Painting beyond detail

Suzie Harrison

The background included six-foot waves, palm trees and a panoramic

view of Laguna Beach, but it didn’t compare to the foreground.

Students age 7 to 15 sat behind easels in Heisler Park working on

their creations for the Festival of Arts’ Plein Air painting class.

The class is a four-week program through the Festival of Arts for

7-to 15-year-olds. There are morning and afternoon classes with about

15 students each.

“This program was funded through a $10,000 grant awarded to us

from the American Express Company and was born out of our Plein Air

Day painting class, which was so successful we’ve developed this

four-week program,” said Festival marketing director Sharbie Higuchi.

The concept was designed to educate the young artists about the

fundamentals of plein air painting.

It’s a hands-on approach instructed by Mark Kerckhoff, Festival

exhibitor and winner of the 2000 Laguna Beach Plein Air painting

competition.

The first week the children were given an overview of the art, its

history in relation to Laguna Beach and they also got to see examples

of plein air Festival exhibitors.

With a demonstration by Kerckhoff, the children had the

opportunity to begin their own creations by starting their initial

drawings and working on the painting process.

“I am learning primary colors. We’re using acrylics because it

dries faster.

“I also learned that plein air revolted against line drawing and

nothing had to be perfect,” said James Beckham, 12.

Kerckhoff went from student to student to check on their progress

and offer encouragement and expertise. Some of the kids were painting

pictures mostly of the trees, while other’s viewpoints positioned

them in front of crashing waves.

“I am teaching the kids to learn to start painting outdoors on

location. They’re learning by doing it.”

It gives them exposure to nature and colors and teaches them about

art, exposing the students to the tradition of landscape painting

that they won’t see anywhere else.

“I am learning colors and with shallow water you use kind of a

green. You don’t worry about where you start or about the detail --

just get the paint on there and its good,” said Travis Barrett,

Kerckhoff explained that he’s trying to keep the students from

performing, that it’s stress free and not a competition.

“I’m also teaching them how to see, think subconsciously and allow

the painting to happen,” he said.

He said he just wanted them to cover the canvas.

“The great painting is a non-thinking process, think about

drawing, tone and color to see less can be more,” Kerckhoff said.

Student Carly Ternasky, 11, feels the class shows her a different

path of art.

“Plein Air painting doesn’t have to be a specific thing or too

detailed, paint what you see not the details.”

Lisa French, 12, has been enjoying the class because she loves to

be outdoors and paint.

“I think it’s healthy to be outdoors more. I’ve learned in the

class how to do shadows, mix colors, color contrast, texture and

stuff. It’s pretty cool.”

The class took an impressionistic approach teaching that it’s all

about painting shapes and teaching the young artists to see in

levels.

“I’ve learned everything isn’t as it appears. I’ve learned that

while the trees may appear dark green and the ocean looks dark it

really isn’t. I learned about lights and darks and painting,” said

Sam French, 11.

Classes and supplies are free for the children, who receive an

easel, a canvas, a paint and can take their art supplies home.

“They’ll hopefully enjoy doing this and want to use their supplies

and what they’ve learned and paint plein air in the future,” Higuchi

said.

The Festival of Arts hopes to have an exhibit after class and a

review on what the kids learned.

The Festival of Arts is at 650 Laguna Canyon Road. Information:

494-1145.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321.