Intermediate-Advanced | $25-$50 Materials and Studio Fees*
The main subject of this plein air painting workshop is to develop an understanding of how light truly behaves, and how to capture that in a convincing way in your practice. Participants will study the architecture of light in nature: how it defines form, directs attention, shapes color, and creates atmosphere. Through exercises and on-site demonstrations, we’ll focus on mastering value structure, temperature shifts, and the subtle transitions that give plein air pieces their sense of luminosity and truth. Emphasis will be put on training the eye to observe light with greater accuracy. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have a deeper understanding of how light operates in nature and how to harness it to create paintings that feel both convincing and alive.
*Materials and studio fees are charged to students based on studio usage and materials Touchstone is providing at the request of the instructor. Additionally, some instructors may also require that you bring certain materials and tools with you, in which case a list will be provided. Final cost of these fees will be posted at least two weeks ahead of the workshop to be paid in full prior to check-in.
WORKSHOP STUDENTS should bring the following materials for the workshop
*It is recommended that you wait to hear if the workshop is running before you purchase materials. Touchstone will let you know if a workshop is running no later than 2 weeks before the start of the class. Regardless of the outcome of the class, running or not, Touchstone is not responsible for the reimbursement of any materials bought for a workshop.
1. Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, water
2. Any personal tools you wish to use (Optional)
3. Insect repellent
4. Rain gear
5. Comfortable shoes/clothing
6. Outdoor painting easel or pochade box is highly recommended. There are many types and any should work fine. I use the OpenBoxM, Sienna makes one that is similar and great too. I also like the traditional wooden French easel
7. Small sketchbook, 5-½” x 8-½” or 8-⅕” x 11”
8. Graphite pencil & regular sharpie
9. Medium size palette knife
10. Painting panels, I would recommend bringing a few that are primed of various sizes such as 5” x 7”, 8” x 10”, 9” x 12”, 11” x 14”. I would not plan on going any larger than that. You may want to work on more than one small piece
11. Variety of brushes appropriate for your medium. Hog bristle for oil, filbert or flats, sizes 2,4,6,&10 are recommended
12. Odorless Mineral Spirits (Gamsol or Turpinoid) & reclosable jar/container
13. Paper towels that are very absorbent, Viva brand is recommended
14. Plastic trash bag
15. Paint medium, Galkyde or Liquin is recommended
16. Palette for mixing paint (I like the wooden kind for its natural color. If you use the disposable kind, get the grey not the white.)
17. Paints of choice
18. Sketchbook
19. Pencil and Pen
20. Reusable water bottle
21. Apron (Optional)
Suggested Paint Colors
I use the brands Ultrecht and Gamblin oil paints, but any brand should work fine. You should shoot for a traditional American landscape painter’s palette: A warm and cool variation of each primary color.
– Titanium White, large tube is recommended
– Raw Umber
– Cadmium Red
– Alizarin Crimson
– Cadmium Yellow Medium
– Cadmium Lemon
– Ultramarine Blue
– Phthalo Blue
– Yellow Ochre
– Naples Yellow
– Phthalo Green
– Portland Grey Medium
*All of these materials can be bought through Dick Blick or pretty much any art supply store. *
Download PDF File: The Shape of Light Student Materials
