Fall in the Foothills: Plein Air in Golden, Colorado
Off-site workshop | Available
Kick off autumn in beautiful Colorado for a week of plein air across the Rocky Mountain foothills! From our starting location in charming Golden, CO, we’ll explore a different location each day. Locations will include iconic landmarks like Red Rocks Park as well as secluded rivers and quiet, pine-filled forests. And if we’re lucky, we might just catch the aspen leaves changing! As we explore all the foothills have to offer, we’ll test our plein air skills with small paintings that will help us observe and capture scenes quickly and with freshness. Through our exploration of subjects, shapes, and palettes unique to Colorado, you’ll learn to capture the spirit of the West using techniques you can take anywhere. All mediums welcome, but Judd will be primarily using gouache. www.juddmercer.art
- Portable equipment and transportation required; registered students will receive lodging information.
Judd Mercer
Judd Mercer is a contemporary landscape painter and Colorado native obsessed with telling stories through light. Working en plein air and in the studio, Judd explores the tension that exists between ourselves and the landscape and plays with our relationship to wild, exhilarating vastness. Always on the hunt for transient, magic moments that exist in secret places along roads less traveled, Judd seeks to capture the powerful wonder permeating even the quietest scenes. Judd works in both oil and gouache and frequently participates in plein air invitational events across the country.
Teaching Philosophy
Interests in design, illustration, and storyboarding allow me to pair traditional painting skills with emotional storytelling—concepts that help to better capture the story of a landscape. Having mentored designers professionally, I’ve come to realize that attitude and intent are essential for students, and a good teacher helps frame a mindset. Students can get easily discouraged early on and a teacher’s job is to break down the process into manageable (but challenging) parts. Students need to experience small successes to get excited about the process, rather than the goal of producing finished work. A commitment to sustained practice is really where success and joy come from. I help people relax and let go of expectations to create an environment in which learning is easier—and more fun."