , 2006
2-6

Special Las Vegas Workshop 1- time event

October,. 2006
9 - 13

Las Vegas accommodations
5 - Days 9am - 4pm
Tuition: $1700.00 Deposit: $850.00

 

Student testimonial:

"Level 1 has absolutely changed the way I paint, The objects I'm painting now really leap off the canvas. I apply what I learned on every job site. There is not another class out there like it. These are the fundamentals that I will use for the rest of my life. This is what you will need to know if you want to pursue a career in fine art and murals.

William is honestly one of the best teachers I've had. He comes to the table with no ego and he truly wants his students to learn. The patience that he has for each of us is unbelievable. He wants more for you than just a great sample board. He wants you to have a good foundation and understanding of the lesson he taught you. That is rare among teachers and I think William excels in that. You can go through a whole career in art school and not get what you learn in Level 1. If you are a muralist or artist who wants to take your art to the next level, it is a must."

Nichole Blackburn
Celadon Studio & Fine Art

Tuition includes:Lunches and snacks dailyClass Completion certificateColor class photoBrush Kit

The Faux Finisher magazine featured William on the cover as well as a 6 page article about the artist and his work.

As featured in The Faux Finisher Magazine© Copyright 2005, The Faux School.

No images or text may be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of William Cochran, or The Faux School.
The Faux School
5711 Industry Lane, Suite 28
Frederick, MD 21704
The Faux School - Florida
663 Harold Avenue
Winterpark, FL 32789
1-877-GET-FAUX
301-668-5110    
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