Session 2: Oil Landscape Painting

Level of Experience: This workshop is for Advance Beginners & Intermediate Oil Painters, who are looking for a brief introduction class to plein-air painting. A basic understanding of primary & secondary colour mixing with some knowledge about values, contrast, and colour temperature is an asset.

Audience: 16+

Session 2:

• Participants will start inside and then move outside, weather permitting. If the weather is dreadful, participants will stay inside and take advantage of the views looking out of the Schoolhouse windows.

• Theresa will show you her art practice of making multiple small sketches using big brushes and limited brush strokes. (Anyone wanting to use palette knives instead of brushes may do so).

• This session will focus on colour and mixing a limited palette. It will concentrate on ‘local’ colour and how to show depth of colour to create atmospheric perspective. There will not be a deep dive into colour theory as it’s a big subject best suited to a multi-day workshop.

• You will be shown some tips and tricks by Theresa to keep your colour both clean and harmonious.

• In sessions 1 & 2 there will be a discussion about safe material handling and the differences between good, better, and best painting practices.

• Time will be given to clean up and finish the day with another Q&A session.

Anyone looking for additional field experience may like to attend the Come Paint Alberta events scheduled for May 12 and June 16 at the Coutts Centre near Nanton. The Centre also serves a popular Mother’s & Father’s Day brunch at these events. Prior reservation is strongly recommended as brunch usually sells out quickly.

*Please note that the fee for this workshop includes admittance to our historic museum , walking paths and art gallery on the property, which can be enjoyed at your own discretion after the workshop is completed. Leighton Centre is a proud non-profit organization that relies on donations to help meet demanding operational costs. We appreciate your contribution by attending our workshops and other events that allow us to continue thriving!

Cost: $100 (inclusive of Eventbrite fees & GST)

Did you know that Members of the Leighton Art Centre get 10% off the registration cost of all workshops and kids’ summer camps? Please visit https://leightoncentre.org/join-us/become-a-member/.

Supplies: Participants are asked to bring the following:

• Lunch/ snacks and water/juice/coffee/tea
• Layers of clothing including a dark neutral top to avoid reflecting color or glare
• Hat and sunscreen

• Small sketchbook
• 1 soft pencil, I like a 4B
• 1 hard pencil, I like an H or a 2H
• 1 Black Sharpie, ‘fine’ or ‘medium’ tip
• Notebook & pen
• 12” plastic ruler
• 4 panels: 8×10 (Theresa likes to work small, often using 6x8s, as it’s easy to get a painting down in an hour or two. 8×10 or even 11×14 will give you a little more room and that may be helpful for this class as we will be concentrating on the process as opposed to completing a painting). Please no stretched canvas. You can use inexpensive wrapped panels or wood panels or canvas paper taped to a board as these are all adequate.
• Gamsol and a Solvant container (A small plastic or metal jar with a tight-fitting lid or one of the brush washer cans. No glass.)
• Rags or paper towels (Blue shop towels from Costco or Viva brand paper towels are also good. Rags cut down from old cotton t-shirts and/or cotton sheets work great)
• Bristle brushes, flats. 2 of each size, 4, 5, 6. (Or bring a selection of larger brushes you may have on hand)
• 1 small to medium size palette knife suitable for mixing and painting.
• Outdoor easel, but only if you already have one. Or something that will hold a panel and provide a paint mixing area. Theresa and LAC have a few easels to lend out. We would rather you work with whatever we have on hand than go out and buy something for this class. Equipment varies widely and it’s best you see a few different set-ups before shopping.
• Vinyl or latex gloves
• Viewfinder: this can be something as simple as two corners of matboard held together with paperclips.
• Something to package up small wet oil studies (ie two 12″ pizza boxes work great)
• Plastic bag to place garbage in
• Oil paints: Gamblin or any brand is acceptable if the paints are professional grade (not student grade).
• Titanium White
• Cadmium Yellow Light
• Cadmium Yellow Medium or Dark
• Cadmium Red Light
• Quinacridone Magenta or Alizarin Crimson Permanent
• Cobalt Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Bring a few additional colors if you like but we will be keeping our palettes limited.
• Questions, lots of questions.

* All other supplies will be provided by the instructor or the Leighton Art Centre*

Instructor Biography: Theresa Williams is a contemporary landscape artist living in Carstairs, Alberta. Renowned for her plein air painting, steering wheel easel, limited colour palette and bold, expressive mark-making, Theresa has spent decades driving through rural Alberta and BC. Her work often includes that view through the windshield; foregrounds take a back seat to the middle and far away grounds and weather elements are common. Theresa’s artwork hangs in private collections both nationally and internationally, as well as several permanent public collections, and has been published in newspapers and magazines and featured in a book of local Alberta history. Theresa’s paintings have been shown in many juried group exhibitions as well as solo shows and have won multiple awards. Last year, Theresa was one of thirty-five featured artists at Glacier Plein Air 2023 in Montana. She is currently represented by Bluerock Gallery in Diamond Valley, Leighton Art Centre near Calgary, and seasonally at Gust Gallery in Waterton.

Website: www.tmwilliamsart.com

Instagram: @theresawilliamsart

Facebook: @SomePrettyFineArtbyTheresaWilliams

Cancellation/Refund Policy: Please note there is a NO REFUND policy on all Leighton Art Centre workshops. A refund will only be issued to participants if the workshop is cancelled by the workshop coordinator due to insufficient enrollment, extreme weather conditions, or Covid-19 restrictions. Workshops may be cancelled prior to the start date and participants will be notified via email and/or phone, and a full refund will be processed.