Summary: Immerse yourself in nature as you learn to observe light, color, and atmosphere. This plein air workshop strengthens your ability to translate what you see into expressive, confident paintings created outdoors.
Full Course Description:
This immersive oil painting workshop is designed for beginners as an introduction to the foundations of landscape painting with a focus on working both in-studio and en plein air.
Participants will explore essential oil painting principles including color mixing, value structure, composition, brush handling, and alla prima techniques. Alla prima, also known as direct painting, prioritizes working quickly and expressively to capture atmosphere and light.
Through guided demonstrations, individualized feedback, and hands-on studio time, students will learn practical systems for approaching a painting, while also being encouraged to experiment and respond intuitively to the landscape.
Emphasis will be placed on understanding light, form, and color relationships to create dynamic paintings. Students will develop technical foundations and discover their own way of seeing and interpreting the natural world. By the end of the week, students will produce multiple studies and gain practical tools they can continue applying independently.
Plein Air and landscape painting has a strong history in Southern France - follow in the footsteps of Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne and Matisse and learn to paint from life, outdoors!
MEET THE ARTIST
Brandi McDermott
Brandi McDermott is a contemporary impressionist oil painter based in Germany, whose work celebrates the beauty of everyday life. Drawn to landscapes, cityscapes, and still lifes, she paints primarily en plein air, capturing subtle shifts of light and atmosphere with expressive brushwork.
Having lived in multiple regions and traveling extensively as an active-duty military spouse, Brandi draws inspiration from diverse, changing landscapes and cultural experiences. She has developed her practice through years of independent study and professional workshops with Haidee-Jo Summers, Bryan Mark Taylor, and Phil Starke. She was awarded First Prize at the 2022 Annual Bisbee Plein Air Competition exhibited in the 2025 juried EVBK exhibition, and secured a 2025 artist residency and exhibition in France.
Through her paintings, Brandi endeavors to share moments of joyful reflection, evoking both mood and memory in each painting she creates.
EXAMPLE ITINERARY
Example Day:
8:00 AM | Morning Movement
Guided seaside walk or gentle yoga to awaken the body and mind.
9:30 AM | French Breakfast Under the Pergola
Fresh pastries, seasonal fruit, rich coffee, and conversation in the morning light.
10:30 AM | Art-Making with Intention
Studio time focused on guided creative exploration and personal expression.
12:30 PM | Chef-Prepared Lunch
A vibrant meal crafted from locally sourced ingredients, enjoyed al fresco.
1:30 PM | Creative Studio or Free Time
Continue your art practice or relax — swim, read, journal, or simply rest.
4:30 PM | Garden Aperitif
Aperol spritz or botanical mocktails in the garden as the afternoon softens.
6:00 PM | Evening Integration
Sound bowl meditation, restorative session, or optional stroll into town.
7:30 PM | Dinner by the Sea
A relaxed, candlelit dinner on the beach as the sun sets over the Mediterranean.