Class List > Fine Arts > Painting Light & Atmosphere

Painting Light & Atmosphere

Instructor: Farley Lewis

Class Fee:$85.00
Villages Folk School is happy to host plein air artist Farley Lewis of Springfield, Missouri. 
 
Learn how to create dynamic compositions filled with light and atmosphere, and learn the keys to making values and colors work toward that goal.
Learn the five rules of atmospheric perspective and keys to achieving authentic-looking light in a painting. This workshop begins with a teaching and demonstration, then the participants can work on their own painting with plenty of one-on-one instruction.
 
One workshop participant wrote this: 
“I learned so much in Farley’s workshop. It helped me step out, take risks and to have patience
to fix the issues of my art instead of quitting. This workshop was fun and energizing.. Honestly
this workshop helped me advance because I didn't know that I could create something so amazing." -Valerie
 
Materials to Bring: 
CANVASES: You may use stretched canvases, canvas boards or panels. Please bring at least two panels/canvases. I recommend sizes such as 9x12 and 11x14. Please don’t bring anything larger than 12” x 16.” I use Pintura Paint Panels (carried by Jerry’s Artarama). 
 
BRUSHES: I use flats (or brights if I am painting on canvas) in bristle brushes ranging in sizes from #2 to #12. I do most of my painting with a #4 and #8 flat. You may use whichever type of brush you’d prefer, but bring at least one larger brush, size #8 or above. The brand I prefer is Princeton Dakota series 6300F, which you can get online through art supply houses. And I use a small brush for details (a liner, any brand).
 
SOLVENT(for oil painters): We are outdoors, but be mindful of strong solvent odors and use odorless paint thinner and solvents when possible.
 
MEDIUM: If you’re accustomed to using a medium (oil painters), bring it along. 
 
PAINT COLORS: You may bring the colors of your choice to the class or workshop. But please buy the highest quality paints you can afford. I found a huge difference in my painting enjoyment and results
when I switched from student grade to professional grade paints, and I began using far less paint. Student-grade paints (i.e. what you get at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s) are not a bargain. I will be painting with acrylics in this workshop, but virtually everything in the workshop translates beautifully in oils as well. I use a slow-dry acrylic, the brand is Golden Open (they also have simply Golden, which are not slow-dry). If you want to experiment with my palette of colors, it consists of: Titanium White, Bismuth Vanadate Yellow, Cadmium Orange; Quinacridone Red; Transparent Red Iron Oxide; Cerulean Blue; Phthalo Blue (red shade); Chromium Green; Payne’s Gray, and sometimes Burnt Umber. Using these colors is optional – you may use whatever palette of colors you prefer. If you’re in the Springfield area, National Art Shop has a starter set of Golden Open acrylics, 6-8 tubes of paint (22 mil instead of the typical 59 mil size per tube) which will work great for the workshop/class.
 
PALETTE: A real palette is best. Paper or Styrofoam plates work, but barely. You can buy an inexpensive plastic palette from any art supply store. I would recommend one that is no smaller than 9” x 12”, so you have room to mix. Also, paper towels or a few rags are really helpful.
 
EASELS: You may bring your own easel, either stand-up or table top is fine. If you don’t have an easel,
it’s not a problem at all, we have them at the studio (mainly stand-up easels).
 
NOTE: If you want to bring one or two paintings for input, or ones you have “abandoned” because you didn’t know how to fix it, and if you want to see how I would resolve it, bring it along. We can make time
to look them over.