Plein air Landscape Painting in Oils with Andrew Barrowman
Course Description
Andrew will begin with a brief introduction to his outdoor painting equipment, setup and materials. He will then introduce the oil colours used during the day and explain how and why it’s important to lay them out on the mixing palette for easy and quick access during outdoor work.
You will then go into the landscape near the studio with a sketchbook to get some ideas and look at possible locations for paintings. Andrew will demonstrate and show examples of how to record the landscape quickly and how to ‘see’ a view that has good composition, and may make a good subject for painting.
After lunch Andrew will set-up and paint a quick demo in alla prima oil painting techniques which are used in plein air landscape painting. Students will then begin painting the view they have chosen using the white canvas / board. Throughout the day Andrew will circulate around the group giving one to one advice and helping with any issues that may arise.
Day 2 will begin with a quick recap, before going outdoors to another viewpoint where you will paint onto the canvas / board with the coloured ground using the techniques learnt during the previous day.
After lunch you have the option to begin another 2 hour painting outdoors or continue with one of the first two at the previous location. This will be discussed over lunch.
At the end of the workshop there will be a mini exhibition of work in the studio. This will be very useful to see how the coloured ground has affected the painting.
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PLEASE NOTE: If the weather is bad we will use the studio to paint from photographs in an alla prima style that can be used en plein air.
A small amount of walking is required to get to our painting location with our equipment. We will never be too far from the studio if needed. Some experience of oil painting would be beneficial but not necessary.
Course Information
- 3 Boards or canvases around 20 x 30 cm in size, primed with acrylic gesso or
traditional gesso ready for oil painting.
If possible, at least a week before to allow for drying time, apply a burnt sienna or yellow
ochre ground to 2 of the supports (paint the entire board, using a brush or cloth, with a thin
wash of oil paint, diluted with turpentine or turpentine substitute). Leave the other canvas /
board white.● Oil paints: Cobalt blue, Ultramarine blue, Cerulean blue (not essential but useful),
Lemon yellow, Cadmium yellow, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson or Carmine, Yellow
Ochre, Burnt Umber, Indian Red, Naples Yellow, Titanium White. Plus, any other
colours you have available and want to use or try in landscape painting.● Hogs hair paint brushes (or synthetic equivalent) for oils – a range of sizes and
shapes would be useful although I often paint a painting with just 2 or 3 brushes.● A palette knife (Andrew uses a trowel shape)● A paint palette for mixing paints on (a small sheet of hardboard or plywood is good –
disposable palettes are ok, but they get blown around in the wind!)● Rags (I find paper towels don’t absorb oil like cotton rags do)● Turpentine / turps substitute / Gamsol or Zest-it in a jar/pot with a lid on● Linseed oil or Stand oil (a small amount will be used to mix a medium with turps)● Easel for working outdoors: One of the following: Lightweight sketching easel for
outdoor work / Pochade box with tripod / French or box Easel● Sketchbook and sketching materials such as pencils, graphite sticks or charcoal.● Please bring a photograph or iPad / phone to paint from just in case the weather is
particularly bad! I will have some spare photos for use.● Please wear old clothes or a painting apron as it will get messy!
Provided by Cornwall School of Art if required
- Easels
- Drawing boards
- Water jars
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Clips
All art materials are available to purchase in the Truro Arts shop, 26 River Street Truro TR1 2SJ, and you will receive a 10% discount on all supplies for the course.
Andrew Barrowman
Andrew trained and worked in illustration before taking up oils over 20 years ago. Now Helston based, he mainly works en plein air or from his studio at Krowji Redruth, painting the landscapes of Cornwall – particularly Porthleven, Mullion and the Lizard Peninsula.
Find Out MoreOur courses usually begin at 10am and end at 4:30pm, with a half an hour lunch break at around 1pm. There will also be brief morning and afternoon breaks, with free tea and coffee available in the kitchen area. At Lunch time you can make things nice and easy by pre-ordering a freshly prepared Coach House Lunch. Alternatively, you’re very welcome to bring along a packed lunch and any other refreshments you like.
On sunny days students and tutors are invited to enjoy breaktimes outside in the leafy courtyard or gardens surrounded by birdsong.
Course Details
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Cancellations must be made in writing/email more than 4 weeks prior to the course start date to guarantee a refund. Read our full policy on the Course Terms & Conditions page.
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