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