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.