Plein Air Painting in the Methow Valley with Mitchell Albala

This summer, noted teaching artist and author Mitchell Albala brings the plein air experience to the Methow Valley. This workshop offers a practical approach that focuses on the three key practices of landscape painting: simplification and massing, composition, and color. Rather than adopt a rapid fire and sometimes rushed approach to plein air, this workshop encourages problem-solving, with special attention given to strong starts — proper site selection, simplified compositional studies, and the most direct method for starting a painting (the abbreviated underpainting to establish effective design and value structure). Also covered will be color strategies and paint handling. Mitchell’s demonstrations, practical teaching style, and one-on-one support will help you develop an approach to plein air that you will be able to use long after the workshop has ended.

Media: The instructor works in oil, but acrylic painters and pastel artists are welcome.

Level: This is not a class for first-time painters; however, it is ideally suited for those who have painted and drawn before, and now want to break into landscape painting, or those who want to hone their existing landscape painting skills.

Dates: June 27-29

Hours: The class meets for two sessions daily (for optimal lighting), a morning session from 8–11 am, and an afternoon session from 3:30–6:30 pm. The time in between sessions may be used for lunch, relaxation, or touring the Valley.

Locale: The Methow Valley is rich with snow-capped mountain peaks and glacier-carved valleys. It offers some of the most spectacular views in all of Washington state.

Cost: The cost for this intensive three-day workshop is $285 per person.

Questions? For additional information about class content, email Mitchell at mitch@mitchalbala.com. For question about fees and registration, contact Confluence Gallery: info@confluencegallery.com or 509-997-2787.

Cottonwood