2 Day PLEIN AIR INTENSIVE
Wilmington, North Carolina. April 1 -2, 2026
2 Day PLEIN AIR INTENSIVE
April 1 -2, 2026 (Wednesday - Thursday)
($350) workshop only with Todd Bonita.
STUDIO ARTISTE
203 Racine Drive, Unit 203, Wilmington, NC
Contact: Jean Rosenberg
(910) 612 - 8680
or email: [email protected]
Two-Day Plein Air Painting Workshop with Todd Bonita
Wilmington, North Carolina
Join award-winning artist Todd Bonita for a two-day plein air painting workshop in the charming coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina. This immersive outdoor painting experience is designed for artists of all levels who are eager to deepen their understanding of light, atmosphere, and composition while working directly from nature.
Todd will guide students through his step-by-step process for creating expressive and cohesive plein air paintings—from thumbnail sketches and block-ins to color mixing and final refinements. With personalized instruction, group demonstrations, and constructive critiques, students will gain practical tools and confidence to elevate their outdoor painting practice.
Set against the scenic backdrops of Wilmington’s historic district, riverwalk, and coastal landscapes, this workshop offers a perfect blend of inspiration and education in a supportive, fun environment.
What’s Included:
REGISTER:
Contact: Jean Rosenberg
(910) 612 - 8680
or email: [email protected]
STUDIO ARTISTE
203 Racine Drive, Unit 203, Wilmington, NC
CHECKLIST (Scroll below to review detailed list of the following)
* Art Supply list
* Itinerary
* F.A.Q.
* Todd Bonita
April 1 -2, 2026 (Wednesday - Thursday)
($350) workshop only with Todd Bonita.
STUDIO ARTISTE
203 Racine Drive, Unit 203, Wilmington, NC
Contact: Jean Rosenberg
(910) 612 - 8680
or email: [email protected]
Two-Day Plein Air Painting Workshop with Todd Bonita
Wilmington, North Carolina
Join award-winning artist Todd Bonita for a two-day plein air painting workshop in the charming coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina. This immersive outdoor painting experience is designed for artists of all levels who are eager to deepen their understanding of light, atmosphere, and composition while working directly from nature.
Todd will guide students through his step-by-step process for creating expressive and cohesive plein air paintings—from thumbnail sketches and block-ins to color mixing and final refinements. With personalized instruction, group demonstrations, and constructive critiques, students will gain practical tools and confidence to elevate their outdoor painting practice.
Set against the scenic backdrops of Wilmington’s historic district, riverwalk, and coastal landscapes, this workshop offers a perfect blend of inspiration and education in a supportive, fun environment.
What’s Included:
- Daily demos and lectures
(Introduction to the "Impressionist Playbook" on Plein air Painting. A painting philosophy pioneered by the masters that simplifies the outdoor painting process, breaking down into three acts ; (1) The Lay - in. (2) Modification layer. (3) Art Infusion layer). - One-on-one instruction and feedback
(I will meet you where you are in your artistic growth, isolating your most problematic area and provide you with the tools to address it with a concrete solution and ction plan). - Group critiques.
(We use the "Critique sandwich" method of objective critique; (1) Whats working and why. (2) Whats not working and why. (3) How to fix whats not working). - Painting in beautiful outdoor locations
REGISTER:
Contact: Jean Rosenberg
(910) 612 - 8680
or email: [email protected]
STUDIO ARTISTE
203 Racine Drive, Unit 203, Wilmington, NC
CHECKLIST (Scroll below to review detailed list of the following)
* Art Supply list
* Itinerary
* F.A.Q.
* Todd Bonita
ART SUPPLY LIST
"Villa Bilbianello" Lake Como, Italy. Plein air by Todd Bonita
ART SUPPLY LIST
* I am happy to share a list of the tools and materials I use to make painting below. Pleasae understand that these are the supplies that work me, so please feel free to use whatever tools and materials you are comfortable with for making outdoor or studio paintings. Here is what I recommend for a simple set up;
(Click here to go to an illustrated page of my Plein air painting supplies)
(Think light weight and portable, find creative ways to simplify...I manage to pack everything below in a back pack. I get most of my supplies online at Jerrys Artarama, Dick Blick, Cheap Joes or Utrecht).
Portable Easel
French easel, half box easel or Pochade box for working outside.
(I use the 8x10" or 10x12" Open Box M system and sometimes the 6x8" Guerilla box for traveling, both are mounted to a photographers tripod. I also like the UGO Plein air pochade. If you prefer the French easels, go with the lighter and smaller Jullian Half box easel.
Palette
I recommend a wood palette....try to avoid paper pallets.
