Instructor: Leela Wagner
Monday - Thursday
August 18 - 21
9am - 1pm
4 sessions

“The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.”

-Robert Henri

Plein air painting is equal parts artistic pursuit, mental workout, and endurance sport. In this workshop we’ll learn to balance all three, using demonstrations, guided exercises, and sustained painting sessions to develop a plein air practice that is compassionate, sustainable, and rooted in joy. Through lessons like identifying your subject, spotting light and shadow shapes, and color mixing, students will learn tools to help shift their headspace from judging to observing, and build confidence and momentum in their work. Inspired by mindfulness practices and the traditions of the Cape Cod School of Art, this course provides the structure needed to overcome resistance and foster a painting practice that feels as rewarding as the results. The workshop is designed for artists at all stages, but basic familiarity with oil paints is needed.

Leela Wagner earned her BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and spent a decade working in the dynamic but ultimately unsustainable animation industry before stepping away to focus on painting as a way to reconnect to her self, surroundings, and joy. She spends winters in Sayulita, Mexico and the rest of the year adventuring and painting in the US and abroad. Recently, with the support of the Wandering Arts Guild, she mounted her first painting exhibit at the Zee Tai Collective in Port Townsend, WA, where she also teaches and organizes arts events. Leela has led painting and illustration workshops in the US, Italy, Mexico, and Argentina.

@LeelaWagner

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