Dates: TBA
Status: upcoming
Instructor(s): 
We will travel to 5 of Georgia OKeffe's favorite painting sites for a full day of Plein-Air painting with a picnic lunch. Walking in her footsteps, we have a chance to see thru her eyes, and then let the inspiration inherent in these places seep into our souls to be expressed in our own way.
Taos, New Mexico
"New Mexico is magnificent,
half your work is done
for you here."
~ GEORGIA OKEEFFE
Georgia O’Keeffe loved the landscapes of Northern New Mexico, which changed her way of seeing forever. Her paintings of this very special place from the 1930’s-40’s are among her best known. What interested Georgia was abstracting the complex landscapes in front of her.
We will travel to 5 of her favorite painting sites for a full day of Plein-Air painting with a picnic lunch.
Walking in her footsteps, we have a chance to see thru her eyes, and then let the inspiration inherent in these places seep into our souls to be expressed in our own way.
Each participant in the class will be supported to interpret these iconic images in their own way. Photography is encouraged in order to collect reference for more paintings at home.
PAINTING SITES: Stay tuned to see specific sites we will take you too with photos which will be available here soon.
INTERPRETING THE LANDSCAPE
“It is the interpretation that makes the work.”
– Camille Corot
Being able to paint your own interpretation of the landscape is what makes it fun!
Our job is not to take dictation from nature, faithfully recording details. Boring! We want to learn to interpret what we find there. To accomplish this we first need to know how to “see” properly, and then to use a simple process that allows us to create an expressive design that brings out our own intent. These two skills are the basis for having more fun painting. The good news is, they are not primarily dependent upon how well you draw, or handle paint! Our technical skills improve as we more clearly understand how to “see” properly, and use the language of expressive design.
This workshop will focus on helping early to intermediate painters to observe nature with a “painter’s eye”, and then to create their own personal interpretation of the landscape by using an easy to understand process. We’ll give special attention to three topics that will dramatically raise your interpretive abilities: “The Harmonizing Elements of Light”, “The Transforming Power of Notan”, and “The Freeing Effect of Color Temperature”. This is not a how-to-paint-like-me workshop. I’ve found that the all-important fun-factor goes up as we get a handle on “seeing” properly and understanding how to create our own interpretation of the landscape.
PLEIN AIR MAGAZINE - February / March 2015. On page 47, there is a wonderful article about Jimmy,including his philosophy of teaching as well assamples of his work. View PDF File here
SPECIAL FEATURES!
Mid Week:
You have the option of seeing Georgia O'Keeffe's home on a tour in Abiquiu. We will be painting one day in Abiquiu at the Ghost Ranch, which is just down the street from the home, so it is convenient for those who wish to see the unique style of this artist's living space and studio.
Arrangements must be made ahead of time.
http://gosw.about.com/od/newmexicotravelguide/a/abiquiu.htm
More photos of O'Keeffe home:
https://wolfeyebrows.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/georgia-okeefes-abiquiu-home/
Painting instructor
In following his early passion for these he enjoyed a career as an award-winning freelance illustrator and painter for twenty-five years. He taught drawing and painting while on the faculties of The University of Texas College of Fine Art and Austin Community College. Today, Jimmy Longacre is a full-time landscape painter, and lives with his wife on a hilltop in the Texas hill country, near Dripping Springs.
Instructor profile