Why Use the Plein Air Painting in Layers Method?
The Painting in Layers Method helps you achieve optimal values, design and color when plein air painting. It is especially valuable in counter-acting the tendency to gray down your colors and tone down your values when painting outdoors under the brightest light bulb in creation, the sun.
The pop of the discord or complementary color is seen and not seen throughout the painting by the viewer. The eye does not read a difference in terms of value, but does see the difference in terms of complementary color, providing color harmony and color interest throughout the painting.
The underpainting also helps to carry the image when viewed at a distance and reflects more color light back to the viewer, giving your painting a powerful sense of vitality and luminosity. Painting in layers with some of the bright complementary colors showing through also provides depth. It works especially well to capture the transparent and reflective qualities of atmosphere and water.
FREE Wave Painting Demo
Click here to see a Free Demo of Marie Painting a Wave on Youtube. Produced by the Frank Bette Center For The Arts in Alameda, CA.
Sunset Surf, 10″ x 20″, oil on canvas
Painting in Layers for Adults
Medium: Oil and Acrylic Where: El Estero Park Center Course Meets: Thursday Mornings Time: 10 am – 1 pm Tuition: 3 and 4 week monthly sessions, 30% discount for City of Monterey residents and military Level: all are welcomeCourse Description:
The “painting in layers” method will enable you to get beyond the minutia and put down on canvas your unique vision and interpretations. You will learn how to quickly build a composition with depth and values starting with a small sketch on paper with pencil. You will then use your sketch and a reference photo(s), if desired, and transfer your sketch to canvas in acrylic. You will build the structure of your painting with two layers in acrylic paints in the complementary colors to the final layer in oils. You will solve your problems in acrylic, working out the important value and compositional relationships. Then you will learn to apply the final layers in oil to bring in relevant detail, subtle light effects and color to create sparkling paintings. Personal style and expression are encouraged. Students will receive instruction on subjects including the principals of composition, perspective, values, edges, techniques and color. There will also be discussion of historical artists from the Renaissance through the Impressionists, post Impressionist and contemporary painters. Demos, individual instruction, and critiques will be given.
Students can bring photo references to paint from and there will also be a “still life” set up to paint from.
Contact Information
Plein Air Painting in Layers Weekly Workshops in Pebble Beach, CA
Carmel Splash, 12″ x 24″, oil on canvas
Weekly HALF DAY PLEIN AIR WORKSHOPS in PEBBLE BEACH, CA 9 to noonish, Instructor, Marie Massey, will demonstrate and explain the materials used and the steps necessary to paint outdoors using oils and/or acrylics on canvas. She will then facilitate and coach students through their painting, giving instruction, critiques and helpful tips.
Students will learn how to quickly build a composition with depth through perspective, values and color. Finally they will fine-tune their work by pushing and pulling values, softening and sharpening edges and adding details.
MONTEREY BAY PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP
Instructor: Marie Massey, mm@mariemassey.com, 970-222-1652
Media: Oil and Acrylic
Cost: $150
Dates and Times: 2nd weekend in July: lecture and demo 9 to noon on Saturday, paint on location 1pm to 4pm , Sunday paint 9 to 4 with lunch break. Critique 4:30 to 5:30
Come paint on the amazing Monterey Bay coast: Fisherman’s Wharf, Point Lobos, Carmel River Beach, Asilomar. You will learn the plein air “painting in layers” method. It is all about value and color. First you will learn how to quickly build a composition with depth and values in acrylic, then apply the final layers in oil, to bring in relevant detail, subtle light effects and color to create sparkling paintings. Personal style and expression are encouraged. The painting in layers method will enable you to get beyond the minutia and put down on canvas your impressions of the visual landscape. There will be individual instruction at your easel, Demos, lectures, and critiques.
POUDRE RIVER PLEIN AIR PAINTING IN LAYERS WORKSHOP
Instructor: Marie Massey, mm@mariemassey.com, 970-222-1652
Dates: Second weekend in September
Media: Oil and Acrylic
Cost: $125
Come paint with me e on the magnificent Cache La Poudre River ! (http://www.poudreheritage.org/gallery/photos/images-2004 )
Experience painting along the beautiful Cache La Poudre River, one of the only remaining “Wild and Scenic” rivers in the Continental United States. This majestic river runs through red rock and granite canyons, and meadows into ponds in the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains. You will learn the plein air “painting in layers” method. It is all about value and color. First you will learn how to quickly build a composition with depth and values in acrylic, then apply the final layers in oil, to bring in relevant detail, subtle light effects and color to create sparkling paintings. Personal style and expression are encouraged. The painting in layers method will enable you to get beyond the minutia and put down on canvas your impressions of the visual landscape. There will be individual instruction at your easel, Demos, lectures, and critiques.