Plein Air in Ashland Painting

Join Christine Holzem for a loving day of plein air in Ashland!

Find an interesting subject somewhere on the Center’s property. Set up your chair, easel, and palette —think about wind! Plan your painting goal for the time we have.

You may choose to paint oil, acrylic, or watercolor.

If you are a beginner, use oil since it takes longer to dry, and you can wipe it off to redo areas for the most part. Christine will provide linseed oil and solvent if you are painting in oil.

Cost:

$50/person—all proceeds go to the Center, a non-profit organization

Class Supply List:

• An easel (preferably a standing easel, and HAAC has a few we can borrow – a table easel is fine if that is all you have – think about wind!)

• A chair (without arms might be easier for you)

• A container or an old bag for trash

• Rags or paper towels (Viva are better since they don’t pill onto your canvas)

  Canvas and paper

• If using oil or acrylic, bring a mounted or panel canvas.

• If using watercolor, bring cold-pressed paper, at least 100 lb.

• 11 x 14 is a good size—if this is your first plein air

• Same with a sketchbook (11 x 14 and bring a charcoal or drawing pencil)

  Cups and palettes

• If using oil, use palette paper or a cheap smooth cutting board (think about wind)

• If using acrylic, use palette paper or a paper plate

• If using watercolor, use a watercolor palette—ceramic is easier than plastic

  Paint

• For any kind of paint, get the small tubes, 1.25 oz. Plaza Art, Michael’s, Amazon, and dickblick.com are good places to purchase low-cost supplies. You have a better learning experience if you buy professional paints and brushes.

• For watercolor, tubes are easier than pills for beginners

• If this is your first plein air, work with a limited palette:

  • a red, a blue, and a yellow (i.e., permanent rose or permanent alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue or pthalo blue, hansa yellow or lemon yellow)

  • burnt sienna, raw umber, or ochre (pick one)

  • titanium white

  Brushes

• Make sure brushes are appropriate for your type of paint

• 1” size 10 flat

• Size 8 filbert

• Nothing smaller than size 4 for this class. If you are a beginner, use bigger size brushes (size 8-10)

• If you are doing watercolor, bring a size 8 pointed brush

• If this is your first plein air, consider painting with one brush (size 10)