Plein Air Workshops
( first of a series ) 

It's that time of year when the blossoms of spring and warmer weather inspire us to go outside and paint. With proper planning, you'll get the most enjoyment and benefits from the experience. Taking a painting workshop, whether nearby or traveling to another country, can re-charge your batteries and improve your work. I'll be traveling to Italy in a few days to teach a painting workshop in Tuscany and Florence. I'd like to share some tips I've passed along to the participating artists. While some of my workshops focus on one media, for this workshop the students can paint in the media of their choice. The object will be to create sketches and small paintings on location for use back home to create larger studio paintings. Since there will be no art supply stores where we are going, they must thoroughly review their supply list. Oil painters have special concerns, since certain mediums are not allowed on planes ( turpentine, etc.) We have made special arrangements for the oil painters to have these mediums sent ahead to our location. Also, oil painters must devise a way to pack wet oil paintings or use the fast drying alkyd paints instead. Pastel artists also must be prepared to protect their paintings from smearing in transit. My advise to all my students is to assemble all of your workshop painting gear and then go out and paint before you go to see if you forgot anything or can travel lighter by leaving some things at home.

The next installment of this series will focus on selecting the right workshop
and more tips on things you don't want to forget to bring.

For more information about the author of this series, Paul Gould, please visit
his website- www.paulgouldart.com. You can e-mail him at mail@paulgouldart.com