NEW! Simplify thru Shape, Value, and Color w/ Lon Brauer

Join award nationally recognized painter Lon Brauer in the White Mountains of NH for this 2-day plein air painting workshop!

Shape, shape, shape. When we look at something we are seeing shapes. Color, value, and shapes. It’s never about the tree, or the barn, or the bridge, or the flowers…not really. Rather it is the shapes that are presented by light hitting objects. Light and dark pattern. Get the shapes right, then you are off and running. Recognize the patterns and the thing paints itself. Remember paint-by-number? Find the shapes and paint them in.

Plein air painting is about rendering what’s in front of us.  We see it and we want to translate that into some form that we can put on canvas.  It is in the translation where the magic resides.  In this workshop I will show you ways to simplify your approach to achieve more dynamic compositions and stronger images. This will strip away some of your preconceived notions as to what makes plein air painting and replace them with fresh ways to describe the world in front of you.

This method strips away the visual baggage and opens the student up to a new-found freedom in the painting process. Your artwork will take on a dynamism and movement that only a painting can convey. I will show you ways to stretch your visual experience and how to gain confidence with your image making. Let’s find those shapes and perhaps we can make a better picture!

This is a plein air workshop so students will be outside. Lon will describe his approach thru demos each day followed up with one-on-one instruction as students give it a go with their own plein air kit.

The student will be exposed to the following:

• The limited palette
• Mixing colors – what are the possibilities as we expand the palette
• Converting a subject into shapes
• Paint application – what can a brush do
• Cropping for better composition
• Developing strategies when starting a painting
•  Color and value issues
•  Paint-by-number

This workshop is suitable for experienced as well as beginner. It is tailored primarily for oil painting but all mediums will benefit.

June 17 & 18, 9am-4pm, $365  Location TBA

MATERIALS LIST The following is what I have in mind for this workshop. This is a bare bones list. Beyond the requirements, you can fill in as you wish.

PAINTS I use Windsor & Newton Winton colors. They are considered student grade but are fine for these exercises. And they are affordable. However, you may use whatever brand you wish.  

Titanium white
India Yellow
Cadmium Lemon yellow
Dioxizine purple
Ultramarine blue
Viridian
Sap green
Alizarin crimson
Cadmium red med
Cadmium orange
Ivory black

BRUSHES I like Princeton or Rosemary-Ivory (synthetics) and Rosemary Eclipse (softer synthetic)
A variety of flats or brights – 1in (12), 3/4in (8), 1/2in (6), 1/4in (4)

PALETTE KNIFE Any knife for mixing and spreading paint. We will be mixing paint.

SURFACES canvas panels or whatever surface you choose. 12×12 is a good size. 6 or 8 should be enough. Michaels has inexpensive panels.

MEDIUMS I use odorless mineral spirits for cleaning brushes as well as a medium. Occasionally I will also use Galkyd or Galkyd lite (Gamblin) as medium. I have of late also been using stand oil or linseed oil.  Feel free to use what you prefer.

MISC

 Easel – Your favorite plein air set-up (Jackson Art has a limited number of  1/2 box French easels for rent for the weekend for $35. Contact us if interested at melanie@jacksonartnh.com)

Palette for mixing paint
Odorless mineral spirits or your favorite solvent
Paper towels
Trash bag for rags.
Gloves if you choose
Hat for sun
Bug spray or such for mosquitoes

Lon Brauer is an American artist known for his work in figure and plein air landscape.  Born in 1955 and coming of age in the seventies, he has roots in the abstract expressionist movement. Although a representational artist he steers clear of the overtly literal. His work is a mix of the abstract and representational bringing an expressionistic use of paint and materials to create images that challenge the viewer with new perspectives.

Lon shows his work nationally. He presents numerous workshops on painting techniques and alternative methods. He lives and works with his partner, quillwork artist Djuana Tucker, and owns Lon Brauer Studios in Granite City, Illinois.

For more info visit Lonbrauer.com

 

Cancellation Policy: We ask that you to give us four weeks notice if you need to cancel for a full refund minus a $35 cancellation fee. Cancellations should be made by phone by calling (603) 387-3463. This provides us the opportunity to fill the space. We are sorry, but we cannot give refunds or issue credits for missed classes or no shows.