Paint outdoors this summer while exploring the beautiful Fairmount Park. From the Schuylkill river banks and historic homes and buildings, to open fields and wooded groves -- this 5-day immersive workshop will use the many landscapes of Fairmount Park to introduce students to a variety of landscape painting techniques. We will focus on alla prima, or direct painting, as we experiment with paint application, compositional structure, the different energy of brush strokes, and color mixing under natural sunlight.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN IN THIS COURSE
1. An understanding of the distinct nature and requirements of plein air painting
2. How plein air painting differs from working in the studio
3. Alla Prima technique of starting and completing a painting in one session
4. Confidence to continue plein air painting on one’s own, after the workshop
5. Creating a sense of depth and space in a landscape painting
6. Constructing a strong composition out of one’s surroundings

Students must have email access, as the instructor will communicate important information, including travel directions, the evening before each class via email. Locations are best reached by driving. Each location has parking nearby. Oils are recommended, but students may work in acrylics or watercolors if they prefer.

The first day the class will meet at Fleisher in the lobby at 9:00 a.m. to get printed directions for the location that we are going to paint.

Plein Air sites have restrooms nearby.

In case of inclement weather, the workshop will be held at Fleisher’s studios.