Paint
*(SPLIT PRIMARY PALETTE. I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries (Yellow, Red & Blue) plus white (with maybe a few optional extras)....Please spend the extra for professional grade paints. I use Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht but there are many good options.)
Alkyd White (Alkyd is a quick dry paint that plays nice with oils. For brands, Gamblin, DaVinci and my favorite is Griffin Alkyds by Winsor & Newton)
Titanium White
Cad Yellow Medium
Yellow ochre
Alizeran Crimson permanant
Cadmium Red medium
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue
Burnt Sienna
Sap green (*Optional)
Ivory black (*Optional)
raw umber (*Optional)
Painting surface
Canvas, canvas or linen mounted on board or gessoed wood panel (sizes can range from 6x8” to 14x18” but I would not go larger)...For a travel workshop like this, I will likely limit myself to only one or two sizes, like 8x10" and / or 9x12". This will simplify my wet carrier system as well.
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)
*One or two Royal sable flats in medium and large sizes (size 10 or 16) for blending and softening edges (I prefer Langnickel.)
*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 ***You cannot travel with Liquin or solvents*** You can order from the art supply store a and delivered to your hotel.
Gamsol ***You cannot travel w/ Gamsol or Solvents*** I will provide Gamsol when you get there on the island.
paper towels (Blue shop towels are the best)
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.
Artist paint box or back pack for supplies
Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient.
*Appropriate clothing for outdoor weather and conditions.
Optional
Hat
sunglasses
Water bottle or something to drink, snack
Sun block
Camera
Umbrella
* I am happy to share a list of the tools and materials I use to make painting below. Pleasae understand that these are the supplies that work me, so please feel free to use whatever tools and materials you are comfortable with for making outdoor or studio paintings. Here is what I recommend for a simple set up;
(Click here to go to an illustrated page of my Plein air painting supplies)
(Think light weight and portable, find creative ways to simplify...I manage to pack everything below in a back pack. I get most of my supplies online at Jerrys Artarama, Dick Blick, Cheap Joes or Utrecht).
Portable Easel
French easel, half box easel or Pochade box for working outside.
(I use the 8x10" or 10x12" Open Box M system and sometimes the 6x8" Guerilla box for traveling, both are mounted to a photographers tripod. I also like the UGO Plein air pochade. If you prefer the French easels, go with the lighter and smaller Jullian Half box easel.
Palette
I recommend a wood palette....try to avoid paper pallets.
Paint
*(SPLIT PRIMARY PALETTE. I recommend a minimal palette of a warm and cool version of the three primaries (Yellow, Red & Blue) plus white (with maybe a few optional extras)....Please spend the extra for professional grade paints. I use Williamsburg, Winsor & Newton, Gamblin and Utrecht but there are many good options.)
Alkyd White (Alkyd is a quick dry paint that plays nice with oils. For brands, Gamblin, DaVinci and my favorite is Griffin Alkyds by Winsor & Newton)
Titanium White
Cad Yellow Medium
Yellow ochre
Alizeran Crimson permanant
Cadmium Red medium
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue
Burnt Sienna
Sap green (*Optional)
Ivory black (*Optional)
raw umber (*Optional)
Painting surface
Canvas, canvas or linen mounted on board or gessoed wood panel (sizes can range from 6x8” to 14x18” but I would not go larger)...For a travel workshop like this, I will likely limit myself to only one or two sizes, like 8x10" and / or 9x12". This will simplify my wet carrier system as well.
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)
*One or two Royal sable flats in medium and large sizes (size 10 or 16) for blending and softening edges (I prefer Langnickel.)
*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 ***You cannot travel with Liquin or solvents*** You can order from the art supply store a and delivered to your hotel.
Gamsol ***You cannot travel w/ Gamsol or Solvents*** I will provide Gamsol when you get there on the island.
paper towels (Blue shop towels are the best)
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.
Artist paint box or back pack for supplies
Wet paint carrier. I love the PanelPaks...they are lightweight and convenient.
*Appropriate clothing for outdoor weather and conditions.
Optional
Hat
sunglasses
Water bottle or something to drink, snack
Sun block
Camera
Umbrella
ITINERARY
"Strawberry Bank, Portsmouth, NH" Plein air oil by Todd Bonita
Todds Cell phone: (603) 819-9100
DAY 1:
(9am) Meet at ARTISTE STUDIO, Located in Blue Moon Gift shops. 203 Racine Drive, Unit 203, Wilmington, NC. I will begin the day with introductions, hand outs, a conversation about expectations and outdoor painting. We will then make our way, car pooling to our first location (To be determined). There, I will lecture on the "Impressionist Playbook" philosophy, followed by a demostration. Break for lunch or snack and paint rite through the day while I provide side-by-side easel assistance and critique.
