PLEIN AIR TUESDAYS
* Spring Session #1
Five Painters: Daniel Corey, Dennis Poirier, Melanie Levitt, Chris Volpe and Alastair Dacey.
Portsmouth, NH & York County, Maine
Tuesdays, May 02 - June 20, 2023
$360 for 8 Tuesdays (See sessions below...)
$50 Drop in if space is available. scroll below...
Learn the unique skills of outdoor, "Plein air" painting with 5 different painters over eight Tuesdays in the picturesque, coastal York county, Maine and seacoast New Hampshire. In this unique offering you will benefit from the perspectives, painting and teaching styles of these experienced outdoor painters. Through demonstration, discussion, critiques and side-by-side painting in the field, we will attempt to simplify the Plein air painting process and explore what it means to see the world through the eyes of an artist. Join us this spring, summer and fall with your paint box and Art spirit.
Meet on painting locations with your supplies. Locations sent to you upon registration)
*(Last year sold out and wait listed, these classes will fill).
PLEIN AIR PAINTING TUESDAYS (Limit 14 students per session).
$360 for 8 Tuesdays. (9am - 12)
To reserve the whole summer Pass or multiple sessions, please call or email me.
Drop in: ($50 day) (If space available)
Equipment rental : ($50 day) includes outdoor easel, pallet, paint, mediums, brushes and 1 (8x10") canvas.
Session #1 (May 2 - June 20, 2023)
May 2: (1-4pm) Dennis Poirier (Impressionist approach; Broken color)
May 9: (1-4pm) Dennis Poirier (Impressionist approach; Imprimatura, Start with tonal grounds
May 16: (1-4pm) Melanie Levitt (Palette Knife and mark making)
May 23: (1-4pm) Chris Volpe (Abstracting the landscape)
May 30: (1-4) Dennis Poirier (Impressionist approach, Color harmony)
June 6: (9-12) Daniel Corey (Finding color in the landscape)
June 13: (9-12) Daniel Corey (Pushing expressive color)
June 20: (9-1) Alastair Dacey (Painting the live model outdoors)
* Summer Session #2
Golden Hour / Sunset Painting
Portsmouth, NH & York County, Maine
Todd Bonita, Chris Volpe, and Dennis Poirier
Tuesdays, June 27 - Aug 22, 2023
Session #2 Painting the Golden Hour (June 27 - August 22, 2023) 8 Tuesdays
June 27: (5-8pm) Dennis Poirier
July 11: (5-8pm) Todd Bonita
July 18: (5-8pm) Dennis Poirier
July 25: (5-8pm) Todd Bonita
August 1: (5-8pm) Christopher Volpe
August 8: (5-8pm) Todd Bonita
August 15: (5-8pm) Dennis Poirier
August 22: (5-8pm) Dennis Poirier
Fall Session #3 ( Multiple session Plein air)
August 29 - October 17, 2023
(8) Tuesdays (9am -12)
York county, Maine (Todd Bonita & Dennis Poirier)
In this course, students will craft a single painting over multiple outdoor sessions. With the goal of slowing down, we will aim at sharpening our observational skills, visual problem solving and building upon our painting intillect. We will reach for a painting possessing not only naturally observed acuracy, but a poetic extention of our artistic vision on canvas. Our itinerary will include:
* Bring two canvas to each class. Feel free to work larger but not necessary.
* One canvas will be for a full light (Sunny day) painting while the other will be for a half light (Cloudy day) painting.
* You will work on one (or two, depending on weather week-to-week) over the course of the first four weeks.
* We will change locations after the first four weeks (completion of our first painting / s) and start another painting in a new location, to work on for the remaining for weeks. Each painting will be broken down into four sessions and look like this:
(First four weeks / first painting)
August 29 (Bonita): Design / Compostion walk about lecture, "choosing a motif". Sketch and draw motif.
September 05 (Bonita) : Lay in masses of color, cover the entire canvas. Focus on color & value matching accuracy.
September 12 (Bonita): Modification layer. Modify Value, Color (Both temperature & Chroma), Edges and texture.
September 19: (Poirier): Accent / Crescendo, Finishing a painting checklist. Infusing the poetry and art into your painting. Asking, what it needs & the five part checklist to finish: (Darkest darks, Lightest lights, Most chromatic color, final edges, final texture).
(Second location painting)
September 26 (Poirier): Design / Compostion walk about lecture, "choosing a motif". Sketch and draw motif.
October 03 (Bonita) : Lay in masses of color, cover the entire canvas. Focus on color & value matching accuracy.
October 10 (Bonita): Modification layer. Modify Value, Color (Both temperature & Chroma), Edges and texture.
