September 24, October 1, October 8 & October 22 from 9 a.m. to noon

Meet at The Sheldon – painting locations will vary by class
Some class supplies will be provided, a list of additional needs will be sent to registrants.

Inspired by the work of artist Wallace Herndon Smith, currently on view at The Sheldon, this class series will encourage artists to explore the method of plein air, or “out in the open” painting. Led by Sarah Lorentz, the class series is open to all skill levels and will use watercolor as the primary medium to teach participants the skills and techniques to paint the landscapes and cityscapes around them.

Plein air painting is about leaving the four walls of the studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape. The practice goes back for centuries but was truly made into an art form by the French Impressionists. Their desire to paint light and its changing, ephemeral qualities, coupled with the creation of transportable paint tubes and the box easel—the precursor to the plein air easels of today—allowed artists the freedom to paint “en plein air.”

Register online by September 16!

Internationally recognized artist Sarah Lorentz creates energetic, striking compositions full of electric color and bold brushwork, a reminder of the process and the physicality of the material. She earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts with a focus in studio painting from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, receiving scholarships and awards both for her scholastic and artistic achievements. Her work has been displayed in the Springfield Art Museum, Missouri; and abroad in Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, Venice, Italy; and both her landscape and figurative collections have been granted solo exhibitions. In addition to juried shows and exhibitions, Lorentz has an active presence in the art scene of St. Louis working as a full-time artist and instructor.