Plein Air Painting with Byron Copland

This plein air workshop is appropriate for all levels, a perfect introduction for those beginning their foray into painting in oils outdoors and a platform for more experienced plein air painters to advance their skills and understanding through teacher demonstration and personalised critique.

The day will start with an introduction where students will be shown various examples of plein air paintings and modes of study followed by teacher demonstration. The demo will focus on all the pertinent points relating to light effects, composition, perspective, colour, what we see and how that can translate into paint. There is ample opportunity to ask questions during and after the demonstration. Once the demonstration portion is over we will have a half hour break for lunch following which students will take to their own easels. The paintings made will generally be smaller format, typically less than 25cm. Light changes quickly outdoors and smaller studies are a valuable tool for the plein air painter. Putting these ideas into practice with teacher guidance is where much of the learning happens.

Students will leave the workshop with an understanding of how to approach painting what they see, the various aspects of oil paint, approaches to study and practical information concerning painting outdoors and painting in general.

This workshop has been designed to compliment the term course Byron runs on plein air painting.