October 17: (Poirier): Accent / Crescendo, Finishing a painting checklist. Infusing the poetry and art into your painting. Asking, what it needs & the five part checklist to finish: (Darkest darks, Lightest lights, Most chromatic color, final edges, final texture).
REGISTER: Call (603) 819-9100 or email tmbonita@gmail.com
We accept:
* Credit Cards (add 3.5% for process fees)
* Pay Pal (add 3% for process fee) send to Tmbonita@gmail.com
* Venmo (add 1.2% for process fee)
* cash for teachers pet (Smiling)
To Mail a check for registration:
Send a check made out to Todd Bonita for the full balance and mail to:
Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
Greenland, NH 03840
*Please write in the memo on the check, "Plein air Tuesday and indicate session # 1, 2 or 3.
* Spring Session #1
Five Painters: Daniel Corey, Dennis Poirier, Melanie Levitt, Chris Volpe and Alastair Dacey.
Portsmouth, NH & York County, Maine
Tuesdays, May 02 - June 20, 2023
$360 for 8 Tuesdays (See sessions below...)
$50 Drop in if space is available. scroll below...
Learn the unique skills of outdoor, "Plein air" painting with 5 different painters over eight Tuesdays in the picturesque, coastal York county, Maine and seacoast New Hampshire. In this unique offering you will benefit from the perspectives, painting and teaching styles of these experienced outdoor painters. Through demonstration, discussion, critiques and side-by-side painting in the field, we will attempt to simplify the Plein air painting process and explore what it means to see the world through the eyes of an artist. Join us this spring, summer and fall with your paint box and Art spirit.
Meet on painting locations with your supplies. Locations sent to you upon registration)
*(Last year sold out and wait listed, these classes will fill).
PLEIN AIR PAINTING TUESDAYS (Limit 14 students per session).
$360 for 8 Tuesdays. (9am - 12)
To reserve the whole summer Pass or multiple sessions, please call or email me.
Drop in: ($50 day) (If space available)
Equipment rental : ($50 day) includes outdoor easel, pallet, paint, mediums, brushes and 1 (8x10") canvas.
Session #1 (May 2 - June 20, 2023)
May 2: (1-4pm) Dennis Poirier (Impressionist approach; Broken color)
May 9: (1-4pm) Dennis Poirier (Impressionist approach; Imprimatura, Start with tonal grounds
May 16: (1-4pm) Melanie Levitt (Palette Knife and mark making)
May 23: (1-4pm) Chris Volpe (Abstracting the landscape)
May 30: (1-4) Dennis Poirier (Impressionist approach, Color harmony)
June 6: (9-12) Daniel Corey (Finding color in the landscape)
June 13: (9-12) Daniel Corey (Pushing expressive color)
June 20: (9-1) Alastair Dacey (Painting the live model outdoors)
* Summer Session #2
Golden Hour / Sunset Painting
Portsmouth, NH & York County, Maine
Todd Bonita, Chris Volpe, and Dennis Poirier
Tuesdays, June 27 - Aug 22, 2023
Session #2 Painting the Golden Hour (June 27 - August 22, 2023) 8 Tuesdays
June 27: (5-8pm) Dennis Poirier
July 11: (5-8pm) Todd Bonita
July 18: (5-8pm) Dennis Poirier
July 25: (5-8pm) Todd Bonita
August 1: (5-8pm) Christopher Volpe
August 8: (5-8pm) Todd Bonita
August 15: (5-8pm) Dennis Poirier
August 22: (5-8pm) Dennis Poirier
Fall Session #3 ( Multiple session Plein air)
August 29 - October 17, 2023
(8) Tuesdays (9am -12)
York county, Maine (Todd Bonita & Dennis Poirier)
In this course, students will craft a single painting over multiple outdoor sessions. With the goal of slowing down, we will aim at sharpening our observational skills, visual problem solving and building upon our painting intillect. We will reach for a painting possessing not only naturally observed acuracy, but a poetic extention of our artistic vision on canvas. Our itinerary will include:
* Bring two canvas to each class. Feel free to work larger but not necessary.
* One canvas will be for a full light (Sunny day) painting while the other will be for a half light (Cloudy day) painting.
* You will work on one (or two, depending on weather week-to-week) over the course of the first four weeks.
* We will change locations after the first four weeks (completion of our first painting / s) and start another painting in a new location, to work on for the remaining for weeks. Each painting will be broken down into four sessions and look like this:
(First four weeks / first painting)
August 29 (Bonita): Design / Compostion walk about lecture, "choosing a motif". Sketch and draw motif.
