PLEIN AIR PAINTING
HOLLIS ART SPACE, HOLLIS, NH.
OUTDOOR PAINTING with TODD BONITA June 20, 2026 (9-4)
Plein air painting by Todd Bonita
PLEIN AIR PAINTING
1 Day Intensive with Todd Bonita.
Hollis Art Space. 30 Ash Street Hollis NH
Saturday, Limit 14 ($125)
REGISTER CLICK HERE
[email protected]
603-465-4300
Join us for a full day of immersive outdoor painting in the beautiful countryside of Hollis, New Hampshire. This one-day intensive workshop is designed for artists of all levels who want to refine their plein air skills, strengthen their understanding of light and color, and capture the natural landscape with confidence. Through on-site demonstrations, personalized feedback, and guided painting sessions, you’ll learn techniques to create dynamic and expressive works directly from nature. Bring your easel, your favorite materials, and a sense of adventure—this is a day to paint, learn, and be inspired outdoors.
Schedule
9:00 AM – Arrival and Orientation
REGISTER CLICK HERE
[email protected]
603-465-4300
1 Day Intensive with Todd Bonita.
Hollis Art Space. 30 Ash Street Hollis NH
Saturday, Limit 14 ($125)
REGISTER CLICK HERE
[email protected]
603-465-4300
Join us for a full day of immersive outdoor painting in the beautiful countryside of Hollis, New Hampshire. This one-day intensive workshop is designed for artists of all levels who want to refine their plein air skills, strengthen their understanding of light and color, and capture the natural landscape with confidence. Through on-site demonstrations, personalized feedback, and guided painting sessions, you’ll learn techniques to create dynamic and expressive works directly from nature. Bring your easel, your favorite materials, and a sense of adventure—this is a day to paint, learn, and be inspired outdoors.
Schedule
9:00 AM – Arrival and Orientation
- Meet at designated location TBD. Wev will send you an email of the location the day before.
- Overview of the day, discussion of materials, and orientation to best painting sites.
- Todd will lead a 60–90-minute demo painting, focusing on design, editing visual complexity, and creating atmosphere in a natural setting.
- Students begin painting. Todd provides individual guidance and feedback while circulating among the group.
- Bring your own lunch or grab food nearby. Informal discussion on plein air strategies and overcoming common painting challenges.
- Opportunity to refine your morning work or start a second piece. Afternoon light, shadows, and activity provide fresh inspiration.
- Gather to share progress. Todd will lead a constructive critique focusing on composition, color harmony, and brushwork.
REGISTER CLICK HERE
[email protected]
603-465-4300
SUPPLY LIST
Plein air oil painting by Todd Bonita. "Villa Balbianello, Lake Como, Italy".
Supply List
(I buy my supplies at Jerrysartarama.com, Dickblick.com, Cheapjoes.com, Utrecht.com)
Outdoor painting easel (Julian easel) or a pochade box mounted on a photographers tripod. (Ask about rental day use if you dont have one).
Palette
I recommend a wood palette. I have glass too for one of my boxes...try to avoid paper palettes.
Paint
*(I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries plus white (with maybe a few extras)....A total of 9 colors but I have included some additional (optional colors) if you wish to expand and experiment. Please spend the extra for professional grade paints, be careful not to buy the student grade paints. I use Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht but there are many good options.) (*Tip: Winton brand by Winsor and Newton is student grade paint, do not use it).
Titanium White
Alkyd White (Alkyd is quick dry paint. For brands, Gamblin, DaVinci and Winsor and Newton Griffin is my favorite.)
Cad Yellow medium
Yellow ochre (Alternatively, After more than twenty years, I replaced my cool yellow with Transparent Earth Yellow and I love it).
Alizeran Crimson Permanent
Cadmium Red Medium
Cerulean Blue (or Pthalo Blue for the brave or crazy).
Ultramarine Blue
Sap Green
Raw Umber
Ivory Black
Painting surface
Canvas, Linen or canvas mounted on board or gessoed wood panel...I recommend (8x10”) or (9x12”) but use a size you are comfortable with....Please dont run to Michaels last minute and get the slick surfaced, gessoed panels they sell...they are aweful and paint slides off of them. Get something with a little tooth to it...just a little though.)
Brushes
*Assortment of bristle brushes (I suggest large, medium and small in three styles: Flats, Rounds and Filberts. I mostly use Robert Simmons Signet series flats #3, #6 and #10)
*Assortment of synthetic flats and or filberts for glazing color.
