Plein Air Painting: Distilling the Landscape

Instructor:
Ben Hamburger

Description:
Painting outside, also known as plein air painting, has a rich history and remains a way for artists to directly respond to their surroundings. But artists face unique challenges when immersed in their subject matter. While painting outside, we must condense endless amounts of complex information, deal with changing light and weather conditions, and find ways to use our tools and media efficiently. In this class, students will learn how to simplify what they see to create paintings that capture the essence of a place. Short demos will be followed by guidance and feedback by the instructor as well as group critiques.

Each week, we will meet at natural and urban locations around New Orleans to paint. In cases of extreme weather, we will meet indoors at NOAFA to practice concepts and/or work from reference photos or previous paintings. Students should monitor email weekly for specific painting locations and updates. This class is an intermediate class for people with some general painting experience. Both beginner and experienced plein air painters are welcome. While demos will be provided in oil paint, both oils and acrylic painters are welcome.

Plein Air Painting

Suggested Materials:

The following material list is a great place to start but there are lots of options out there. Feel free to try out different things and reach out with any questions.

• Field Easel: I still use a good old French easel, but also have a tripod with pochade box. There are a bunch of different kinds of easels available at various price points, but a French easel is a great and relatively affordable way to start.

• Palette (often comes with French easel)

• Brushes: #2, 4, 8 and 12 Filbert, flats, and/or rounds (and any others you may like) I like Princeton Aspen Synthetic Brushes. Feel free to get a set.

• Paint* (It is up to the student to choose whether to use acrylic or oil paints. I recommend Gamblin oil paints, but there are many good brands and ones to suit any budget. Feel free to choose):

- 37ml: ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cadmium yellow medium, lemon yellow, alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, burnt umber and any other extra colors you may want.

- 150 ml: titanium white

• Solvent/brush cleaning jar with screen or coil, water tight

• Small bottle of refined linseed oil

• 16oz gamsol solvent (if using oils)

• 1oz dropper bottle for linseed oil (if using oils)

• mid-sized palette knife

• backpack or tote bag to carry everything

• latex gloves

• rags and/or paper towel roll

• Paint scraper for cleaning palette

• Sketchbook/drawing paper of your choice

• drawing pencil(s) of your choice

• Painting surfaces: Usually painting panels are preferred over stretched canvas for plein air painting because the light does not shine through. I happen to like a more rigid surface anyways. I recommend DaVinci Pro Medium Textured Panels. You can also use canvas panels or make your own. I get mine from Jerrys Artarama, but they have them at local stores as well.

- Sizes: Around 8x10in, 9x12in, or 11x14in, one for each day

• Other supplies:

- Sunscreen

- Bug spray

- A hat with a brim

- Water bottle

- Umbrella that can be attached to your easel

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Prerequisites: Some painting experience preferred

Spring 2025

3/27/2025

5/1/2025

10:00 AM

1:00 PM

THU

Off-site

276

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Instructor:

Ben Hamburger

Ben Hamburger is a painter and art educator based in New Orleans, LA. Hamburger holds a bachelor’s degree in visual arts from Eckerd College and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Community Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art

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