September 05 (Bonita) : Lay in masses of color, cover the entire canvas. Focus on color & value matching accuracy.
September 12 (Bonita): Modification layer. Modify Value, Color (Both temperature & Chroma), Edges and texture.
September 19: (Poirier): Accent / Crescendo, Finishing a painting checklist. Infusing the poetry and art into your painting. Asking, what it needs & the five part checklist to finish: (Darkest darks, Lightest lights, Most chromatic color, final edges, final texture).
(Second location painting)
September 26 (Poirier): Design / Compostion walk about lecture, "choosing a motif". Sketch and draw motif.
October 03 (Bonita) : Lay in masses of color, cover the entire canvas. Focus on color & value matching accuracy.
October 10 (Bonita): Modification layer. Modify Value, Color (Both temperature & Chroma), Edges and texture.
October 17: (Poirier): Accent / Crescendo, Finishing a painting checklist. Infusing the poetry and art into your painting. Asking, what it needs & the five part checklist to finish: (Darkest darks, Lightest lights, Most chromatic color, final edges, final texture).
REGISTER: Call (603) 819-9100 or email tmbonita@gmail.com
We accept:
* Credit Cards (add 3.5% for process fees)
* Pay Pal (add 3% for process fee) send to Tmbonita@gmail.com
* Venmo (add 1.2% for process fee)
* cash for teachers pet (Smiling)
To Mail a check for registration:
Send a check made out to Todd Bonita for the full balance and mail to:
Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
Greenland, NH 03840
*Please write in the memo on the check, "Plein air Tuesday and indicate session # 1, 2 or 3.
SUPPLY LIST
Supply list:
Please bring the supplies you are comfortable with for outdoor painting. Think light weight and portable, find creative ways to simplify...I manage to pack everything below in a back pack and hit the trail. I get most of my supplies online at ASW, Jerrys Artarama, Dick Blick, Cheap Joes or Utrecht).
Below is a suggested supply list, followed by optional notes by each instructor but please feel free to use what you have. these are suggestions only.
(Click here for an Illustrated page detailing Todd Bonita Plein air kit)
Portable Easel
French easel, half easel or Pochade box for working outside.
(I use the 10x12" Open Box M system and sometimes the 6x8" Guerilla box for smaller work, both are mounted to a photographers tripod. I use a $35 photographers tripod I bought at Wall Mart. If you prefer the French easels, go with the lighter and smaller Jullian Half box easel. You might check Ebay or try "All of Craigslist" search for whatever easel you decide to go with. * Here is a terrific article on Pochade Box reviews from the popular Lines and Colors blog. This will give you a thorough understanding of whats available and best for you. Click here.
Pallet
I recommend a wood pallet...try to avoid paper pallets.
Paint
*(No matter who you study with, the most important consideration is your ability to have a pallet that will enable you to make a color wheel (The full spectrum of color)...I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries plus white (with maybe a few extras)....Please spend the extra for professional grade paints. Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht brands are perfectly good and reasonably priced but there are many excellent options.)
*The Split -Primary palette is the most popularly used palette in the world because it offers a range broad enough to make a color wheel with the minimum number of colors.
Titanium White
Cad Yellow medium
Yellow ochre
Alizarin Crimson Permanent
Cadmium Red deep
Ultramarine Blue
Cobalt Blue or Cerulean Blue
Burnt Sienna
Viridian
Ivory black (optional)
raw or burnt umber (optional)
Painting surface
Canvas, canvas or linen mounted on board or gessoed wood panel (sizes can range from 6x8” to 14x18” but I would not go larger)...(Bring enough for two paintings each day.
Brushes
*Assortment of bristle brushes (I suggest large, medium and small in three styles: Flats, Rounds and Filberts. I mostly use Robert Simmons Signet series flats #3, #6 and #10)
*One or two Royal sable flats in medium and large sizes (size 10 or 16) for blending and softening edges (I prefer Langnickel.)
*Small synthetic rounds for details. (I suggest Winsor and Newton Septre Gold 2 in the 404 series...size 4 and / or size 6)
Other
Trowel type Pallet knife
Gamsol (Turpentine substitute) with container or medium glass jar for brush cleaning
paper towels
Soft pencil, eraser and sketchbook
Ruler, straight edge or a mahl stick (something to make straight lines with is handy)
A Veiwfinder: Important! Whether homemade or store bought, it must be adjustable or proportionate to your canvases. Viewcatcher is ideal.
Artist paint box or back pack for supplies
Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient.
*Appropriate clothing for outdoor weather and conditions.
