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This plein air workshop focuses on developing a confident, efficient approach to painting outdoors. While the instructor primarily works in oil paint, participants are welcome to work in other media. Guidance and feedback will be offered across materials, with an emphasis on composition, color relationships, and seeing the landscape clearly and simply.
What You’ll Learn
The workshop begins with a demonstration on how to start a plein air painting quickly and effectively. Participants will learn how to establish composition using a toned panel or imprimatura, a traditional approach that has been used by painters for centuries. Starting from a mid-tone allows artists to work more efficiently by placing darker values thinly and building light areas more deliberately.
The instructor will discuss how to simplify complex scenes, identify major shapes, and make strong compositional decisions before the light changes. Emphasis will be placed on working lean and fast in the early stages, allowing painters to capture essential relationships rather than chasing detail.
Participants will also learn strategies for working on multiple small panels, allowing one painting to dry while continuing to work on another. This approach helps reduce frustration, improves efficiency, and creates a strong starting point for future studio work.
Seeing and Planning in the Landscape
Beyond painting time, participants will be encouraged to spend a few minutes walking and observing the landscape after each session. This reflective practice helps sharpen visual awareness and often reveals new compositions that may not have been obvious at first glance. The instructor will discuss how taking reference photos and making quick compositional sketches can support future plein air sessions and studio paintings.
Preparing for Plein Air Painting
Participants should come prepared to work outdoors for several hours. Weather conditions can change, and comfort plays an important role in maintaining focus and creativity.
Advance registration is required, and space is limited. Workshops are subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment is not met. In the event of cancellation, participants will be notified and refunded.
About the Instructor
South Carolina artist Clay Johnson is a classic landscape painter working primarily in oil. Growing up in the Chicago area, Johnson received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University and then moved east to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. After living and working in Philadelphia for many years, he moved south, and now lives in Conway, near Myrtle Beach, where he continues to paint landscapes throughout the region. His work is widely represented in both private and corporate collections, and a limited number of paintings are available each year for purchase.