Plein Air Painting

Plein air painting is about leaving the four walls of your studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape. To paint “en plein air” is the French expression for “in the open air.”

Join NCLT as our friend Jill Pottle leads this Plein Air session at our beautiful Crocker Conservation Area in Fitchburg. Jill M. Pottle is a fine artist from Massachusetts and she exhibits her paintings and pastels locally and nationally. She has her MFA from the Boston Museum School. In addition she studied with the group titled the Boston School, as interpreted by the late R. H. Ives Gammell, (an American painter). She is an accomplished artist and has been teaching for over 30 years. Her works have been included in shows at the Three Stones Gallery, W. Concord and the East End Gallery in Provincetown, MA. She had a show at the St. Botolph’s Club in Boston and was the artist in residency at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA. Her accomplishments include being in a variety of collections: MGH, Hebrew Rehab. Center in Roslindale, MA, Sterling Drug Inc., Fidelity in Boston. She was invited to and attended “Art Week” on Great Spruce Head Island in Maine, the summer home of her mentor Fairfield Porter.

This event is limited to 12 participants so be sure to register early to get your spot!

If there are fewer than 4 participants by 8/20/19, this event will be postponed until another available date.

Plein Air Painting Supplies with Jill M. Pottle 
Registered participants can chose their medium of painting of either acrylic, oil or pastels for this plein air session. Listed below are the items needed. (“S” indicates “suggested”)

Pencil and sketch book would be great.

Acrylic Painting:
pallet knife
paper towels
large paper pallet S
plastic wrap S
Two plastic bottles for water – (for fresh water and for waste)
tuna cans for medium S
2- 9X12 or bigger, Suggested size, canvas or board or Primed paper or watercolor
masking tape
variety of brushes, no small brushes, #10 and up

For mixing into acrylic paint to keep paint wet longer:
SUGGESTED, Acrylic retarder or a medium with retarder or a bottle of “Open” by Golden, (brand) or Open Golden acrylics and Masterson Sta-Wet Premier Palette

Oil Painting:
Bring #10 size brushes & larger no small brushes
large paper pallet S
Murphy’s Oil soap (purchase at grocery store) (brush cleaners or dish soap) S
paper towels
pallet knife
masking tape
plastic wrap S
paint cups with lids S
2: 9X12 or bigger canvas, or canvas board or primed loose canvas, the as above.
•The only Oil Painting Medium allowed: 1) Artist’s professional grade Walnut Alkyd Medium or Gamblin’s Solvent-Free Gel
•No premixed oil mediums
for oil paint – 2 glass jars with metal tops
NO SOLVENTS Or Citrus products allowed
Safflower Cooking Oil, used for cleaning in between brush strokes. S
• Water base oils are fine. S
• All Oil painters’ liquid waste goes home with you. Bring in glass jar!!!!
BASIC PAINT COLORS: Cadmium Red Medium or Vermilion, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue and Large tube of Titanium White are the required colors.
• Additional Color you may choose: Alizarin Crimson or Rose madder or Quinacridone Magenta, Cad. Yellow Light Cad. Or Lemon Yellow Cad., Yellow Ochre, Cerulean Blue or Manganese or Cobalt Blue, Sap or Viridian Green.

• Pastel Supplies: (for pastel artists only)
• 9X12 Canson pad or larger
• Drawing board to put paper onto
• masking tape
• soft charcoal, kneaded eraser, chamois
• set of soft pastels, I like to bring my hard, soft and softer sets in smaller
quantities. S
• Spray Fixative
• small set of watercolor or Caran Dache water base crayons with a heavy paper and
brushes. S

Other Suggested Supplies:
• Small lightweight folding table
• small folding stool, only if you need to sit S
• portable easel
• camera
• painters drop cloth from the hardware store to put under easel if we work inside
• Portable packaging for art supplies, suggestion: grocery duffle w/ wheels,
• (http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/foldingshopping-bag-with-wheels.html) Make
sure art supplies are packed well and portable. Or any grocery duffle will work. S
• bungee cords, hat, warm and cool clothing, bug spray, sun block, water bottle, bagged lunch, and sturdy shoes in case of soggy trail conditions

In case of inclement weather, we will hold the session at NCLT’s office location, Doyle Community Center’s courtyard. Look for email follow-up once registered.