Plein Air in the Desert: Capturing Color and Light with Rose Irelan

Paint the beautiful springtime color of the desert en plein air with Rose Irelan. This class is all about how to capture color and light outdoors through simple and effective exercises and color-mixing techniques, while being inspired by the natural beauty of the desert. There will be a demonstration each day by the instructor, along with individualized instruction to help each student improve their plein air painting. Attendees will meet at the painting location 15 minutes ahead of start time.

Location Day 1: Meet at the Artists Center, 72-567 Highway 111, Palm Desert, CA for a short instructional element before moving into the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden for the remainder of the time.

Location Day 2: Meet at Visitor center for Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument | Bureau of Land Management, Highway 74, Palm Desert

Critique will be held at end of each session.

Open to all levels and mediums. Demonstrations will be in Oil.

• Learn how to work within a range of 3 basic value families to create a powerful statement and simplified plan with thumbnail and notans sketches to get started.

• Learn how to mix within a value structure to create form and the illusion of light.

• Learn how to apply color temperatures to create color that sings.

• Explore how to mix luminous and harmonious colors.

• Learn why palette management is essential in controlling your color and value choices.

• Learn how and when to saturate or “tone down” colors.

OIL PAINTING SUPPLIES

I prefer Gamblin, Holbein, & Newton (not Winton), and Michael Harding. Avoid student-grade brands to prevent frustration; we want to have fun! Any of these brands are fine unless specified otherwise.

For water-based oils, I like Holbein and Cobra. Acrylic painters can use the acrylic equivalents of these pigments.

PAINTS (Oil, Water-Based Oils, or Acrylic)

This is my standard plein air palette:

ESSENTIAL COLORS:

• *Cadmium Yellow Lemon or Light*

• *Cadmium Yellow Deep*

• *Yellow Ochre (prefer Gold Ochre by Holbein)*

• *Cadmium Red Light*

• *Alizarin Crimson* (or Madder Crimson Lake Deep Extra by Old Holland)

• *Quinacridone Rose or Permanent Rose*

• *Viridian Green Hue* (Holbein) or regular Viridian green

• *Ultramarine Blue Deep* (Holbein)

• *Phthalo Blue*

• *Winsor & Newton Blue Mauve Shade*

• *Ivory Black or Chromatic Black*

Use white for value studies and mixing only, not straight from the tube or to darken colors:

• *Titanium/Zinc White* (large tube, 150 ml). I use Gamblin's blend.
• ADDITIONAL COLORS:
• Cadmium Orange
• Cerulean Blue Hue and/or Cobalt Blue
• Mineral Violet or Manganese Violet

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Rose earned her BA in illustration with a minor in Fine Art from the Columbus College of Art and Design. After 20 years as a graphic designer and illustrator, she rediscovered her love for painting, especially plein air painting after studying with Danial Pinkham a contemporary Impressionists Master. She continues to pursue learning and refining her skills, has opened her own art school to teach children, teens, and adults. She is influenced by the works of Joaquin Sorolla, John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn, Georgia O’Keefe, William Ritschel, Fredric Waugh and others.

Rose has received notable recognition and awards from the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, and Plein Air Salon, among other regional and national accolades. She actively participates in plein air events across the country, traveling extensively to paint, exhibit, and teach.

Host or Publisher Artists Council