Creating Atmosphere & Mood En Plein Air

Class Description

About the instructor: Lorraine is an artist whose work embodies the light, mood and atmosphere of the moment, which is why she particularly loves plein air. She aims for viewers to feel the emotion in her paintings and encourages them to notice the landscape and people around them in a new way. Her style is impressionistic, characterized by bold brushstrokes, dynamic compositions, and a variety of marks. Recent awards: Best in Show Oceanside Plein Air (2025), Genie Scott Award Frank Bette Invitational (2025), Top 20 Modern Impressionists Magazine (Sept/Oct 2025), Top 40 Modern Impressionists Magazine (Oct/Nov 2025), 2nd Place Paint the Desert (2024), Quick Draw Winner Oceanside (2023). Description: Learn to create atmosphere and mood in your paintings by making the most of value, color, and brushwork. The class will be divided into 4 sessions over 2 days. Our day 1 morning will include exercises such as Notan sketches and value studies to see the impact simple compositional and value choices can make. Day 1 afternoon we will put those exercises to use painting while we discuss how color harmonies and brushwork affect the mood of our paintings. On day 2 we will head out to the field. Group and individual instruction will be provided in each session. ​ Notes: All artistic levels welcome! Minimum registration required for workshop to proceed. Lorraine Cote ~ Materials List for En Plein Air Workshop Drawing materials: Sketchbook with a pencil, marker or charcoal to sketch and take notes Please bring your normal supplies for plein air: • Easel or pochade box (something you can handle and have practiced setting up) • Brushes (I typically use natural bristle brushes in sizes ranging from 2-10 and am partial to filberts, but please feel free to bring what you have as long as they are suitable for oils) • Paint (see palette notes) • Paper towels, odorless medium (I use gamsol, but you may also go medium free if you prefer), oil if you prefer (I like a linseed/safflower mix that I use very sparingly and sometimes not at all) • At least 2 panels for each day (8x10 or 9x12 or 12x12 as you prefer) • An apron or smock, a sun hat and/or umbrella, sunscreen, and water are highly recommended. . Bring the palette of colors you normally use or if you’re new to oil you can use a simple primary palette of: • Titanium white, • Cad Yellow (cad free hue acceptable and preferred for toxicity issues), • Ultramarine Blue, and • Permanent Alizarin Crimso