Over six weeks in June-July 2021 I attended an in-person landscape painting class at Woodmere Art Museum. We met each Friday for 3 hours and painted a scene from somewhere on the grounds.
Our class was an eclectic mixture of ages: four teenaagers/early twenties, and two retired ladies, one of them being me. We also had various levels of experience, from never having painted before to years of participation in the art world.
I chose the class mostly because I wanted to have a structured art activity this summer, in person, and close to home. This class fit all three. I didn’t know what to expect – I have done almost no plein air painting and I am not especially interested in landscape paintings. But – I had a great time and I learned a lot. Over the next few weeks or so I will show you the results of the class.
Thank you to Marta, our instructor, and to all my classmates for a great experience.
In our first session held in mid-June we assembled for a short talk by Marta on the principles of landscape painting. Then, as we did each week, we chose a location on the grounds and got to work.
I was unsure how to decide what to paint. Woodmere’s grounds are pretty much a series of grassy lawns with trees – with a large flat area and a hilly section in the back. I wasted time trying to figure out what scene I wanted and in the end, I painted a view of a large tree across the street with a house behind it.
I did about half of the work in class and then came home and refined it.
Woodmere Landscape One, 24″ x 18″, 6/21, acrylics on masonite.
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
I like the colors and shapes but there is a quality to this painting, perhaps the stillness, that tells me it wasn’t a scene that really spoke to you. But of course as a painting in and of itself it is fun and pleasing to look at.
I did only one painting in this whole class that I liked even a little – this one here (not it), I think I worked it over maybe 5 versions over a week. This one is ok, I think. What I did learn from the class is that I really don’t enjoy landscape painting much and to me, the Woodmere grounds are devoid of interest. Still, the class was fun. That was the main reason for taking it so it succeeded on that basis. And now I have several boards that I think I’ll get Bob to sand down and then use in my next class as the basis for abstract paintings. Nothing ever lives a futile life in my little art empire, does it?
I love the colours and shapes in this painting. I really like the form of the tree and the way its neutral tones complement the bright colours in the painting. I also like the way my eye is drawn to that brighter turquoise in the top right and the lime green in the bottom left as that helps lead my eye around the painting.
Thank you. This painting went through at least 5 versions over a week and I decided to stop here. I like it all right and I do think on its own it has interest. I can’t get it out of my head its creation process, though, very frustrating, mostly because I found that landscape art, no, it is not for me.
Oh, Claudia…
You and your colours!…
Wonderful painting. I like you have also booked on an art course this year but it’s for one day in December. Very excited about it as it’s aim is to stretch you is all I’m saying for now.
Again, ditto re plein-air. Hardly done any. But I do quite like having a go at landscapes. I’m mid Media of the Week on my site which this time happens to be acrylics which ties in nicely I think though blogging does take it out of me when it’s every day so I try to schedule as much as I can.
Will be popping by again soon no doubt as I love this site. Glad I’m following.
Thank you so much for all the nice things you said. I like taking classes now (I did not have time in the past) and the social side of art making is also important to me now more than ever since I have stopped doing art shows and fesitivals.
Look at those colors! Awesome piece!
Thank you. This poor painting had so many identity changes but finally I found a way. And I do like these colors a lot.