Julia O'Reilly Art
Artist
01:00 pm May 15 2025- 02:00 pm May 18 2025
Join me for a 4-day painting retreat and workshop on the Oregon coast. This is both plein air painting and a studio painting workshop experience. Come recharge your creating energies! It's a time to connect with like-minded souls, and discover some new skills.
40
This workshop is geared toward emerging artists so some prior painting experience is preferred, but beginners are also welcome.
Master the Secret Powers of Color
Build Exciting Compositions Quickly
Discover Your Own Voice
Learn About Gouache
These workshops are always a wonderful time. It's a time to connect with like-minded souls. You’ll gain confidence for painting on location. You’ll leave with the confidence of new skills, the freedom of inspiration and the power of connection.
I paint, you paint, we talk about how to make better paintings and find our own voice. It's nurturing, safe and invigorating.
I'll demo paint techniques. We'll study how to observe from nature with our painter’s eyes. We’ll study principles of seascape painting used by the masters and some handy new tools. We’ll study the dramatic structure of the ocean (yes, it has structure!) We'll practice composition, using quick-sketch thumbnails to help us create powerful, dynamic compositions. We’ll work with value, depth, and color.
We'll work from our own photos too. You’ll learn how to create more dramatic and dynamic pre-compositions right in your phone. And we’ll paint out in the elements as much as possible.
Gouache is my current medium of choice for plein air paint, but students are welcome to bring other painting mediums. I’m conversant with acrylic, oils, pastel and drawing mediums. If you have any questions about paint or what to paint on, or how to set up a plein air kit, feel free to reach out directly.
For Clothing and Comfort
The Oregon Coast weather in May tends to stay in the upper-50s to low-60s. Nighttime temperatures drop to the mid-to-upper-40s. Days can alternate between clear skies and rain showers so prepare for sun, wind, or rain.
There are normally enough sun breaks to get out on the beach, so remember sunscreen and a water bottle.
Comfortable safe walking shoes are a good idea. I always take extra socks. The coastline varies from barefoot-friendly sandy beaches to rough and rocky.
There are spectacular beach and old-growth forest hikes within minutes of Yachats. You’ll receive my list my favorite painting areas on Oregon’s mid-coast with mile-marker locations, descriptions for access, restrooms and parking.
Remember your camera or phone and charger!
For Painting
For painting outdoors, bring your own travel easel, chair and gear, paints, brushes and your chosen surface for painting. And a small sketchbook with pens or pencils for creating quick thumbnails.
Safety Reminder
I'll provide tide charts, or you can get your own. Your lodgings host will likely have a printed table for you, or you can find one online. Pay attention to tide charts and warnings. Respect the mighty power of Mother Ocean.
