ALLA PRIMA OIL PAINTING
Direct painting Technique (Plein air season warm-up)
ALLA PRIMA OILS Todd Bonita)
March 23 - May 04, 2026
(6) Mondays (9am -12) $270
Centennial Hall, North Hampton, NH (2nd floor Ballroom). 105 Post Rd. North Hampton, NH
Alla prima is a painting technique where wet paint is applied to wet paint in a single session. This Italian phrase translates to "at once" or "in one go". It's also known as "wet-on-wet" or "direct painting".
The technique aims to capture the spontaneity and freshness of the moment and lends itself to thickly applied impasto and expressive brush work. These classes are suitable for beginners or for those who have some experience but are looking for a simple and focussed understanding of the nuts and bolts of oil painting. It is ideal for Plein air painters who are looking to build upon their skill set. Each class begins with a demo, where we will explore individual steps from Drawing, Design, Value, Color and Creative oil painting techniques and tools will be discussed and demonstrated. With an understanding of these principles, students will be better equipped to meet the challenges of Alla Prima painting, and thereby, better able to express themselves as artist. Supply list below.
*(No class April 13, 2026).
March 23 - May 04, 2026
(6) Mondays (9am -12) $270
Centennial Hall, North Hampton, NH (2nd floor Ballroom). 105 Post Rd. North Hampton, NH
Alla prima is a painting technique where wet paint is applied to wet paint in a single session. This Italian phrase translates to "at once" or "in one go". It's also known as "wet-on-wet" or "direct painting".
The technique aims to capture the spontaneity and freshness of the moment and lends itself to thickly applied impasto and expressive brush work. These classes are suitable for beginners or for those who have some experience but are looking for a simple and focussed understanding of the nuts and bolts of oil painting. It is ideal for Plein air painters who are looking to build upon their skill set. Each class begins with a demo, where we will explore individual steps from Drawing, Design, Value, Color and Creative oil painting techniques and tools will be discussed and demonstrated. With an understanding of these principles, students will be better equipped to meet the challenges of Alla Prima painting, and thereby, better able to express themselves as artist. Supply list below.
*(No class April 13, 2026).
REGISTER:
Contact Todd Bonita
Phone: (603) 819-9100
Email: [email protected]
Deposit ($100) to hold your space.
We accept:
* Checks,
* Credit Cards (4% process fee)
* Pay Pal
* Cash for teachers pet...LOL
* Venmo ; @Todd-Bonita
If sending a check, please make it otu to Todd
Bonita and mail it to:
Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
Greenland, NH 03840
Please write "Alla Prima" in the memo on the check.
Contact Todd Bonita
Phone: (603) 819-9100
Email: [email protected]
Deposit ($100) to hold your space.
We accept:
* Checks,
* Credit Cards (4% process fee)
* Pay Pal
* Cash for teachers pet...LOL
* Venmo ; @Todd-Bonita
If sending a check, please make it otu to Todd
Bonita and mail it to:
Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
Greenland, NH 03840
Please write "Alla Prima" in the memo on the check.
Please bring to first class:
3 Photographs (You will use them to complete paintings and begin our discussion on design).
Supply List
(I buy my supplies at Jerrysartarama.com, Dickblick.com, Cheapjoes.com, Utrecht.com)
Please bring a table easel, or if you prefer, please feel free to bring your outdoor painting kit to stand and paint. I have extras if you don't have one but let me know.
Pallet
I recommend a wood pallet. I have glass too for one of my boxes...try to avoid paper pallets.
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
Ultramarine Blue
Sap Green
Raw Umber
Ivory Black (to make value scales)
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
3 Photographs (You will use them to complete paintings and begin our discussion on design).
Supply List
(I buy my supplies at Jerrysartarama.com, Dickblick.com, Cheapjoes.com, Utrecht.com)
Please bring a table easel, or if you prefer, please feel free to bring your outdoor painting kit to stand and paint. I have extras if you don't have one but let me know.
Pallet
I recommend a wood pallet. I have glass too for one of my boxes...try to avoid paper pallets.
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
Ultramarine Blue
Sap Green
Raw Umber
Ivory Black (to make value scales)
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