2017 Plein Air Landscape Oil Painting Workshop

THOMAS TORAK

PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPE CLASS

Welcome to everyone interested in the June 2017 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 20 – 24. 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

2017 Information and Materials List

FIRST CLASS: Tuesday June 20, 2017 @ 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 24, 2017

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 SUPPERS:  Saturday evening (June 24) 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, Thomas Torak: thomastorak@gmail.com, 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.

2017 Accommodations

ACCOMMODATIONS in the PAWLET AREA

The class runs from June 20th – June 24th We recommend that students stay 6 nights, checking in on June 19th  and checking out on June 25th.  All of the information for the class can be found here http://toraklandscapeclass.blogspot.com/ 

Rebecca Raymond  

Rebecca has one room with a queen sized bed and shared bath. Kitchen privileges are available and she is happy to discuss eating arrangements as far as meals are concerned. Rebecca and her husband Jim are willing to share meals with guests, the cost of which they would discuss. There is a garage where paints can be stored. Rebecca’s property has 180 degrees of mountain views off the deck on the back of the house, a great place to paint. Also, many wonderful vistas within walking distance.  Rebecca and Jim love to have guests and we have had excellent reports from students who have stayed with them. $65 per night for queen bed room or $300 per week. Email rjraymond@vermontel.net or call 802-325-2504. 

Green Hill Artists Retreat is offering our students a special rate of $100/night for a shared room (i.e., $50 per occupant) or $75/night for a room by yourself.  The $75 rate includes a full breakfast made by their in-house professional chef.  The property includes an art studio where you can stow your gear, 10 acres of woods, walking trails, 3 decks, and a meditation gazebo. To top it off, Green Hill Artist Retreat is in Pawlet, not far from Torak Studios.  If interested, you can contact them directly through the link provided, or go through airbnb, where they are also listed.  This special rate is only for our class so be sure to let them know that you are with the Torak Landscape Class.

The Dovetail Inn

A charming, friendly, inn in Dorset, across the street from The Dorset Inn, but more economical.  Their rates vary from $99-169 weekdays and from $115-$199 on weekends. The nightly room rate for two includes a freshly baked breakfast of hot muffins and breads, fresh fruit, juices, coffee and tea and unlimited access to the butler's pantry, stocked with hot and cold beverages. Check their website for their pet policy.  They are offering one free weekday night to our students.  The proprietors only take reservations by phone and will be available to take calls beginning on May 1.  Until then, more information on their rates and rooms is available on their website. Please tell them you are with the Torak Landscape class.

The Inn at West View Farm

The Inn at West View Farm is a 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.  Please contact the inn for their rates. The room 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.  Including the discount, the rate is $167/night Mon-thurs and $199 Fri-Sun.  A full breakfast is included as well as snacks in the downstairs area from 3PM-5PM. They also charge an additional $15/night for a night service charge.  The night service charge includes the tip at breakfast and a minimal house-cleaning tip.  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.