If you would like to be added to the mailing list for future courses, please use the form below:
Quick links to the 2025 Courses:
April 4 – 6 in Carmel, California (full)
April 11 – 14 in Boston, MA (full)
May 31 – June 7 in Mustique, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
July 5 – 12 in Lot-et-Garonne, France
September 8 – 12 near Nimes, France
September 15 – 21 in Plieux, France (full)
My wife and I teach plein air landscape painting in oils using the sight-size method.
We cover all the various aspects of the subject including composition, values, color theory, painting mechanics and materials considerations, as well as aesthetic theory and art historical contexts. Multiple demonstrations are given and the groups receive six hours of instruction per day from both instructors.
The workshops are open to all levels as Tina can take beginning students to work alongside her so they might have continuous advice while they work., and most of the teaching is done one on one as we make our rounds. Both Tina and I trained in atelier systems directly descended from the French Academies of the 19th-century, where it was believed that anyone can learn to paint well with the proper training.
The next workshop for the year will be in late May/early June on the island of Mustique. You can find more information on the Mustique Company website. It’s more expensive than my usual courses, but it’s a luxury retreat with a house and meals which merit the price increase. All materials will be provided. Mustique is a great little island for painting too as it’s quite varied despite its small size. The Atlantic side is much more rugged, and the Caribbean side is much softer and more lush, yet they are only a few minutes drive from each other. We will have electric golf carts to get to the locations, and there will be a few social events as well, since it is Mustique.
For those that can’t make it on one of my workshops, I have painting demos from past courses on my YouTube channel here.
I’ll add the materials list here, since people often ask for it.
Oil Colors:
- Titanium white.
- Cadmium yellow light (not Lemon)
- Cadmium yellow medium
- Cadmium orange
- Yellow ocher
- A light cadmium red or vermilion
- Cadmium red medium
- Cerulean blue
- Ultramarine blue (Old Holland ultramarine deep is essential).
- Cobalt blue (manganese blue if it’s a tropical location).
For most colors, I use Williamsburg, for blues I prefer Old Holland. Most titanium whites are fine.
The only important one is Old Holland’s ultramarine deep.
Medium:
- I use a balsam/sun-thickened oil medium, Zecchi sells it in Europe, Blue Ridge was selling it in the US. Bring anything you’re comfortable with.
- Turpentine, Gamsol, or mineral spirits. I use lavender essence AKA spike oil these days.
Other stuff:
- Portable easel.
- Support: 20 x 30 cm (8 x 12 in.) or larger prepared wood panels or primed linen canvas.
- A palette, preferably folding for keeping paint off of your transportation.
- Palette cups for turpentine and medium.
- Palette knives.
- A selection of brushes. I use Cornelissen series 44 bristle brushes (sizes 3 to 8) and small Zecchi sables (sizes 0 to 5).
- Hat, sunscreen, waterproof clothes, a clip-on umbrella, and bug spray.
And, for people traveling to take one of my courses, here is a video with some thoughts on flying with oil painting equipment: