Learn the essentials of landscape painting in the New Hope/Lambertville countryside, the area made famous by Daniel Garber, Edward Redfield, Fern Coppedge, and other masters of Pennsylvania Impressionism. Topics include color mixing to achieve a sense of light and air, capturing time of day, compositional fundamentals, and sound painting practices. Locations will include Daniel Garber’s historic farmstead, Cuttalossa Farm! Painting outdoors can be a daunting experience for the newcomer. When learning the intricacies of this art it pays to learn from someone who has 20 years experience in the field. In this class Joseph Sweeney will be your guide.

Learning Objectives

• Learn the basics of working outdoors.

• Learn how to set up, use and care for a field easel.

• Learn how to transport wet paintings to and from home without damaging your car.

• Learn about the working properties of different surfaces to paint on including linen, canvas, paper, wood, prepared panel, masonite all have different working properties.

• Students will learn how to select paint colors and related materials for successful outdoor painting.

• Drawing and proportion in composition of a landscape will be explained and demonstrated.

• Students will become expert in finding locations suitable for painting. Finding flat surface to stand on is a simple but important part of learning to paint outdoors.

• Students will learn how to orient themselves to the sun and how to find shelter form wind and rain.

• Students will learn to assess the time of day and how much time is left before the sun continues its course across the sky. • Students will learn to make quick field sketches and how to bring them to full completion, and develop a sense of place.

• Students will learn to mix color to portray the season, atmosphere and temperature.

• Students will learn to properly present, photograph and frame a plein air work.

 Materials List Sweeney PT 605EB

Capture the picturesque beauty of the Philadelphia landscape.  Learn to create a convincing sense of space, light and time of day while depicting streetscapes, trees, water and sky.  Color mixing and painting techniques for oil and gouache will be demonstrated, but all drawing/painting media are welcome.  A mixture of urban and park locations will offer engaging subjects with parking, shade, provisions and facilities available.

Materials List Francis PT 612EP 

Capture the active life of the city and its rich architecture. This is an excellent workshop for anyone who wants to learn to sketch on the bus or train, in cafés and public parks, or while traveling abroad. Topics include perspective, gauging proportions by eye, gesture figure drawing, and methods for simplifying form. All levels welcome. (rain or shine)

Learning Objectives

• Gesture figure drawing methods

• Basic perspective as applied to architecture

• Simplification of complex subjects

Materials List Kaplan DR 620EW

Join Joseph Sweeney on a plein air painting getaway in scenic Donegal, Ireland, homeland of Joe’s ancestors, the Mac Sweeney’s! Located along the breathtaking, unspoiled northwest coast of Ireland, Donegal’s high sea cliffs offer sweeping vistas ideal for plein air painting! Draw and paint historic Donegal Castle, the spectacular Slieve League Cliffs, and St. John’s Point Lighthouse with instruction will focus on oil, acrylic, and pastel; experienced watercolorists also welcome. Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements.

Please download the Materials List - Sweeney PT 605EI and CE Policy Guide for important course and program information.

Registration/Refund Deadline: May 1
See Policy Guide for withdrawal/refund policies.

Portray the spring landscape en plein air in the medium of your choice along the banks of the picturesque Brandywine River. Bring a packed lunch or eat at Hank’s, a longtime haunt of Andrew Wyeth’s. The day concludes with a visit to the Brandywine River Museum (free admission on the first Sunday of the month). Free parking, restrooms and sheltered locations available. (rain or shine)

Materiasl List Kaplan PT 605EB

Join Joe Sweeney for a plein air painting retreat in beautiful Cape May, New Jersey! Experience small town hospitality while painting Cape May Point, the Cove with sweeping vistas, Cape May Lighthouse, and Sunset Beach. Includes tips on choosing a prime location, reading the weather and light at a particular time of day, and setting up a landscape palette.  Morning and evening painting times will leave the afternoons free to relax on the beach – the perfect artist’s getaway! Instruction geared towards oil, acrylic and pastel, but experienced watercolorists are welcome. Times variable. For more information and recommended accommodations, email joesweeney5@gmail.com

Materials List Sweeney PT 605CM