Instructor: Craig Pursley
August 8 & 9
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
$295 member / $365 non-member
Ages 16+

The Workshop 
Painting outdoors is wonderful, but there can be issues–the inconvenience of hauling all your equipment to the site, the changing weather conditions and BUGS! In reality, most of us work often, if not always, from photos. Learn how to choose a good photo from which to work, how to change or adjust your photo to be a better painting, and discover tricks and techniques to make your paintings from photos look like they were done on site. We will start each day with a demo.

In my landscape workshops, I stress that one does not need to be a slave to the photo reference. Here’s an example of a photograph and the painting from the photo–what was done to hopefully make a more compelling painting.

1. Crop the photo to zero in on the most interesting part
2. Vary the greens to give a wider range
3. Move or enlarge trees as needed (I moved the big trunk left)
4. Adjust values (trees at the far side of the pond were too similar to those closer so I lightened them and added fog for depth)

In the same vein, I lightened the distant mountain and pushed the color toward violet for a bit more variation

5. Photos often blow all color out of the sky, so I brought that back
6. Since the whole photo was cool in color, I made the trees trunks much warmer
7. Since the photo lacked a strong focal point, I created one by dropping a moon which also added a burst of warmth (I think I’ll knock down that warmth a bit so it looks less like the sun…)

Supplies You Will Need to Bring for the Landscape Workshop:
• Brushes – One fine point #4 round, #4, #6, #8 flats (these are roughly one half inch wide to an inch wide), also a cheap round that does not come to a point
• Canvases – Two canvases 8×10 to 16×20, either stretched or canvas panels are fine
• Paint – Good quality oil paint- Titanium white, Cadmium yellow light or medium, Naples yellow, Cadmium red medium, Ultramarine blue, Burnt umber, Burnt sienna. Not required but recommended- Dick Blick Pastel Violet. A great color. I use it in every landscape and portrait!
• Miscellaneous – Odorless Turpenoid or Gamsol (recommended), paint rag or roll of paper towels (Viva or Shop Towels is best), small bottle of Liquin, palette, palette knife, small plastic bag for trash
• I will have several photos of landscapes or you are welcome to bring your own. 8x10s on good quality paper are helpful
• Smock, apron or something to protect clothes from paint. Or just wear crummy clothes.