Professional Devlopment

Plein Air

Plein Air

Jan 5th 9am-noon

Step outside and discover the excitement of painting directly from nature! This immersive, beginner-friendly plein-air workshop invites you to experience the joy and creative challenge of capturing the landscape on location. Designed to be fun, supportive, and approachable for both first-time and seasoned plein-air painters, this session offers a welcoming introduction to working outdoors and finding inspiration in the world around you.

Your instructor will guide you through the essentials of working outdoors: noticing light and atmosphere, simplifying the landscape into strong shapes, and translating your observations into a finished painting. We’ll begin with a brief demonstration, followed by time to create small sketches and an 8x10 finished painting, with plenty of guidance and encouragement along the way. The morning will conclude with a quick critique and review of the work created.

This plein-air approach is easily adaptable to student learning, both inside and outside the classroom. Participants will explore and apply fundamental concepts, including elements and principles of design, observation techniques, compositional strategies, sketching, and color theory, culminating in guided analysis and critique. This demonstrates how teachers can translate their own plein-air experience directly into student projects.

Come enjoy an energizing outdoor art experience that will expand your own creative skills and spark new ideas to share with your students!

What supplies do I need?

  • Sketchbook & pencil

  • 8x10 canvas

  • Acrylic or oil painting supplies

  • Palette

  • Paint brushes

  • Paper towels and a small trash bag

  • Portable easel if you have one. A small portable table works just as well—many artists even use an old folding TV tray.

  • Chair

Where Do I Register?

Register in the Professional Learning System through MySCS

What paints should I bring?

The suggested paint palette is:

  • Burnt Sienna

  • Cadmium Red Light

  • Alizarin Crimson Permanent

  • Yellow Ochre

  • Cadmium Yellow Light

  • Cobalt Blue or Phthalo Blue

  • Ultramarine Blue

  • Sap Green or Hooker’s Green

  • Viridian or Phthalo Green

  • Dioxazine Purple

  • Titanium White

    * For primary colors, I suggest a warm and cool version for each.

WHere Do I meet?

We will meet at Bayfront Park & Marina near O’Leary’s—a beautiful, accessible setting perfect for plein-air work—before moving to a nearby painting spot. Please pack water and sunscreen, as we’ll be spending morning outdoors soaking up inspiration.

5 Bayfront Drive
Sarasota, FL 34236

Any Additonal Questions?

Please contact Chloe Dubois at Chloe.Dubois@sarasotacountyschools.net with any further questions