Saturday June 13th 10am-5pm | Meet at NAA
Newburyport Art
65 Water St
Newburyport, MA 01950
Plein air painting is the practice of painting outside, or as the French term, "en plein air", literally translates to, "in the open air".
Join us with your paint box for a full day of outdoor painting, convening with nature and learning to see like an artist. I will begin with a lecture and demonstration on capturing light, color and atmosphere on canvas using a simple Impressionistic approach. We will discuss choosing a motif, composing a harmonized design, seeing value shapes, accurate drawing, and infusing visual poetry into your motif. Students will spend the rest of the day painting while I provide artistic guidance with side-by-side easel assistance. This one day workshop is packed with valuable information that has been passed down from the masters on how to simplify the outdoor painting process.
Materials to bring:
French easel, half box easel or Pochade box for working outside.
* For Pochade box I like the UGO. If you prefer a French easel I recommend the
Jullian Half box easel.
Palette:
I recommend a wood palette. I have glass too for one of my boxes...try to avoid paper pallets.
Paint:
*(I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries plus white (with maybe a few extras)....Please spend the extra for professional grade paints. I use Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht but there are many good options.)
Alkyd White (Alkyd is a quick dry paint that plays nice with oils. For brands, Gamblin, DaVinci and my favorite is by C.A.S. Alkyd Pro)
Titanium White
Cad Yellow
Yellow ochre
Alizeran Crimson
Cadmium Red
Ultramarine Blue
Cobalt Blue or Cerulean Blue
Burnt Sienna
Greenish Umber (By Rembrandt), Olive Green or Terre Vert (*Optional)
Viridian (*Optional)
Ivory black (*Optional)
raw or burnt umber (*Optional)
Painting surface:
Canvas, canvas or linen mounted on board or gessoed wood panel (sizes can range from 6x8” to 14x18” but I would not go larger)...(Bring enough for two paintings each day.
Brushes:
*Assortment of bristle brushes (I suggest large, medium and small in three styles: Flats, Rounds and Filberts. I mostly use Robert Simmons Signet series flats #3, #6 and #10)
*One or two Royal sable flats in medium and large sizes (size 10 or 16) for blending and softening edges (I prefer Langnickel.)
*Small synthetic rounds for details. (I suggest Winsor and Newton Septre Gold 2 in the 404 series...size 4 and / or size 6)
Other:
Trowel type Pallet knife
liquin and pallet cup
Gamsol (Turpentine substitute) with container or medium glass jar
paper towels (Blue shop towels are the best)
Soft pencil, eraser and sketchbook
Ruler, straight edge or a mahl stick (something to make straight lines with is handy)
A Veiwfinder: Important! Whether homemade or store bought, it must be adjustable or proportionate to your canvases. Viewcatcher is ideal.
Artist paint box or back pack for supplies
Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient.
*Appropriate clothing for outdoor weather and conditions.
Optional:
Hat
sunglasses
Water bottle or something to drink, snack
Sun block
Bug spray
If you are uncomfortable standing you may consider a portable folding chair
Wheeled caddy for supplies if necessary
Camera
Umbrella
Cost:
- NAA Members: $75
- Non-members: $95
- 10% discount offered to seniors (ages 65+)
Todd Bonita Bio
After graduating from the Art Institute of Boston, I continued study of classical painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, until returning home in 2004, where I currently live and maintain an oil painting studio in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I love painting plein air equally as much as crafting more involved compositions in my studio. Above all, I love the process and simple joy of being with my tools and creating. My work is represented by ten art galleries around the US, Canada and UK., exhibited in four Art museums and is in hundreds of corporate and private collections world wide, including 41st U.S. President, George H. W. Bush. I currently own the Todd Bonita Art Gallery in both Ogunquit, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as well as the Ogunquit Art Colony School, where I teach painting classes and International art workshops year round.