Geoff Allen: How to Get Loose in Plein Air Watercolor – February 28 – March 1, 2024
$370.00
This three day Plein Air landscape workshop will focus on a series of steps that both loosen up the student’s watercolors while giving their art a readable structure. We begin with washes that lay the soft foundation for a light/ shadow structure that defines space. A little planning goes a long way, so we will also focus on making a successful composition using design principles that can be applied to all sorts of subject matter. Hours: 9am – 4pm
12 in stock
Geoff Allen
Plein Air Watercolorist
“Going with the flow” is what inspires Geoff. He loves the process of inserting himself into an environment or scene with the goal of capturing its elusive essence. Succeeding relies both on being sensitive to the place, its beauty, challenges, distractions and light as well as allowing himself to be a filter. The mystery of not knowing the expressive outcome and allowing for discovery along the way makes en plein air Geoff’s preferred art making process.
Geoff Allen is an award-winning Plein Air artist, who most recently received First Place at the 2023 Huntington Harbour Art Association Plein Air Competition, First Place award at the 2023 LPAPA 19th Annual Best of Plein Air, Third Place award at the Borrego Art Institute Plein Air Festival, The Award of Excellence at 2022 Laguna Plein Air Invitational and Best of Show at the “Waterworks” exhibition Laguna Plein Air Painters Association Gallery. Prior to that, Geoff won both Best of Show and the Quick Draw in the 2022 San Clemente Plein Air Festival. Look for Plein Air Magazine’s feature article on Geoff in the 2023 January Issue.
In addition, Geoff received First Place in the 5th Annual Plein Air Exhibition at San Diego Watercolor Society juried by Joseph Zbukvic. Geoff has also won First Place in the 2022 Triennial Member Show for his plein air work juried by Antonio Masi, American Watercolor Society President. Look for Geoff in this summer’s 2022 issue of Watercolor Artist Magazine.
Other recent achievements include acceptance into the 2021 and 2022 National Watercolor Society’s 101st and 102nd International Exhibition. Geoff has also received the Savoir-Faire/ Sennelier Award at the 2021 Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 46th Annual Exhibition, First Place award for the San Diego Watercolor Society’s Fourth Annual Plein Air Exhibition, First Place Ralph Love Plein Air Competition 2019, Temecula, CA, and First Place in Water Media San Diego Fair Plein Air Competition 2017.
He received his MFA from Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA and taught drawing, design, and painting courses at the college level. Living in the San Diego area and as a member of the San Diego Watercolor Society, Geoff practices his Plein air skills year round.
This three day Plein Air landscape workshop will focus on a series of steps that both loosen up the student's watercolors while giving their art a readable structure. We begin with washes that lay the soft foundation for a light/ shadow structure that defines space. A little planning goes a long way, so we will also focus on making a successful composition using design principles that can be applied to all sorts of subject matter. Geoff will give morning demos and paint-alongs so that students can practice these steps before heading outside. Topics covered with be: the Plein Air set up, Sketching and Composition, Mixing colors, Judging Mixture Consistency, Soft Washes and Beads, Value Patterns, and Bold Mark Making.
1. How to find a concept.
2.The use of notan- a Japanese design concept involving the play of light and dark and the process of “Shapification”- thru value, temperature, size and variation
3.How to edit, simplify, manipulate and exaggerate.
4. Study of radiant light
4. Exercises to open up to your heart as a painter
We will explore the balance between construction and destruction and its role in seeking beauty. By reducing description and exploring the painting’s inner space you can find the feeling of endless possibility -the infinite.
The real magic happens when the conversation is between the artist and the painting. That’s a very special space. I find this process happens best in the studio. It’s difficult to remove “thing-ness” when it is sitting there conversing with you.