You will have an opportunity to learn a lot. I provide academic principles that have been passed down for more than 600 years, both direct and inderect methods, ideas, techniques and philosophies. I will provide handouts for take away and a few gifts (Tools to help you see and think like an artist). We will go deep and cover a tremendous amount of material.
DAY 2:
(9am -4pm) Meet on site at an outdoor location to be determined. This mornings lecture and demonstration will be based organically on the collective results of our first day painting together. Most painters experience visual problem solving challenges in one or more of four primary areas; (1) Design. (2) Drawing (3) Values or (4) Color. We will address specific strategies to equipt you with the tools to resolve and practice habits to overcome and grow in these areas. This will be great fun and Im excited to paint and share with you all. Final Champagne critique at ARTIST STUDIO.
DAY 1:
(9am) Meet at ARTISTE STUDIO, Located in Blue Moon Gift shops. 203 Racine Drive, Unit 203, Wilmington, NC. I will begin the day with introductions, hand outs, a conversation about expectations and outdoor painting. We will then make our way, car pooling to our first location (To be determined). There, I will lecture on the "Impressionist Playbook" philosophy, followed by a demostration. Break for lunch or snack and paint rite through the day while I provide side-by-side easel assistance and critique.
You will have an opportunity to learn a lot. I provide academic principles that have been passed down for more than 600 years, both direct and inderect methods, ideas, techniques and philosophies. I will provide handouts for take away and a few gifts (Tools to help you see and think like an artist). We will go deep and cover a tremendous amount of material.
DAY 2:
(9am -4pm) Meet on site at an outdoor location to be determined. This mornings lecture and demonstration will be based organically on the collective results of our first day painting together. Most painters experience visual problem solving challenges in one or more of four primary areas; (1) Design. (2) Drawing (3) Values or (4) Color. We will address specific strategies to equipt you with the tools to resolve and practice habits to overcome and grow in these areas. This will be great fun and Im excited to paint and share with you all. Final Champagne critique at ARTIST STUDIO.
F. A. Q .
( Frequently Asked Questions )
What do we do if it rains? There is a comfortable and well equipped studio at ARTISTE. We wil paint indoors with a simulation exercise where I will provide a photo and an academic exercise that has been passed down from the masters. It is a direct painting technique identical to the outdoor approach.
Todd Bonita
TODD BONITA (b. 1968)
I fell in love with the ocean while growing up in Winthrop, Massachusetts, a small New England harbor town outside of Boston. After graduating from the Art Institute of Boston, I continued study of classical painting and drawing at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. A twelve year career as an illustrator followed until I focused full time on fine art oil painting in 2006, creating oil paintings for art galleries and collectors. I currently maintain a studio space at The Button Factory artist studios in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I love painting coastal New England imagery outdoors in plein air, equally as much as crafting more involved compositions in my studio. Above all, I love the process and simple joy of being with my tools and painting. My work is currently represented by ten art galleries around New England, Florida and the UK. and is in hundreds of corporate and private collections world wide, including 41st U.S. President, George H. W. Bush. I have had the good fortune to have exhibited in four Art museums and I am blessed to call this craft that I love my full-time occupation. I currently own and operate the Todd Bonita Art Gallery in both Ogunquit, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I am also owner of the Ogunquit Art Colony School, where I teach painting classes and International art workshops year round. I live on the New Hampshire seacoast with my son Max and daughter Kate.
Life is good.
I fell in love with the ocean while growing up in Winthrop, Massachusetts, a small New England harbor town outside of Boston. After graduating from the Art Institute of Boston, I continued study of classical painting and drawing at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. A twelve year career as an illustrator followed until I focused full time on fine art oil painting in 2006, creating oil paintings for art galleries and collectors. I currently maintain a studio space at The Button Factory artist studios in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I love painting coastal New England imagery outdoors in plein air, equally as much as crafting more involved compositions in my studio. Above all, I love the process and simple joy of being with my tools and painting. My work is currently represented by ten art galleries around New England, Florida and the UK. and is in hundreds of corporate and private collections world wide, including 41st U.S. President, George H. W. Bush. I have had the good fortune to have exhibited in four Art museums and I am blessed to call this craft that I love my full-time occupation. I currently own and operate the Todd Bonita Art Gallery in both Ogunquit, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I am also owner of the Ogunquit Art Colony School, where I teach painting classes and International art workshops year round. I live on the New Hampshire seacoast with my son Max and daughter Kate.
Life is good.
