LIVE ONLINE COURSE
Landscape Essentials: The language of shape and the art of simplification
with Mitchell Albala, Master Artist & Mentor
Learn how to simplify and translate nature’s complexity into fewer and more readable shapes and patterns. This is the most important skill for the landscape painter.
Learn How To:
How a LIMITED FOCUS is the first step of simplification
How LIMITED VALUES encourage shape differentiation
How to discriminate between FOUNDATIONAL & SUBORDINATE shapes
How DETAIL & SIMPLICITY work together with the 80/20 rule
SHAPE combining & the hierarchy of shapes
Audience: Fine Art Painters
Mediums: Any Medium
Stage: Aspiring, Emerging
Start Date: Friday, January 17, 2025
Start Time: 11am MDT
Sessions (5 total):
- 135 min Sessions:
Jan 17, Jan 31, Feb 14, Feb 28 - 75 min Session on Mar 14
$462.00
Out of stock
Price in USD
ONLY 11 SPOTS AVAILABLE!
Course Description
Painting or drawing a shape is not that difficult, but seeing that shape through layers of color, detail and complexity requires a practiced shift in perception.
In this class, you will discover how shape is the animating spirit of a painting.
Working from your own photos and/or those supplied by the instructor, you will do several exercises and paintings, designed to encourage your eye and hand toward the simplified shape interpretation that is the backbone of the landscape painting experience.
Supply List
With a few exceptions, you should have most of these supplies already.
You may work in:
- Oil
- Acrylic
- Watercolor
- Gouache
- Pastel
Pastel, watercolor, and acrylic painters, see note at end of this list.
If there are special supplies you need to work in your particular medium, that are not mentioned here, please have those on hand.
Note: For a few black-and-white exercises, I recommend acrylic. If you are unable to obtain acrylic, or absolutely hate working with them, you can forgo them and do the black-and-white exercises in pencil, charcoal or the media of your choice.
Black and white acrylic paint – 1 small tube of black and 1 small tube of white. Inexpensive student-grade “Amsterdam” acrylic paint is fine. Do not get “open” slow-drying acrylics or liquid acrylics, just “regular.”
Plus, a paper palette, at least one soft synthetic brush suitable for acrylics (#6 or #8 flat or filbert).
PHOTOGRAPHS
We will be working from photographs in this workshop. I have a large collection of landscape photos, but you are encouraged to use your own. For tips on selecting photos, please read this guide at my website.
https://mitchalbala.com/landscape-painters-guide-selecting-reference-photos/
TIP: In some of the exercises, we will be tracing over the photo. For this reason, photos that are printed our smaller than standard 8” x 10” are better — 5” x 7“-ish or so is preferred.
BRUSHES
Use the brushes you are accustomed to using for your medium.
COLORS
Most of our exercises will be done in line and/or black-and-white. For any color painting, use the set of colors you are accustomed to working with. If you would like some direction on a good landscape painting palette, see this article at my website.
https://blog.mitchalbala.com/split-primaries-landscape-painting-palette
For pastel artists: Please have a set of pure grays, from white to black. To ensure that you have enough “colors,” please employ a set that offers a good range of values, and in particular, adequate neutral colors.
Instructor Bio
Mitchell Albala is a highly respected painter, workshop instructor, and author. His semi-abstract and atmospheric landscapes have been exhibited nationally and are represented in corporate and private collections.
He is the author of two best-selling books on landscape painting: “Landscape Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice” (Watson-Guptill, 2009), with over 60,000 copies in print; and “The Landscape Painter’s Workbook: Essential Studies in Shape, Composition, and Color” (Rockport Publishers, 2022), which is currently the #1 selling book on landscape in the nation. Mitchell has led plein air workshops in Italy and teaches workshops throughout the Pacific Northwest. He has lectured on Impressionism and landscape painting at the Seattle Art Museum and has written for International Artist and Artists & Illustrators magazines.
Mitchell also hosts a popular painting blog, which is among feedspot.com‘s “Top 100 Painting Blogs for Artists.” See more of his artwork at his website: mitchalbala.com
🎥 COURSE RECORDINGS available for 1-MONTH after the course ends!
High School, University, and College students get 20% OFF. See FAQs at the bottom of page.
LIVE COURSE FAQ
How many registrations are required for a course to start?
A minimum of 8 registrations are required. If 8 registrations are not received by the time the course is 24 hours from starting, the course will be cancelled and all registrants will receive complete refunds.
What is the maximum number of people in a course?
This varies for each course. The maximum number of registrations is decided by the instructor.
Can I get a refund?
Up until 72 hours before a course’s first session you can receive a complete refund. You can cancel your registration via the My Account portal, or by contacting [email protected].
After this time no refunds will be given (if you have extenuating circumstances you believe justify a refund, contact us at [email protected]).
Can I register for a course already in progress?
No. Once a course has started, no new registrations are accepted.
Where will my course be held?
All courses meet online over Zoom. You will need a device equipped with a camera and a microphone to fully participate.
If you have not used Zoom before, learn about how to use it here.
If you don’t regularly use Zoom, we recommend you join your first session 10-15 minutes early in case your computer needs to install or update Zoom.
How do I join my course?
You will receive a welcome email from [email protected] when you register. This email includes the Zoom link to join your course session. You will also receive 24 hour and 2 hour reminder emails before each session, and each of these emails includes the Zoom link. You can also access the Zoom link to join your course in your MastriusChat group.
Are the sessions recorded?
Yes, every session is recorded and are typically available 24 hours after a session ends. All session recordings will remain available for the duration of the course, and for one month following the last session. The recordings are viewable within the MastriusChat platform, and cannot be downloaded.
What if I miss a session?
You’ll be able to watch the session’s recording. If you have questions the recording doesn’t address, you can ask them in the chat feed of your course’s private MastriusChat group.
What is MastriusChat?
MastriusChat is an online discussion platform. You and your fellow course registrants will be assigned to a private MastriusChat group where you can connect and support eachother via the chat “feed”. Your group is also where you’ll access the session recordings. Other resources in your MastriusChat group include a link to join your course sessions, and a library your instructor can use to share resources.
What is a Navigator?
A Navigator is an artist who joins your course to ensure both instructor and registrants have an enjoyable experience. They support (as required) with technology, timekeeping, moderating questions, and between-session discussions on MastriusChat. The Navigator has also joined the course as participant, and just like you, they’re wanting to grow their skills and learn the material.
I’m not ready to register because I still have questions. Who do I contact?
We’d be happy to help!
Reach out to us at [email protected] and we’ll do our best to support you.
Get the STUDENT DISCOUNT
High School, University, and College students get 20% off ANY course (non-member price).
To claim this discount email [email protected] to enroll in the Student Program.
