Learn invaluable tools for tackling Alla Prima painting with confidence. The term Alla Prima means 'At One Go'. In his remarkable treatise 'In Praise of Painterly Painters', the late artist, author and teacher, Charles Movalli wrote; painterly painters are surrounded by seeming contradictions. They finish by not finishing, include by leaving out, paint more by painting less. Their means are easy to see, the results, immediately felt. But how such seemingly insufficient means lead to these results is a mystery.
In this three-day plein air workshop, we will explore this method of Alla Prima painting. Economy of stroke is within every painters grasp if they are willing to approach the painting process with a 'Less Is More' mind set. Our goal with each painting will be to see our subject as shapes of color and value and not as individual objects. When viewed in this way, we can look at our subject with a painters eye, react quickly and make confident marks on the canvas that are uniquely an expression of our individual selves.
There will be a daily demonstration with discussions on composition, design, edges, value and color. A thorough understanding of these concepts is key to giving our paintings the feeling of light and atmosphere. Beginners to experienced artist are welcome.
Location: New Hampshire and Southern Maine Seacoast. Specific painting spots to be announced. There will be no more than a 20 minute range of locations between Portsmouth NH and Ogunquit Maine.