Expressive Landscapes: From Value Structure to Finish

Expressive Landscapes: From Value Structure to Finish

June 5 - June 7, 2026, 9:30am - 4:00pm

Workshop Description
Join me for a three-day indoor landscape painting workshop where I’ll share my three-step approach to painting:

Block-In — building a strong foundation with a pleasing value shape pattern and clear “in light” and “in shadow” shapes.

Middle — developing exciting, meaningful color variations within those big shapes.

Finish — refining with implied detail, edges, and final touches that guide the eye and bring the painting to life.

We’ll focus on design, depth, light, and atmosphere throughout. I’ll reinforce the timeless fundamentals, and share my newest insights and approaches.

Each day you’ll complete a painting, moving through all three steps with specific daily focus points. The workshop includes a notebook, presentations, demos, targeted exercises, group feedback, and plenty of painting time with individual guidance from me.

This workshop is best suited for painters with some prior oil painting experience. Class size is limited to 12 participants to ensure plenty of personal attention.

Supply List for Bill Fletcher Workshops

Easels provided by CAC.

A drop cloth to protect the floor under your easel

NOTE: you are more than welcome to use whatever colors you are used to using.

I experiment with colors and change my palette constantly, so the paints listed below only represent my current palette. This palette is a standard split primary palette that also includes with a few convenience colors. It’s not mandatory that you get them all—but I do recommend you do have the colors underlined or in bold on hand.

PAINT: Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Orange, Yellow Ochre , Cadmium Red Light , Venetian Red, Alizarin Crimson Transparent Red Oxide, Raw Umber, Ivory Black, Dioxazine Purple, Rembrandt Cold Gray, Holbein Grey of Grey, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Indian Yellow

CANVAS Have at least 3 canvases per day of workshop. A variety of sizes is nice to have on hand. 8x10, 9x12, or even up to 12x16 if you want. Do have at least three 8x10’s.

I very much like the “Centurion Deluxe Oil Primed Linen Panels”, available online from Jerrysartarama. They are high quality and very affordable.

Good quality brushes in decent shape will do.

HOG BRISTLE BRUSHES

I prefer hog bristle brights, filberts and flats of the Robert Simmons Signet bristle series 40, sizes 6, 8, and 10. I strongly recommend you have at least one #8 Flat, one #8 Bright in very good condition.

SOFTER BRUSHES

I also use Winsor & Newton series 995, 1” and 3/4” brushes.

PAINTING KNIVES

Have at least one trowel shaped knife sized somewhere near 1 3⁄4” (blade length) or bigger. A variety of metal painting knives are good. Some of my personal favorites I couldn’t do without are:

Creative Mark 16 T, Creative Mark 24T, Creative Mark 30T, Creative Mark 45T

• Notebook and pen
• Paper Towels
• Plastic grocery bags for trash
• Odorless Paint Thinner (I use Gamsol, usually available from Hobby Lobby or Michael’s. Regular Turpenoid in the blue can is ok too. Please DO NOT useodorless paint thinner from the hardware store).
• A brush washing container (any where from a jar with a lid up to a Holbeinairtight brush washer).
• I always paint with a hat with a brim, like a baseball hat or wide brimmed hat tominimize the deleterious effect of ambient light.

OTHER

• Notebook and pen
• Paper Towels
• Plastic grocery bags for trash
• Odorless Paint Thinner (I use Gamsol, usually available from Hobby Lobby orMichael’s. Regular Turpenoid in the blue can is ok too. Please DO NOT useodorless paint thinner from the hardware store).
• A brush washing container (any where from a jar with a lid up to a Holbeinairtight brush washer).
• I always paint with a hat with a brim, like a baseball hat or wide brimmed hat tominimize the deleterious effect of ambient light.

SOURCES

Online Suppliers: Blick 1-800-828-4548, www.dickblick.com
Jerry’s 1-800-827-8478, www.jerrysartarama.com
Utrecht 1-800-223-9132, www.utrechtart.com

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