In the Spirit of Plein Air, Oil Painting

Monday-Friday
September 17-21   10 am – 4 pm

Medium: painting
Level: II & III
Instructor: Kenn Backhaus
Tuition: $600 member/$635 non-member

Paint the beauty of the mountains in the fall with nationally recognized workshop instructor Kenn Backhaus. Paint in several carefully selected locations on the plateau with Backhaus, who will teach participants to see and use the basic elements of the landscape and how to be bring this understanding to the canvas. Students will be shown how to employ the fundamental principles of art to develop strong compositional statements. Attention will be given to the importance of editing while on location. Instruction will also focus on introducing mood verses detail through the application of value, temperature, edge control and brush work. This is a unique opportunity to study with Backhaus in a breathtaking environment!
Kenn Backhaus graduated from Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where his fondness for nature became the catalyst for his art. Backhaus began a full pursuit of his true passions, painting and his love of the outdoors and has continued that pursuit since the 70’s. His works have been juried into many shows across the nation, including the Oil Painters of America National Shows. He is the recipient of many awards including: the Collector's Choice Award at the Seventh Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Artist's Choice Award at the First Annual Telluride Plein Air Exhibit, Fredix Artist Canvas Best Landscape award a Best of Show in the Invitational American Plains Artist Show, Midland, Texas, Award of Excellence in the Regional Oil Painters of America Show, Arlington Heights, IL., to name but a few. Backhaus is a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and the Plein Air Painters of America. He also served as President of the Plein-Air Painters of America from the year 2000 through 2001. Enroll early to guarantee placement!

Supply List:
SUGGESTED STUDENT SUPPLY LIST –
SUGGESTED PALETTE:
The colors listed below comprise the palette that I am accustomed to working with. This limited palette forces me to have to mix all of the colors I see in the landscape. I will be instructing the workshop based on this palette.
- Raw Sienna
- Ultramarine Blue
- Ivory Black
- Titanium White
- Permanent Alizarin
- Crimson
- Permanent Rose
- Cadmium Lemon
BRUSHES: I like to use bristle brushes or what is referred to as “Hog Bristle” brushes and soft brushes in the following sizes.
Bristle brushes
Filberts: An assortment of sizes: Number 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10
Brights: An assortment of sizes: Number 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
Soft haired brushes (Suggestion red sable or badger hair brushes in sizes of 1”, and ½”)
CANVAS OR CANVAS PANELS: You can work on stretched canvas, canvas panels or cut pieces of canvas taped to a rigid surface. What I would like to stress is that in a workshop you should not be so concerned with coming home with beautiful finished paintings. This is the opportunity to explore new ways of looking at the landscape from a different artist’s view. I suggest bring a number of smaller canvases (3 to 4) to work on each day. We can get through problems quicker in a smaller format and continue on to another painting.
Suggested sizes: 6” x 8” / 8” x 10” / 9” x 12” / 11” x 14”, no larger than 12” x 16”
PAINT THINNER
No odor mineral spirits are best.
FRENCH EASEL/POCHADE BOX
There are many portable easels and pochade boxes on the market. I use a variety of outdoor set-ups to suit my needs.
PALETTE:
There are a variety of palettes for artist to choose from. I would suggest you use one that you are comfortable with. There are paper palettes; plastic ones with lids, wooden hand held ones and some of the newest ones are palettes that work with the French style easels. Some of these are referred to as “The French Companion” and the “The Easel Pal”. I have one similar to these and find it to be my choice of palettes.
SUGGESTION OF ADDITIONAL ITEMS:
Hat or Visor
Umbrella (There are not always shady areas to paint under. The umbrella will keep the sun off your painting surface and palette; it may also keep the sun off you too. There are many on the market. I use one that I bought through one of the art suppliers, it has a flexible neck and will clamp on to my French easel.)
Sketchbook
Panel box carrier (A box that is used to keep separated and carry wet paintings that are painted on either gessoed or canvas covered panels. They come in various sizes)
Palette knife
Soft pencil
Small container to hold paint thinner
Drinking water or some type of beverage
Folding chair (Optional)
Kleenex or paper toweling
Bug repellent
Bungee cords and or spring clamps
Sun block
Trash bags
Rubber gloves (Optional)
IMPORTANT! Please bring photos and or painted studies to work from in case of inclement weather.