Optional
Hat
sunglasses
Water bottle or something to drink, snack
Sun block
Bug spray
If you are uncomfortable standing you may consider a portable folding chair
Wheeled caddy for supplies if necessary
Camera
Umbrella
INSTRUCTOR SUPPLY OPTIONS (With respect to the above list, each instructor has provided optional / additional notes unique to their methods. these are only suggestions and not mandatory)
Todd Bonita: I use Liquin original quick dry medium to help my paints set up quickly. I also use Alkyd white. Alkyd is a quick dry white and sets up fast outdoors and speeds up drying time. I use Winsor & Newton Griffin Alkyd Titanium white.
Daniel Corey:
Dennis Poirier: I use Oleogel and other mediums by Rublev but feel free to use whatever you want. Oleogel is a firm gel made with linseed oil, alkyd resin and fumed silica. Add it to colors to thicken impasto effects. I change my palette all the time.
Please bring the supplies you are comfortable with for outdoor painting. Think light weight and portable, find creative ways to simplify...I manage to pack everything below in a back pack and hit the trail. I get most of my supplies online at ASW, Jerrys Artarama, Dick Blick, Cheap Joes or Utrecht).
Below is a suggested supply list, followed by optional notes by each instructor but please feel free to use what you have. these are suggestions only.
(Click here for an Illustrated page detailing Todd Bonita Plein air kit)
Portable Easel
French easel, half easel or Pochade box for working outside.
(I use the 10x12" Open Box M system and sometimes the 6x8" Guerilla box for smaller work, both are mounted to a photographers tripod. I use a $35 photographers tripod I bought at Wall Mart. If you prefer the French easels, go with the lighter and smaller Jullian Half box easel. You might check Ebay or try "All of Craigslist" search for whatever easel you decide to go with. * Here is a terrific article on Pochade Box reviews from the popular Lines and Colors blog. This will give you a thorough understanding of whats available and best for you. Click here.
Pallet
I recommend a wood pallet...try to avoid paper pallets.
Paint
*(No matter who you study with, the most important consideration is your ability to have a pallet that will enable you to make a color wheel (The full spectrum of color)...I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries plus white (with maybe a few extras)....Please spend the extra for professional grade paints. Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht brands are perfectly good and reasonably priced but there are many excellent options.)
*The Split -Primary palette is the most popularly used palette in the world because it offers a range broad enough to make a color wheel with the minimum number of colors.
Titanium White
Cad Yellow medium
Yellow ochre
Alizarin Crimson Permanent
Cadmium Red deep
Ultramarine Blue
Cobalt Blue or Cerulean Blue
Burnt Sienna
Viridian
Ivory black (optional)
raw or burnt umber (optional)
Painting surface
Canvas, canvas or linen mounted on board or gessoed wood panel (sizes can range from 6x8” to 14x18” but I would not go larger)...(Bring enough for two paintings each day.
Brushes
*Assortment of bristle brushes (I suggest large, medium and small in three styles: Flats, Rounds and Filberts. I mostly use Robert Simmons Signet series flats #3, #6 and #10)
*One or two Royal sable flats in medium and large sizes (size 10 or 16) for blending and softening edges (I prefer Langnickel.)
*Small synthetic rounds for details. (I suggest Winsor and Newton Septre Gold 2 in the 404 series...size 4 and / or size 6)
Other
Trowel type Pallet knife
Gamsol (Turpentine substitute) with container or medium glass jar for brush cleaning
paper towels
Soft pencil, eraser and sketchbook
Ruler, straight edge or a mahl stick (something to make straight lines with is handy)
A Veiwfinder: Important! Whether homemade or store bought, it must be adjustable or proportionate to your canvases. Viewcatcher is ideal.
Artist paint box or back pack for supplies
Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient.
*Appropriate clothing for outdoor weather and conditions.
Optional
Hat
sunglasses
Water bottle or something to drink, snack
Sun block
Bug spray
If you are uncomfortable standing you may consider a portable folding chair
Wheeled caddy for supplies if necessary
Camera
Umbrella
INSTRUCTOR SUPPLY OPTIONS (With respect to the above list, each instructor has provided optional / additional notes unique to their methods. these are only suggestions and not mandatory)
Todd Bonita: I use Liquin original quick dry medium to help my paints set up quickly. I also use Alkyd white. Alkyd is a quick dry white and sets up fast outdoors and speeds up drying time. I use Winsor & Newton Griffin Alkyd Titanium white.
Daniel Corey:
Dennis Poirier: I use Oleogel and other mediums by Rublev but feel free to use whatever you want. Oleogel is a firm gel made with linseed oil, alkyd resin and fumed silica. Add it to colors to thicken impasto effects. I change my palette all the time.