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PLEIN AIR PAINTING STUDY GROUP
(An Independent Painting and Critique Group) 

Picture"Charles Woodbury Critique group"
PLEIN AIR PAINTING STUDY GROUP (Todd Bonita
Todd Bonita 
Portsmouth, NH & York County Maine

Tuesdays, May 11- November 02, 2021

(12 - 4pm)
$300 for 8 Tuesdays. (See sessions below..)
$50 Drop in if space is available. scroll below...


Our Painting Study group is an opportunity for like-minded spirits to meet with their peers regularly and establish a habitual painting routine, exchange ideas and get critical eyes on works in progress. The first three hours we will use to paint independently. There is no lecture, instruction or side-by-side easel assistance. The last hour will be occupied with our group critique where each person will put up their painting and one at a time, I will critique the work using the * Critique sandwich method and the * Seven elements of picture making checklist.

This is an excellent venue to exercise your understanding of the visual language of picture making through the critique process. I have pro-rated this group to be lesser than a structured class of this length and accounted for the absence of lecturing or demonstrating. This intimate club is small and limited to only 8 and will fill quickly.

REGISTER

PictureOpen your camera on your phone and hold it to this PQ Code to access and pay my Venmo account.
Drop in: ($50 day) (If space available)
Equipment rental : 
($50 day) includes outdoor easel, pallet, paint, mediums, brushes and 1 (8x10") canvas. 

Session #1: May 11,18,  Jun 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Jul 13. 
(No class Jun 25th and July 06)

Session #2: July 20, 27, Aug 10, 17, 24, 31, Sept 14, 28
(No class Aug 3, Sept 07, 21)

Session #3:
 Oct 12, 19, 26, Nov 02, 09, 16, 23, 30

​Call Todd to register (603) 819-9100
or email Todd: tmbonita@gmail.com


* $150 Deposit to hold your space. Balance can be paid at class or sooner if you wish.

We accept:
* Credit Cards (4% Process fee)
* Venmo: @Todd-Bonita
* Cash (for Teachers Pet)
* Checks. Made out to Todd Bonita and mail to:

Todd Bonita
28 McShane Ave
​Greenland, NH 03840

Please write in the memo on the check, "Painting Study Group" for my book keeper. 
​

* CRITIQUE SANDWICH: a simple idea that examines your painting in three parts; What works, what's not working and how to fix it....therefore, we look at it as having a top, a middle and a bottom....sort of like a sandwich. ​

Picture

​The Top: represents what works in your painting.
If you give a monkey a paintbrush, he will eventually make something that looks good. For this reason, its important to point out what is working so that in the unlikely event you did it by accident, after pointing it out, you can now repeat it in a future painting and paint with intent rather than by accident.

The Middle: Represents whats not working.
After we have softened you up with the positive affirmation of telling you what works, its time to stab you in the back and unleash the horror of whats not working...LOL...We will tell you what is not working in the painting and why.

The Bottom: Represents how to fix whats not working.
Finally, we will give you a concrete suggesting as to how to fix whats not working. We do not speak in sound bites and leave you hanging....Rather, we will give you a direct and articulate solution so you completely understand and therefor are completely in control of your painting.
​

* 7 ELEMENTS of PICTURE MAKING:  The seven important elements to consider and compose in order to create a balanced picture. They are Design / composition, Values, Line, Shape, Color, Hierarchy, Unity.  ​

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RULES of CRITIQUE CLUB

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CRIT CLUB RULES:
1) Arrive, set up independently, get to work!

2) There is no lecture, demo or side-by-side easel assistance.
All of the instruction will come from the critique in the last hour. 

3) In the last hour, bring your painting to the designated critique area.  If you are catching fire, you may continue to work and come to the crit area later but please be sure and get your painting in before the last hour expires.

4) You may bring treats. Treats are yummy!! (Im smiling!)  

5) Squint, See like an Artist, Think like an Artist, Start with a broom and finish with a needle, Have excellent tools, Keep it simple, Remember the Holy Trinity and The Seven Elements of Picture Making, When in Doubt Leave it out, Paint with Intent not by Accident, We are Poets not Reporters, God made nature perfect but not perfect for the painter so edit, Most paintings pass or fail within the first fifteen minutes so Think, Strategize, (Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear),  Paintings derive their interest from Juxtaposing elements, Become sensitive to Tensions, Avoid Tangents, If you have a chance to overlap you take it, Value does all the work and color gets all the credit, 85% of the success or failure lies in a strong value plan, Remember the four visual cues to enhance the illusion of 3 dimensions, Overlap, strong light souce, scale and Linear perspective....
Grow, Thrive, Try harder, Focus, Really See.