Plein Air Painting with Gouache – Community Arts Center Short Class at Pendle Hill

Enjoy the fun of painting “en plein air” (in the open air) using the fun and forgiving medium of gouache (opaque watercolor).

Topics will include choosing a subject and creating a composition; starting a painting; understanding value and edges; creating textures to suggest foliage, tree trunks and other surfaces; working with gouache paint; brush handling; paint mixing; understanding hue, value and chroma; and mixing a wide range of colors from a simple limited palette.

The class will include demonstration by the instructor as well as individual instruction at each student’s level of experience.

Come paint and let the troubles of the world fade away for a few relaxing hours.

Topics will include: painting outdoors with gouache; finding a subject and creating a composition; starting a painting; understanding value and edges; creating textures to suggest foliage, tree trunks, grasses and other surfaces; layering and adjusting the thickness of the paint; brush handling; paint mixing; understanding the color characteristics of hue, value and chroma; and mixing a wide range of colors from a simple limited palette.

The class will include demonstrations by the instructor as well as individual instruction at each student’s level of experience. 

Special Notes

• First day meet the instructor, Charley, at the first parking lot to the left at Pendle Hill, next to Community Art Center 338 Plush Mill Rd, Wallingford, PA 19086
  
  Required Supplies:
  
• Gouache paint in tubes, Winsor & Newton Designers Gouache is a good choice, (NOT “Himi” or “Jelly” gouache) in 5 colors: Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow Pale (or Light), Perylene Maroon (or Alizarin Crimson), Burnt Sienna, and Permanent White (Titanium White);
• Short handled synthetic brushes suitable for acrylic or mixed media (like those labeled as made of “Golden Taklon,” for example: the Beste line from Jerry’s Artarama): 1/2 flat (ideally 2 of these), 1/4” flat (two of these), 1/8” flat, #2 round;
• Watercolor paper 9×12”, 8×10” or similar, ideally hot press, cold press also OK, at least 140lb/300gsm or heavier;
• Water jar for cleaning brushes, small water jar for clean water; spray mister (atomizer) for keeping paint wet on the palette; watercolor palette with generous mixing area (a small Masterson “Sta-wet Palette” can be helpful); a few paper towels;
• For working outside – something to hold your palette and paper like a pochade box, field easel, folding table, or drawing board leaned against an extra folding chair; plus, whatever you need for time outdoors – folding chair, hat, sunscreen, drinking water, etc. (We will be in the shade.)

Leaders

The Community Arts Center in Wallingford, PA, is a non-profit arts based organization offering countless opportunities to create and enjoy the visual arts. CAC offers classes for all ages, exhibits in their spacious gallery, an active outreach program, an artisans gift shop, and frequent fine art and craft sales that allow people to come together and bring art and creativity into their lives. Learn more at https://communityartscenter.org/  

Charley Parker studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. For the past several years he has been teaching at the Delaware Art Museum, the Delaware College of Art and Design and Jester Artspace. Charley works in and teaches workshops and classes in gouache, water mixable oil and ink and watercolor.  Charley is the author of the popular arts blog, Lines and Colors: http://linesandcolors.com 

Learn more at https://www.charleyparker.com/

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