NACCO in North Adams

I have a gallery in North Adams.  I have been painting the local area.  I am really pleased with my street scenes.

Starting to prepare for my painting workshop in Orr's Island

Painting in Brooklin, ME this past Sept.  This was such a great spot to paint on location.  I love this little church on the far right with a neat little auto repair station with a tiny vista of the way to the ocean.  Sometimes it is nice not to paint that perfect view but to look for something different of unique.

Winter Session and Learning Skills to Create

  I can't believe that is it time to think about winter classes but it is.  Time goes by so fast!!  It has been a productive fall with great students and challenges.  I would love any feedback from students to let me know about their needs in my classes.  My Ryan Estate classes are for you my students. We can address the most important issues that you have in painting and drawing.   In my morning class I am thinking to change things up I will have students paint and finish two paintings in the semester.  I will discuss beginning and finishing a painting.  What the process looks like.  In the landscape class we will work on studies that will prepare us for the spring Plein Air experience.  And a new class I am running at the Emerson Umbrella is a portrait class in pastel.  It is not only the humans we love to render but our many pets.  I know there is interest out there doing animals and I hope this reaches the folks who requested a class on this.  In the meantime enjoy the beautiful Fall light that is just extraordinary this time of year.

More Pictures of painting at Codman's with my students

Codman Community Farm, Lincoln, MA

Beginning Painting Classes

Painting at the Worcester Art Museum on Mondays.
We are working on a complimentary Pallet which is important to know to create all your grays for using color.  Here is an example of a blue vs. orange pallet.  Always set up your pallet with some sense of organization to keep track of you color mixing.

Landscape Painting Class on Wed. Afternoon

What a beautiful painting day for my students on Wed.  We went to Codman Community Farm in Lincoln, MA.  Everyone painted for a good three hours.  Hope to get another great day next wed.

Suggested Painting w/Oils or Acrylic Supply List

 Pottle's Painting Supply Lists:

Acrylic Painting: 

Easel and dropcloth (for Lincoln Landscape class and Fruitlands classes only)
1.5" – 2” house painting brushes &/or sponge brushes, (the made in China brushes at the hardware store are fine),  pallet knife,  Acrylic matte & gloss mediums (Liquitex brand), rags or paper towels, 18"x24” paper pallet or a roll of Freezer Paper (purchase at a grocery store, not wax paper), plastic wrap, Muffin tray with zip lock bag to store paints, bucket for water, tuna cans for medium, a roll of pre-primed canvas, or you can size your own paper with gesso (do this way before class) or buy an 18”x24” canvas pad which is ready to go, 18”x24” drawing board, spray bottle, masking tape, newspaper, variety of brushes #10 & up (no small brushes), buy a round, flat & filbert for variety. Make sure they are acrylic brushes, synthetic brushes with long handles. Ivory soap, paper cups & plastic spoons. My favorite brand of paint: Golden or Windsor Newton. There are cheaper brands. The more expensive paints you get, the better colors, but you might be more frugal in use. If so, buy inexpensive paints, large tubes. 

Oil Panting: 

NO SOLVENTS IN MY CLASSES, IE.:  PAINT THINNER, TURPS. MINERAL SPIRITS- ODERLESS OR NON.  ONLY USE THE MEDIUM BELOW.  DO NOT OPEN ANY MEDIUM THAT IS NOT LABELED AS:  PROFESSIONAL GRADE WALNUT OIL

Easel and dropcloth, (only for Fruitlands Museum and Lincoln Classes), #10 size brushes & larger (filbert brushes are great but feel free to get some round and flat brushes), 1-3" house painting brushes, 18"X24" paper pallet or freezer paper, Murphy’s Oil soap, rags or paper towels, metal pallet knife, masking tape, metal paint cups, same painting surfaces as above, Artist’s professional grade Walnut Alkyd Medium and Walnut Oil. No premixed oil mediums NO SOLVENTS or citrus products to be used in class, Safflower Oil (from grocery store)  used for cleaning brushes in between colors, Water base oils are fine, (be sure to bring in appropriate mediums for the paint),  Two glass jars with metal tops for waste, (liquid waste goes home with you),  Regular oil paint brands: Gamblin, Grumbacher, Windsor Newton 


PAINT COLORS:   Cadmium Red Medium or Vermilion, (as a less expensive alternative), Cad. Yellow Medium, Ultramarine Blue, large tube of Titanium White. 

Other colors you might consider: Alizarin Crimson or Rose madder or Quinacridone Magenta, Cad. Yellow Light Cad. or Lemon Yellow Cad., Yellow Ochre, Cerulean Blue or Maganese or Cobalt Blue