STEP OUTSIDE – Plein Air Painting on Cape Cod, with Betsy Payne Cook - 2 Days: June 17 & 18, 9 am-3 pm

“Step Outside” – Plein Air Painting on Cape Cod, with Betsy Payne Cook

2-Day Workshop: Thursday, June 17 & Friday, June 18, 2021

9 am-3 pm

$325 members /$350 non members

All Mediums welcome

Betsy Payne Cook, PPSCC, CTPS

Painting outdoors is an exhilarating experience, and this workshop is ideal for artists who want to take the challenge of stepping outdoors to paint!  Try something new, or hone your skills; this workshop will develop your skills to make thoughtful choices paired with spontaneity to create paintings with a personal flare.

Cape Cod offer a multitude of choices for the plein air artist and this workshop will include Cape Cod locations to include the option of adding buildings and figures as supporting elements.  Betsy’s approach to plein air painting begins with simplifying the landscape into big shapes, focusing on the play of light and shadow. Preliminary sketches will zero in on your impressions and encourage a more personal response of the setting. Demonstrations by Betsy will provide you with pointers for setting up on location, narrowing the field of vision, importance of thumbnail sketches and simplifying by focusing on values in the landscape.  Color plays an emotive role in painting and students will be encouraged to see beyond the local color when making choices. Participants will have plenty of easel time to sketch and paint with individual feedback.  Group critiques will take place at the end of both days.

Betsy’s medium of choice is pastels but information shared will apply to other drawing & painting mediums as well. It is important that artists have a good working knowledge of their medium.

As a guideline this is a basic equipment list for plein air painting:

Sketchbook, drawing materials ( pencils or charcoal sticks) , viewfinder, your painting supplies,( Pastelists should come with a range values, warm and cool, and dull or muted colors) , small format paintings surfaces ( 8 x10 , 9X12) and one larger format surface, a hat with a visor and your camera and an easel. I will be showing some examples of easels as there are quite a few options. It is useful to have a camp chair during breaks or demonstrations. Betsy suggests that you avoid painting in sunglasses but bring a hat with a visor and an artist’s umbrella, which is optional.  Depending upon the weather you might need sunscreen or bug repellent. Keep materials light and easy to carry, you do not have to bring all your paintings supplies.

If you are new to plein air painting, Betsy will spend time assisting with painting set ups, which will help you strategize on what works best for you. Betsy will share tips on pairing down equipment used for plein air painting, ranging from basic hacks to items you can purchase.

If you have any questions please contact the workshop instructor at betsy@betsypaynecook.com