7 – 9 May 2027
Mastering atmospheric plein air painting
Cours en anglais / course in English
To register, please click here.
dates: 7- 9 May 2027
where: Studio Valdus, chemin de Mornex 3, 1003 Lausanne, Switzerland and around various outdoor locations.
hours: 10am to 5pm. Lunch break from 1pm to 2pm
open to all levels: yes
teacher demo: yes
materials included: no
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Join artist Nicholas O’Leary for a three-day intensive workshop in Lausanne, where you will step outside, paintbrush in hand, and engage directly with the landscape around us. Designed to help you navigate the major hurdles of painting outdoors, this experience will jump-start your plein air journey while deepening your appreciation for the natural world.
Not only will you spend time in nature, but this workshop is a direct challenge to perception. You will learn to observe, absorb, and appreciate your environment while mastering how to manage changing natural light, simplify visual chaos, and refine your personal visual language.
What will I learn?
- Develop the ability to represent complex shapes through decisive brushstrokes and accurate value management.
- Explore light and atmosphere, learning to adapt to shifting weather and lighting conditions.
- Master atmospheric painting techniques by manipulating edges and saturation to create depth and poetic realism.
- Exploit the properties of different solvents and mediums to maintain full control over paint layers.
- Build up compositions systematically to keep control throughout the entire painting process.
- Interpret color in a way that translates effectively and dynamically onto canvas.
- Analyze scene structures using architectural drawing fundamentals to establish solid, perspectively accurate compositions.
Each day takes place in a different location around Lausanne to provide diverse visual subjects. Nicholas will provide live demonstrations to show how to set up and execute the artwork, followed by dedicated support with individual critiques and constructive feedback.
ABOUT THE TUTOR
Born in Gisborne, New Zealand, Nicholas O’Leary consolidated his artistic approach by combining a technical foundation and a degree in Architecture from the University of Auckland with classical training in Norway under master painter Odd Nerdrum. His work captures subtle details of reality by blending live observation with evocative atmosphere. Winner of numerous international awards in portraiture and landscape, Nicholas exhibits regularly across Europe and the United States, bringing structural precision and atmospheric sensitivity to his teaching.
This class is limited to 8 students.
The price for this course is CHF 525.-
For further information, please contact us at info@studiovaldus.com
To register, please click here.
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