A Plein Air Adventure

In August, I'm heading out with a number of artists on a plein air painting adventure. We’re taking canoes and paddling into the backcountry of Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.

Which one of you hasn’t had the desire to canoe into the woods, set up your easel and paint just like Tom Thomson, AY Jackson and the rest of the Group of Seven did 100 years ago as they first ventured into the backwaters of Algonquin Park?

Here's your chance to paint en plein air the way Canadians first did it, rather than in the gentle fields of Provence, the way the Europeans had been doing.

Our adventure begins when we all meet at the Long Lake entrance to Kawartha Highlands and load our canoes. I supply the canoes, life jackets and basic safety kit and each artist supplies their own camping kit. (I can help individual artists rent or purchase various pieces of equipment if they don’t have their own.) I'm an experienced camper and canoeist, and am available to help less experienced artists deal with the backwoods.

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We paddle a couple of kilometres down Long Lake until we reach the Buzzard Lake portage. We take the 300 metre portage to Buzzard Lake and then continue paddling until we reach our campsite. That evening, after supper, we have a discussion on plein air painting, composition and what we all hope to gain out of the retreat.

The next morning, after we each prepare our breakfast and lunch for the day, we head off in our canoes to the first painting location. Some of us will paint from our canoes; others will set up on land.

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The first morning I will lead a colour mixing exercise where you will become familiar with the reduced modern palette I've recommended.

I will help each artist with subject selection, finding the order out of the chaos of a “real scene” and how to capture the essence of a scene in a few deft strokes.

Each day brings new scenes to capture and new lessons to absorb. Learning, adventure, camaraderie. A perfect four-day outing for the adventurous artist.

If you want to be one of those artists, visit this page on our website for more information.

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