Draw or Paint “En Plein Air” at Fort Ontario (Rain Date)

“En plein air” is a French term that means “in the open air,” creating art on location outdoors, typically landscapes. There is nothing like direct observation, using all of your senses, to improve your paintings and breathe life into them. You’ll paint more than just what you see, but the feel of the day, the smell of the grass, the sound of the wind in the trees.

Participants will draw or paint in the medium of their choice. Being outdoors will allow us to follow Covid-safe distancing protocols while enjoying local beauty.

“Everything that is painted directly and on the spot always has strength, a power, and a vivacity of touch one cannot recover in the studio… Three strokes of the brush in front of nature are worth more than two days of work at the easel [in the studio].”
— Eugene Boudin, (1824–1898), one of the first French landscape painters to paint outdoors

• Dates/Times: Saturday, August 22, from 10 AM – Noon.
  Rain date: Sunday, August 23.
• Age and/or skill level: any age, any skill level
• Location: Fort Ontario State Historic Site; meet outside the AAO.
  GPS Address: 20 Barbara Donahue Drive, Oswego, NY 13126
• Cost: Covid Special – Pay what you can afford.
  As a benchmark, this class would normally cost $14 for AAO members or $20 for non-members.
  Interested in receiving discounts by becoming a member? Please check this page org/membership.
• Materials: Bring your own supplies. If you have an easel, bring it, along with a support for your paper (such as a piece of thick foamcore & clips or tape). There are 4–8 easels available from the AAO, on a first come, first served basis.
  Viewfinders will be provided, which students may keep. A basic supplies list will be provided when you register.
  Bring water to drink, especially if it’s a hot day. You might want a hat or umbrella too, and sunscreen.
• Instructor: Lee Shelton – “I have drawn my whole life, mostly animals in pencil and colored pencil, but I have been having fun learning to paint in soft pastels in recent years. I still paint mostly animals, but I’m working on improving the landscapes for them.”
  If you have questions about the class content or materials list, please contact Lee at LeliaFShelton@gmail.com or (315) 289-8035.
• Financial Contact info: If you have questions about the registration form or making payment, please contact Jackie Neveu at Jackie.Neveu@OswegoArts.org or call (315) 216-6782 and leave a message.

Pre-registration & pre-payment are required. Please register using the form below. You will have the option to pay immediately directly from the registration form using PayPal, or pay later using a check or money order. If the class is cancelled by the AAO, or if you cancel at least 7 days prior to the first class, your entire payment will be returned. Payments are otherwise non-refundable.

NOTES:
1. You won’t be able to get back into the registration form later to pay electronically.
2. You can use PayPal as a guest without signing up for an account.

Checks or Money Orders should arrive at least 7 days before the start of class. If there are fewer than 7 days before class starts and you want to pay by check, you need to contact us first. Checks should be made out to “AAO” and mailed to us at: PO Box 271, Oswego NY 13126. Please note the class name & participant name on the memo line of your check.

This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.

Additional funding is provided by the Shineman Foundation.