Landscape Painting with Erica Brooks - June (1, 8, 15, 22, 29)

Class Description:

Students will paint landscapes on location at various Humboldt County locations: Trinidad State Beach, Blue Lake Hatchery, Moonstone Beach, Arcata Marsh, and Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In this course students will explore contemporary and traditional approaches to landscape painting. Students will be exposed to a variety of landscape painters for inspiration on technique. An understanding of atmospheric perspective is essential to successful outcomes in this course. The class will focus on the effects of natural light in nature. Direct observation is required while painting outdoors. This course focuses on successful compositional outcomes. Students will master quick studies on site and grasp the concept of painting in a two hour window to prevent chasing shadows.  Students will experiment with paint quality, edges, and color. Students will focus on simplifying the landscape.

Materials:

• Paint: titanium white, cadmium yellow light, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, alizarin crimson, transparent oxide red or transparent burnt Sienna, ultramarine blue, viridian (optional colors: titanium buff or unbleached titanium).
• Portable Easel: French easel or Ponchade Box.
• Brushes: A variety of sizes for flats and filberts and smaller pointed rounds. I prefer long handled brushes. Synthetic brushes are recommended, but hog bristle brushes are another option when working in oils.
• Palette for oils, palette paper for acrylics. 
• A Masterson box is useful for storage of palette or palette paper.
• Palette Knife.
• Gamsol for oil paint and water for acrylic paint (It is recommended to use a small spray bottle to mist acrylic paint piles to prevent from drying too fast
• Optional mediums: Gamblin solvent free medium for oil paint. Acrylic retarder for acrylic paint.
• Spill proof brush washer or portable container for Gamsol or water.
• Smaller canvas, canvas panels or gessoed masonite/board in a variety of sizes for plein air work.
• Paper towels or rags.
• Sketch book for thumbnail sketches and pencil or marker.
• Optional: Viewfinder, Wet Panel Carrier, Easel umbrella.

Looking forward to working with you!