*Small synthetic rounds for details. (I suggest Winsor and Newton Septre Gold 2 in the 404 series...size 4 and / or size 6)
Other
* Trowel type Pallet knife
* liquin and pallet cup
**** Gamsol (Turpentine substitute) with container or medium glass jar (No turps aloud in studio, sorry, please use Gamsol.
* paper towels (Blue shop towels are the best)
* Soft pencil, eraser and sketchbook
* Ruler, straight edge or a mahl stick (something to make straight lines with is handy)
* A Veiwfinder: Important! Whether homemade or store bought, it must be adjustable or proportionate to your canvases. Viewcatcher is ideal.
* Ruby Beholder (This is a quilters tool, a simple red piece of plastic used to see values, Amazon.com has them)
* Artist paint box for supplies
* Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient or you could use a pizza box.
**(I have extras of everything so please do not stress or panic if you can’t find that tube of yellow, etc…For best deals, shop online at Jerrys Artarama, Dick Blick, Utrecht or Cheap Joes.
Recommended reading
www.toddbonita.com
www.toddbonitagallery.com
(I buy my supplies at Jerrysartarama.com, Dickblick.com, Cheapjoes.com, Utrecht.com)
Outdoor painting easel (Julian easel) or a pochade box mounted on a photographers tripod. (Ask about rental day use if you dont have one).
Palette
I recommend a wood palette. I have glass too for one of my boxes...try to avoid paper palettes.
Paint
*(I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries plus white (with maybe a few extras)....A total of 9 colors but I have included some additional (optional colors) if you wish to expand and experiment. Please spend the extra for professional grade paints, be careful not to buy the student grade paints. I use Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht but there are many good options.) (*Tip: Winton brand by Winsor and Newton is student grade paint, do not use it).
Titanium White
Alkyd White (Alkyd is quick dry paint. For brands, Gamblin, DaVinci and Winsor and Newton Griffin is my favorite.)
Cad Yellow medium
Yellow ochre (Alternatively, After more than twenty years, I replaced my cool yellow with Transparent Earth Yellow and I love it).
Alizeran Crimson Permanent
Cadmium Red Medium
Cerulean Blue (or Pthalo Blue for the brave or crazy).
Ultramarine Blue
Sap Green
Raw Umber
Ivory Black
Painting surface
Canvas, Linen or canvas mounted on board or gessoed wood panel...I recommend (8x10”) or (9x12”) but use a size you are comfortable with....Please dont run to Michaels last minute and get the slick surfaced, gessoed panels they sell...they are aweful and paint slides off of them. Get something with a little tooth to it...just a little though.)
Brushes
*Assortment of bristle brushes (I suggest large, medium and small in three styles: Flats, Rounds and Filberts. I mostly use Robert Simmons Signet series flats #3, #6 and #10)
*Assortment of synthetic flats and or filberts for glazing color.
*Small synthetic rounds for details. (I suggest Winsor and Newton Septre Gold 2 in the 404 series...size 4 and / or size 6)
Other
* Trowel type Pallet knife
* liquin and pallet cup
**** Gamsol (Turpentine substitute) with container or medium glass jar (No turps aloud in studio, sorry, please use Gamsol.
* paper towels (Blue shop towels are the best)
* Soft pencil, eraser and sketchbook
* Ruler, straight edge or a mahl stick (something to make straight lines with is handy)
* A Veiwfinder: Important! Whether homemade or store bought, it must be adjustable or proportionate to your canvases. Viewcatcher is ideal.
* Ruby Beholder (This is a quilters tool, a simple red piece of plastic used to see values, Amazon.com has them)
* Artist paint box for supplies
* Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient or you could use a pizza box.
**(I have extras of everything so please do not stress or panic if you can’t find that tube of yellow, etc…For best deals, shop online at Jerrys Artarama, Dick Blick, Utrecht or Cheap Joes.
Recommended reading
- Art Spirit by Robert Henri
- Alla Prima 2, (Everything I know about painting) by Richard Schmid
- Hawthorn on Painting by Charles Hawthorn
- Drawing on the right side of the brain by Betty Edwards
- Composition of outdoor painting by Edgar Payne
- Carlsons guide to landscape painting by John Carlson
- Landscape Painting: Essential concepts by Mitchell Albala
- Landscape Painting inside and out by Kevin MacPherson
www.toddbonita.com
www.toddbonitagallery.com
Plein air Paintings
by Todd Bonita
