En Plein Air: Painting on the Pier at Dusk (3 Day Immersive)

Adult Summer Workshop | This program is completed

New Offering! All levels welcome.

7/7/2021-7/9/2021

5:00 PM-8:00 PM EDT on Wed Th Fri

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$105.00

$95.00

This 3 session course will introduce the intermediate or experienced artist to painting “en plein air” with oils, from a base on the Race Street Pier, on the Delaware River waterfront. Our goal will be to complete one or 2 compositions per session. The evening light changes very quickly so we will learn tools to capture the light quickly. In addition we will work on: selecting a painting location, developing the composition, using photographs for reference, the figure in the landscape, and architectural elements in the composition. Group critiques will be held.

  • This is an in-person, off-site course that will take place at Race Street Pier. We will practice social distancing during class. Masks are required.
  • Students may use other media if preferred, but instructor will be focusing on oil techniques. If you are buying oil painting supplies for the first time, this may seem very daunting. Please feel free to reach out to registration@fleisher.org with any questions. It is possible to design your own very simple setup, but I think you will find it worthwhile to invest in some good equipment that you will be able to use for years. Outdoor easels also work very well indoors!

  • 1. Portable painting easel.
  • - Any portable easel setup that you are comfortable with is fine, including the standard French Easel. Here are some other highly recommended options if you are looking to buy new:
  • • Art Box and Panel
  • • Daytripper Easel: this one is highly recommended and very lightweight.
  • • Open Box M
  • • Alla Prima Pochade
  • • Artwork Essentials: this is where I've gotten mine - I have the Versa and the Pro, but am not sure they are the best option now.

  • 2. Painting boards - at least 2 per day. I strongly recommend using boards instead of canvases, as they will be much easier to transport home. I also recommend working fairly small and in no more than 3 or 4 different sizes. For example, bring 2 8"x10", 2 9"x12", 2 10"x10". If you feel you much prefer larger surfaces, adjust the sizes as you wish, but I would recommend nothing larger than 16"x16". You can prepare your own boards by simply gessoing your favorite painting surface, like thick mat board or linen mounted on foamboard - I can give you info about this if you’d like to try it. Or you can spend more on high quality prepared boards:
  • • Canvas Panels: pricey but excellent- I watch for sales.
  • • A third option is to use the DickBlick boards, like the ones I provide to my classes for about $2-3 each.

  • 3. Oil paints. I like Graham oils, which are solvent-free, with walnut oil as a base. If you are buying all new, I recommend trying Windsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oils, which come in this great basic set from Dick Blick. It includes cerulean instead of pthalo, but that is fine.

  • Suggested palette:
  • • Titanium white (large tube)
  • • Burnt umber
  • • Plthalo blue
  • • Ultramarine blue
  • • Sap green (or hunter green)
  • • Alizarin crimson
  • • Cadmium red (azo coral)
  • • Cadmium yellow medium (azo yellow)
  • • Cadmium yellow light (lemon yellow) (the azo colors are less expensive substitutes for cadmium, but cadmium is the best)
  • • Yellow ochre
  • • Burnt sienna

  • 4. Oil painting medium - I recommend walnut oil or safflower oil and walnut alkyd (my preference - I no longer use liquin because it has greater toxicity than the alkyd mediums). Linseed oil and gamsol are more traditional mediums.

  • 6. Brushes. Suggested: Filbert and Brights, synthetic or hog bristles 2 each of several sizes ¼”- ¾”. I particularly recommend the Princeton Aspen 6500 series and the Rosemary “Ivory” brushes.
  • • One small sable type brush for detail
  • • Rubber tip “brush tool”

  • 7. Hand wipes (optional): I really like to have some kind of wipes for plein air painting, as we are not always near a sink to wash up. Regular hand wipes from the drug store work as well as the fancy ones from the art supply store.

  • 8. Palette: your choice of type (I recommend disposable grey-toned or earth-toned palette for easy clean up).

  • 9. A few cotton rags
  • 10. Disposable vinyl gloves or barrier cream
  • 11. Sunscreen and a sunhat, water bottle
  • 12. Paper towels, trash bag- very important!
  • 13. Optional, but recommended: a small sketch book with your favorite drawing or other medium for thumbnail sketching.