Thursdays: Plein Air Painting [Teens & Adults]

Pack up all your art supplies and head to the great outdoors! Painting en plein air (French for “in the open air”) truly gained in popularity in the mid-to-late 1800’s. The Impressionist artists were especially enamored of plein air painting: reflecting the mutable, changing effects of light over a landscape was the epitome of achievement for many artists like Monet, Renoir, and Pissarro. Don’t be intimidated — you too can capture the brilliant fall foliage at the Van Nest Park in West Windsor. Masks are required when unable to maintain at least 6 feet apart from others.

Van Nest Park,  218 Cranbury Road, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550

About the Teaching Artist: 

A resident of West Windsor, Lori Langsner has recently retired after a rewarding career in arts education in the NYC Public Schools. Lori has an MA in Special Education from Brooklyn College, a BA in Art Education from Queens College, and has continued her studies at the Art Students League, Princeton Arts Council, and Mercer County Community College.

Lori’s paintings were recently on view at Princeton Arts Council, and have been included in exhibitions at Mercer County Community College, Mercer County Library, and Prallsville Mills. Lori has been not only a classroom practitioner but is currently a facilitator of a learning community of other visual arts teachers around best practices and teacher effectiveness in the arts program at www.Startchr.nyc.

Lori is excited to reconnect with her own personal art as an “en plein air” painter in oils, surrounding herself with nature and art. She looks forward to sharing her passion for oil painting with those who want to start their own personal quests into the world of art.

To preview her paintings please visit www.lorilangsner.com
 

Supply List: These materials are available at Jerry's Artarama, Michael's, or online.
Paints: Basic colors: titanium white, ivory black, cadmium red medium, cadmium yellow light, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, raw umber, yellow ochre. You can opt for the basic colorselection, red, yellow, blue, white and black, for the first class, and add optional colors for subsequent classes, if desired. Optional: colors might be alizarin crimson, cerulean blue, cobalt blue, violet, emerald green, & burnt umber. Let your budget be your guide. *Beginner kits with a selection of small tubes are acceptable. Brushes: Basic: ½";, ¼ “ filbert and flat, ½"; round, fine detail brush metal palette knife. *Brush sets are acceptable. They should include flat and round types, in various sizes specifically for oil painting. Price is an indicator of quality; nylon synthetics such as sablette or taklon represent good value. Painting mediums: ODORLESS thinner/spirits (Turpenoid, Mona Lisa or similar). NO TURPENTINE! Gamblin or Gamsol are other alternatives for diluting paint and mixing colors. You will need a clear glass or metal container with a cover to hold thinner. ). Optional: linseed oil – increases luminosity, yet longer to dry, liquin - speeds up drying time, gives a glossy finish. Painting surfaces: three 8"x 10" OR 9” x 12” canvas boards, both often sold in 3-packs. It is not necessary to purchase stretched canvases at this time, yet one of each size is optional. Palette: Basic: disposable palette pad (more expensive but convenient), OR A roll of freezer paper can be cut into palette- sized rectangles Miscellaneous Recommended: disposable gloves, rags or paper towels, apron or smock. For painting outdoors, it is highly recommended to wear a hat, apply sunscreen and bug spray. We will be working at tables under an enclosed roof with table easels provided by WWAC. Lightweight portable easels are acceptable as well, if you have your own. Optional: a large plastic shopping bag, a sealable palette box, (fisherman's tackle box), or a large, flat Tupperware container or plastic shoebox will work well as a transportable storage solution.