Tuesdays, September 10 – November 19, 2024
10:00 – 12:30pm
10-week Art Clinic with J. Jordan Bruns
Indulge in the vibrant hues of the fall landscape with fellow plein air painters. Plein Air Fall focuses on emphasizing color mixing, identifying focal points in the landscape, and the creation of illusionistic space in your observational paintings. All painting styles, mediums and levels are welcomed! Class Level: beginner to advanced. Minimum age 14. 10 sessions.
Schedule of Classes:
Class 1) September 10- Demonstration/Lecture: “Building a Painting Though Indirect Painting” – How to start with thin layers of paint so you don’t run into mud too quickly
Location: Meet at Stone Tower Studio, Glen Echo Park
Class 2) September 17 – Plein Air Painting: Demonstration “Working with the Palette Knife”
Location: Meet at Stone Tower Studio, Glen Echo Park
Class 3 September 24 – Plein Air Painting: Finish Palette Knife Painting
Location: Meet at Stone Tower Studio, Glen Echo Park
Class 4) October 1 – Plein Air Painting
Location: Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, 1800 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902
Class 5) October 8 – Plein Air Painting – Demo “Adding People to the Painting”
Location: Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, 1800 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902
Class 6) October 15 – Plein Air Painting
Location: Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, 1800 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902
Class 7) October 22 – Plein Air Painting
Location: Great Falls Park (Maryland Side) – https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/greatfallstavernvisitorcenter.htm
Class 8) October 29 – Plein Air Painting – Lecture: “Exaggerating Atmospheric Perspective”
Location: Great Falls Park (Maryland Side) – https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/greatfallstavernvisitorcenter.htm
-NO CLASS NOVEMBER 5 (Election Day)-
Class 9) November 12 – Plein Air Painting
Location: Great Falls Park (Maryland Side) – https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/greatfallstavernvisitorcenter.htm
Class 10) November 19 – Stone Tower Sudio Critique/Brunch
Location: Stone Tower Studio 2nd floor
Suggested Material List for Oil Paint
This is predominantly an oil painting class but if you would like to use a different medium, that’s totally fine with me! I have an extensive background in most 2D mediums and am happy to work with you one on one.
Palette
Oil painters- I recommend a BIG wood pallet for studio work or one attached to plein air box. If you are in the market for a new setup, let me know and I can talk to you in more detail
Surface
*4-6 canvas boards/panels/canvases
I only paint on panel now, but you are welcome to use canvas if you prefer the light weight properties. I make my own, but panels made by “Ampersand” with a ¾” cradle are very comparable. One day paintings can be small sizes (between 10×10 and 16×16). Format and orientation are up to you and your subject matter.
Brushes- (suggested)- Natural Hair Brushes or Synthetic Brushes
Typically, I use expensive sable brushes but great options are “Winsor Newton Monarch Synthetic” or Jack Richardson “Grey Matter” brushes, you can use any brand you like as long as they are “oil or acrylic” brushes and have a long handle. For alla prima, I prefer synthetic or nature sable hair. I like a variety of brushes like filbert, round, and flat brushes.
Cleaners
“Master’s Brush Cleaner and Preserver” soap disk
“Gamsol” mineral spirits
Brush cleaning tank – to put Gamsol in, OR you can make this with an old salsa jar and chicken wire
Mediums (what you add to increase the paint “flow”)
“Alkyd” Walnut oil (made by M.Graham) or just Walnut Oil (artist grade, not from grocery store)
Medium cup (Or small baby food jar to hold medium)
Other
Metal Pallet knife/painting knife (Liquitex brand, #12, #13 or #14) no plastic knives
Something to carry everything, (art box, French easel, portfolio, back back, etc)
Paper Towel (I like to Scott, blue paper towel, you can buy at Costco or hardware store)
Suggested Oil Paint Colors (small tubes, 37-40ml) My favorite brand is “M. Graham Paint” especially the earth tones. I also like Holbein and Gamblin brands to fill in the gaps of paint colors not covered my M. Graham. Williamsburg paint is also really nice and has a tone of great colors.
Cadmium Lemon Yellow (optional), Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Orange (optional), Cadmium Red, Quinacridone Magenta, (Permanent) Alizarin Crimson (optional), Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Viridian Green, Sap Green (optional), Naples Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Siena, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black, Titanium White (Big tube)
Other (fantastic) colors – Bohemian Earth Green (Williamsburg brand), Juane Brilliant (as a substitute for Naples Yellow), Flake White (as a substitute for Titanium White), Cobalt Teal (Gamblin), Cadmium Green Pale or Cinnabar Green (Williamsburg), Radiant Blue (Gamblin)
UMBRELLA- GET ONE: This is to protect you and the canvas from the sun.
One option – “Sport-Brella Versa-Brella SPF 50+ Adjustable Umbrella with Universal Clamp” – Amazon for $30
Or if you already know you want to do plein air a lot… “Easy L” makes a great one
http://www.artworkessentials.com/products/UMK-45/UMK45.htm
Additional Defense Against the Great Outdoors
Sunscreen, Allergy Meds, Bug Spray OR Better yet “Thermacell Patio Shield Mosquito Repeller”, Sun Visor or Hat, Bottle of Water, Snacks,
Bull Dog Clips, Bungee Cords, Collapsible Stool, business cards to hand out (ya never know)
NOTE: Note that this is a VERY fluid and flexible schedule. When the weather is lousy, I would prefer to lecture and work on growth exercises rather than struggle though paintings that will never be my best. If the weather is questionable, emails will be sent the morning of the class in case we need to relocated to the Stone Tower Studio 2nd floor at Glen Echo Park. If we get “rained out” I will provide in studio lectures that designed to improve our plein air experience. Also, treat the rain days like work days. Bring your gear and we can work on paintings from photograph or from still life.