In 1990, Joe Gyurcsak left a successful illustration career to pursue a fine art path.

“I had a born again experience as an artist when I first saw natural light on subjects in the open air. It changed my way of thinking and creating, I had made the leap into the plein air painting experience.”

Since then Joe has participated in the all of the top plein Air events in the US. Atlanta, Door County Wisconsin, Laguna Beach CA, Bucks County PA, Easton MD, Texas and the Plein Air Convention as a faculty member. In 2017 he was awarded Grand Prize winner at Plein Air Easton and Gloucester VA Plein Air Competitions. He is also featured in The 100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic book and Eric Rhodes Plein Air Podcasts.

Joe is a highly regarded instructor who has authored articles and lectured / demonstrated throughout the US at more than 160 major art institutions. He is the Resident Artist for Blick / Utrecht Art Materials as well as a member of the Salmagundi Club, He holds Signature status with the following organizations: International Society of Acrylic Painters, Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Societies.

Supplies

French Easel or pochade box, portable chair if need be,

Easel umbrellas

Sun screen, bug and tick spray,

Sun Hat

Comfortable clothing for weather at that time, use neutral colored shirts to cut down on reflection on painting

Canvas: at least 8 small to medium size panels or canvases 8”x10”, 11 x14, 12 x16, 16 x 20 or any others sizes in this range, bring variety, we will do two paintings a day.

Wet paint carriers are recommended

 Odorless mineral spirits or Safflower oil to clean brushes in between color changes for oil or water for acrylic /watercolor / gouache, close brush wash can for either

Alkyd mediums in liquid or gel and or linseed oil

 Rags for acrylic, paper towels oils & watercolor

 Brushes – an assortment of flats and filberts, rounds (short handle synthetic watercolor brushes are best for finishing details in oil and acrylic) (size 2, 4, 8, 10) synthetics or bristle both good

Watercolor either synthetic or sable, rounds 6, 8, cat’s tongue (oval brush) ½”,1”

 Medium sized diamond shaped painting Knife and or a blunt palette knife for mixing and applying paint 

Suggested watercolor papers cold or rough not larger than 20” x 14”, Arches, Bockingford,  Saunders Waterford, The masters choice, blocks are easiest so you don’t have to tape down paper on boards, or to prevent warping) I will show students how to prepare paper to create fluid effects)

Disposable palettes are the easiest for clean up

(Watercolor painters may bring a combination of watercolor and gouache of the following colors)

Cad Lemon Yellow

Cad Yellow Medium

Cad Orange or hue  

Cad Red Medium or hue or Naphthol Red

Quinacridone Violet or Red or Alizarin Crimson

Viridian Green Hue (Utrecht Studio Series for oil painters) or Virdian

Sap Green Deep  

Dioxazine Purple  

Cobalt Blue

Ultramarine Blue

Raw Sienna  

Burnt Sienna

Titanium white

Unbleached Titanium or Buff White

Raw Umber

Paynes Gray

Small sketch book for notes and sketches

2b /4b pencil

Kneaded eraser

View finder and cell phone for photos if possible