Embracing the Unknown in Landscape Painting

As landscape painters, even when we become proficient at painting our desired subjects, the work can sometimes lack a deeper energy or sense of wonder. Often, the power of art lies beyond the subject, and within the interaction between artist and materials. I find that getting to that special place involves a balance of control and chaos. And chaos can be scary!

During this class, we will delve into some landscape painting fundamentals such as composition, value structure, and massing to develop a strong foundation from which we can play and experiment. Later, we will get into some creative constraints and non-traditional paint application techniques to get you out of your comfort zone and into the unknown. This class will include some lecture, discussion of paintings from throughout history, demonstrations, plenty of time for creative experimentation, and critiques.

While we will be working mostly form reference photos (or previously made landscape studies), the concepts in this class will also apply well to onsite observational and imaginative work. This class is open to acrylic and/or oil painters of all abilities.