2015 Plein Air Landscape Oil Painting Workshop

THOMAS TORAK

PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPE CLASS

Welcome to everyone interested in the June 2015 Landscape Oil Painting Class.

Almost a hundred years ago Frank Vincent DuMond, an instructor at the newly formed Art Students League of New York, decided his students would benefit from landscape instruction during the summer months.  Every summer he and his students packed up their palettes and brushes and traveled to Old Lyme, Connecticut, where the DuMonds had a farm, to spend three months painting en plein air.  In 1951 Frank Vincent DuMond passed away and his student Frank Mason took over the class in New York.  Having benefited greatly from DuMond’s insistence on the study of landscape, Mason continued the practice of a summer landscape class while limiting its duration to the month of June and relocating the class to Stowe, Vermont near the Masons’ summer home.  Frank Mason passed away in 2009 and Thomas Torak, artist and former student of Mason’s, took over in Studio 7 at the Art Students League.  Torak, in his turn, continues the tradition of a June landscape class.  Like DuMond and Mason before him Torak has relocated the class to the area near his home and studio: the class is now held in scenic Pawlet, Vermont in the southwest corner of the state.

This year the landscape class runs for five days, Tues –Sat, June 23 – 27. Living and working in the landscape for five days gives the student time to explore his or her thoughts and ideas about painting, even as each day brings new observations on the effect of light and weather.  Students have time to get to know one another and to form a community of artists.  A Saturday night supper for the class, hosted by the Toraks, strengthens those bonds by giving everyone a chance to relax and socialize at the close of a week of intensive painting. 

Tuesday thru Friday the class meets outdoors for plein air painting. The time of the session could be anywhere from sunrise to late afternoon, depending on the location and the weather. Students paint on location for 1 hour, and then gather to watch critiques.  Torak’s critiques usually last 3 to 4 hours.  Students are encouraged to do another plein air painting on their own each day.  Though the distances are not long (and the drives are beautiful) everyone will need a car or a friend with whom they can carpool.

On Saturday everyone brings a painting they have done on their own to Torak’s studio. Torak gives each student a critique while discussing the principles and theories of landscape painting.  At the end of the day everyone is invited to stay for supper and socializing.  Students are encouraged to bring any friends or family who may be visiting.

For more information email thomastorak@gmail.com or phone (802) 325-6428

2015 Information and Materials List

FIRST CLASS: Tuesday June 23, 2015 @ 4pm – We will start with a late afternoon painting session on the road (Beaver Brook Road, Pawlet, VT) outside my studio. Directions will be sent when you register for the class.
LAST CLASS: Saturday June 27, 2015

CLASS SCHEDULE:  Tuesday thru Friday we will meet outdoors for plein air painting and critiques. The time of the session could be anywhere from sunrise to late afternoon, depending on the location and the weather. I will decide a day or two before the crit, so you should be prepared to keep those days free from other obligations. Saturday we will meet in my studio to discuss the principles and theories of landscape painting, each student should bring one painting.

CLASS SUPPER:  Saturday evening (June 27) Elizabeth and I will host an informal class supper at our home and studio. We invite the students to bring friends and family.

 CLASS FEE: $750 for the week. 

A $50 nonrefundable deposit (checks only please, no credit cards) payable to Thomas Torak will reserve space in the class, enrollment is limited to 20 students. The balance can be paid when you arrive.

Mail to:  Thomas Torak, 360 Beaver Brook Road, Pawlet, VT 05761 For additional information contact Elizabeth Torak: torak@vermontel.net or call 802-325-6428

TRANSPORTATION: Though the distances are not long (and the drives are beautiful) everyone will need a car or a friend with whom to carpool.

SUPPLIES: Portable field easel. Palette (a small wooden palette works well outdoors, no white or paper palettes). Gesso panels, canvas boards or stretched canvases (if you bring stretched canvases bring a piece of cardboard to put behind the canvas so that light will not pass through from the back), 9 x 12 or so is good for field crits, but if you want to do something larger to bring to the Saturday crit please feel free to do so. A sketch pad (9 x 12 or so), pencils, charcoal or other drawing materials are very useful. Mineral spirits in a can or jar to clean your brushes. Filbert and round bristle brushes in a variety of sizes. A few round sables are useful for details. Paper towels or rags to wipe your brushes and a small bag to keep them from blowing away. Palette cups to hold medium.

PAINTS: OIL PAINTS ONLY, no acrylic or water based oils. White (titanium-zinc or Permalba, a large tube); Winsor Newton’s best quality cadmium lemon yellow and cadmium yellow light (these are very important for making rich landscape greens); cadmium yellow medium and/or deep; cadmium orange; cadmium red light (again Winsor Newton’s best quality); cadmium red medium and/or deep; alizarin crimson; cerulean or manganese blue; cobalt blue; ultramarine blue; thalo blue; thalo green; sap green; yellow ochre; ivory or lamp black. Any other colors you like to use.

MEDIUM: A good general medium is: 1 part linseed oil, 1 part dammar or mastic varnish, 1 part turpentine mixed together in a jar. If you prefer to use Fels mediums, Maroger, Liquin or any other medium (except water based) please feel free to do so.

CLOTHES: Prepare for all sorts of weather. Bring boots, warm clothing, rain poncho, sun hat and a swimsuit.

2015 Accomodations

ACCOMMODATIONS in the PAWLET AREA

We recommend that students stay 6 nights, checking in on June 22^nd and checking out on June 28th.

 The Inn at West View Farm

A beautiful, chef-owned inn (the food is amazing) in the charming and nearby town of Dorset, Vermont.  They are offering our students a 20% discount for a 6-night stay.  Their rate includes a full breakfast, and if we have a sufficient number of students staying with them, they will adjust the breakfast time to suit our class schedule.  Please tell them you are with the Torak Landscape class.

The Dorset Inn

Another highly rated inn in Dorset.  The proprietors also own  The Barrows House and guests at the Dorset Inn have access to the pool and tennis courts at The Barrows House.  They are offering a 25% discount for a 5 or 6 night stay.  Please tell them you are with the Torak Landscape class.

The Dovetail Inn

A charming little inn in Dorset, simpler and also more economical than the Dorset Inn.  They are offering one free weekday night to our students.  Please tell them you are with the Torak Landscape class.

In addition to these options, there are many Inns, B&Bs, hotels, motels and resorts in our area. Check out the Manchester and the Mountains Chamber of Commerce website for information on places to stay as well as the many things to do in the area. 

And don’t forget airbnb which has many listings in our area.