Plein Air & Beyond with Kenn Backhaus
As a Plein-Air Artist, you have been on location painting and have collected a number of small studies. Now you want to take those studies to the next stage; which may be creating a larger format painting in the studio. This will be the challenge of this workshop. We will spend approximately two and a half days outdoors collecting studies and the remainder of the week we will create larger format paintings in the studio from some of those studies. Kenn will explain through lecture and demonstration the process he goes through in collecting the outdoor study. Then he will explain through lecture and demonstration the considerations we must make to take that study to a larger studio painting. Design decisions must be pondered; as well as keeping that fresh spontaneous feel which was captured in the small study. The use of photography will assist us to obtain additional information that we may not have had time to capture in that small on-location study. We will take this photographic information along with our studies and we will make proper use of it in our studio setting. This workshop is suitable for intermediate to advanced painters. Minimum 12/Maximum 16 students. Download a materials list HERE.
Kenn Backhaus was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and his fondness for nature became the catalyst for his art. He attended Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a commercial designer and illustrator Kenn received many awards at both local and national levels, which included acceptance in the 30th Annual Society of Illustrators Show in NYC. However, his heart always belonged to the fine art of outdoor painting. With his developing interest in the historic traditions of plein air painting, Kenn decided in 1984 to devote more time to his passion for painting, broadening his subject matter to include not only landscape, but also figurative, portrait, still life and nature. Kenn has been featured in numerous art publications and books. His works have been juried in many shows across the country and his paintings have been honored with numerous awards and distinctions. He regularly serves as an acceptance juror and awards judge for shows around the country. Kenn was filmed painting in Alaska as part of a PBS series entitled, “Plein Air, Painting the American Landscape” (www.pleinairamerica.com). He is now a host artist for the American Public Television program, Passport & Palette, representing the next generation of art education on television, which began airing nationwide in May 2009 (www.passportandpalette.com). Kenn is a member of the Northwest Rendezvous Group, a Master Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and a Signature member of the Plein-Air Painter of America. He also served as President of the Plein-Air Painters of America. www.kennbackhaus.com
Click here for Our Policies, and here for Directions and Lodging.