Approaching Plein Air Painting in Watercolor (ONLINE)

This is an online Zoom class. Students will receive a class link via email prior to the start of the workshop.

Is plein air painting for everyone? Absolutely! Is it just like painting in the studio? Well, not exactly. There are a few important things to learn in order to have a rewarding live outdoor painting session. In this indoor class, avid plein air painter Keiko Tanabe will share her expert tips on how to approach this unique experience the next time you head outdoors. This class will turn each of your future plein air sessions into a great learning opportunity that will also help inform your studio painting practice.

Students will learn how to:

• prepare the appropriate tools and mindset
• best utilize a sketchbook
• make a composition work for you
• simplify the scene to capture it's essence, and more

Supply List

Paints: Any colors/brands professional quality. Keiko's palette has cobalt blue, cad red, orange, permanent alizarin crimson, burnt sienna, quinacridone gold, raw sienna, lemon yellow, cobalt turquoise. Also: French ultramarine, sepia, neutral tint, titanium white, dioxazine violet, quinacridone magenta, green gold, viridian and lavender.

Brushes: A larger size round with softer hair (such as Rafael Softaqua, Escoda Ultimo #18, Isabey squirrel mop). A fine point brush such as Escoda Perla #12, Rafael Presicion. Others such as a calligraphy brush, rigger, dagger. Bring our favorites.

Paper: Rough or cold-pressed 140lb professional such as Arches, Saunders/Waterford, or Fabriano Artistico, 14” x 20” or smaller. Also bring a few sheets to practice on. Drawing board, gatorboard, foamcore or anything that supports paper.

Other: Palette (smaller, light-weight is recommended), masking tape, clips, or staplers to secure paper, pencil (soft lead like 2B and 4B), eraser, sketchbook or drawing pad, a container for washing brushes, towels, or sponges.

Optional: Watercolor pencils, charcoal, watercolor graphite, watercolor markers, watercolor sticks, masking fluid, tissue, color chart, view finder, value finder, ruler.