2 Day Workshop: Landscape & Figure

“The spirit behind beauty… feel things intensely and learn to see simply” - Duran 

Day 1: Landscape 

Day one will cover the key elements needed for a successful landscape painting; design, value, color and brushwork. Students will learn how to have a strategy to capture the scene before them with a simplified design and correct color relationships. 

Day 2: Figures in the Landscape

Learn to place the figure in scenes of the everyday landscape. Draw the essence, gesture and structure of the figure with simple, bold shapes. You'll quickly understand the anatomy of each pose and suggest the figure rather than render in detail. Eli will describe the planes of light on the figure by simplifying complex values to the bare minimum. You’ll also learn to mix value and temperature as a unit using clean color to create the illusion of light. 

Each day, Eli will demonstrate the quick study and how to simplify value patterns to achieve unity and impact. She will introduce an innovative method of color mixing using a simple, four-value approach. Students will learn to see both color and value as a unit, identify them and quickly mix the desired color. With this approach, it’s easy to establish a pattern of light informed by the direction of the sun and to achieve unity and impact. In case of inclement weather, students will have the opportunity to use reference materials. 

Materials to be provided by students; supply list available.

Supply List & Travel Tips

Limited Palette: Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow light, Cadmium Red Light, Ivory Black, Transparent Oxide Red or Brown, Viridian, Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson. 

Optional Colors: Naples Yellow Light, Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Cadmium Yellow Orange, Cad Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Pink, Pthalo Blue.

Canvas: Painting panels or Ampersand gesso board. Buy a variety of standard sizes; 6x8, 8x10, 9x12

Brushes: Bristle brushes - flats, rounds and filberts, variety of sizes. I like Silver Brand or Rosemary long synthetic bristle filberts. Smaller brushes for detail. Isabey or Series 274 Masters Choice (mongoose) from Rosemary & Co. Very versatile for blending, washes and detail.  

Drawing Materials: Sketch Book 8x10 or smaller, Faber Castell graphite pencils #2900 6B, vine charcoal, black Sharpie pointed marker.

Mineral Spirits: Gamsol or Turpenoid odorless mineral spirits

Painting Medium: Winsor Newton Liquin Gel Medium or any oil medium.

Additional Supplies: Viva towels, brush cleaner (Murphy’s Oil Soap, Turp Natural, Baby Oil) small trash bags, small containers to hold medium & spirits.

Carry Bag: Travel bag with wheels or backpack so you can bring all of your gear on location easily.

Portable Easel: a french easel is fine but I recommend the Strada Mini: 

https://www.stradaeasel.com/collections/strada-easels/products/strada-easel

Optional: 

Wet Paint Carrier: Raymar or Panel Pak

Palette Saver: http://finearttech.com/FineArtTech/Paint-Saver_Palette.html

THANK YOU TO OUR WORKSHOP SPONSOR, THE CHATHAM BARS INN,
FOR GRACIOUSLY ACCOMMODATING OUR WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS.