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Artists Association of Nantucket
ART CLASSES EVENTS

Course Description

This three day workshop will consist of demonstrations, discussions, lots of painting, and good fun. Topics covered will include ways to more accurately determine the shape, value, color, and edges of the subjects depicted in the artwork, creating a sense of light and atmosphere in the seaside Nantucket landscape, and composing for maximum impact.

Oils, acrylics, watercolors, and pastels are suitable for this workshop. There will also be a special focus on the sight-size method of drawing and painting. This method formed the mainstay of an artist’s education from the Renaissance until the advent of Modernism in the 20th century. It has been resurrected by contemporary realists as the most effective method by which to paint the still life and figure. I have adapted this method to paint landscapes and have found it to be incredibly useful in depicting the scene before me. It is a simple system to use, and artists are truly amazed at how the sight-size method immediately improves their artwork.

Each day will begin with a morning demonstration after which the artists will develop their own paintings utilizing some of the information covered in the demonstration. As this class size will be limited, there will be plenty of time devoted to individual and group critiques.

For questions or assistance please contact Elizabeth Buccino, Director of Education

Cancellation Policy

AAN depends upon student tuition to continue to offer classes and workshops. Due to our commitment to small class sizes and the hands-on nature of art education, we are greatly impacted by cancellations. Nevertheless, we do understand that plans change. If you need to cancel your reservation for a class or workshop, please note our cancellation/refund policy here and let us know as soon as possible.

Materials

PLEASE NOTE: The AAN’s Painting studio is equipped with easels and glass top carts for palette use and daily personal storage. Due to this studio’s evening classes in a variety of media, please be prepared to leave your cart and easel clean, store work in progress in drying racks provided, and transport your supplies to and from the studio each day. Storing unused paint in a plastic palette bin is suggested. Thank you in advanced for your consideration.

These are only suggestions for the oil colors. Any deviation from this list is welcome. Participants should have the basic acrylic colors listed below in order to facilitate the under painting. The class is also suitable for pastels, watercolor and acrylic painters, and they should bring their usual materials.

Suggested Palette (oil or alkyd):
Hansa Yellow Light
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Cadmium Orange
Cadmium Red Light
Alizarin Crimson
Brilliant Blue (Utrecht Paints)
Ultramarine Blue
Burnt Umber
Ivory Black
Dioxazine Purple
Winsor and Newton underpainting white
Titanium White (I like Flake White Replacement by Gamblin)
Painting gel—Liquin Impasto (Winsor and Newton- this works best for our purposes)
Turpentine or Paint Thinner

Acrylic colors—Burnt Umber or Black, and Titanium White.
Water and container
Artists should have the supplies listed below for best results.

  • Joseph McGurl Sight-Size Viewfinder- if you don’t have one, I have loaners, one can be purchased at the workshop, or ordered atwww.josephmcgurl.com.
    -At least 3 9x12 acrylic gessoed panels
    -Sketching easel or pochade box
    -Sketch pad and pencils
    -Paper Towels and small bag for trash
    -Suitable assortment of brushes including one liner or rigger and one fan brush
    -Palette knife—approximately 3 inches, diamond shaped with a pointed end
    -Approx. 8 inch putty knife or taping knife (available at hardware stores)
  • “Artist Wipe Out Tool” also called “Paint Shaper”the one with the chiseled head
    -Umbrella if you are sensitive to the heat and sunlight
Painting the Nantucket Shoreline, 18+

Joseph McGurl

Joseph grew up working with his father, James McGurl, who is a muralist and his most influential teacher. He graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and also studied in England and Italy. After college, he worked for a period of time as a yacht captain, sailing the east coast from Maine to the Caribbean while continuing to observe and interpret in paint the natural world. In search of a more solid training in drawing, he sought out Robert Cormier, a devotee of the French Academy methods, and for two years studied sight size figure drawing under him. Joseph synthesizes academic figure drawing skills with sight-size landscape painting resulting in a new and unique approach to addressing the landscape. Joseph McGurl is one of America's leading landscape painters. He has been designated a Living Master by the Art Renewal Center, is a signature member of the Plein Air Painters of America, an elected member of the Guild of Boston Artists, was a Copley Master with the Copley Society of Boston, a past fellow of the American Society of Marine Artist, and has won significant awards for his artwork. He is represented by some of the finest galleries nationally, and his work hangs in prominent museums and collector's homes. Additionally, he has been the subject of numerous book and magazine articles, and he conducts workshops and presents lectures throughout the country.
Full Artist Profile