Plein air painters
for the land.
Fall Workshops — paint your heart out!
Never painted outside, or new to painting outside? No problem!
Come join other newcomers to take the courageous leap into painting in the great outdoors! Welcome to Plein Air 101, where we will spend a fun day learning all about plein air painting: from the ins and outs of gear & how to set up to paint outside to choosing a subject, to how to mix colors from a limited palette, including all of those Tennessee greens.
We will learn to ‘see’ outside as artists. Learn how to identify and compose a scene, break down the painting process into steps, analyze values, and learn how to say when your outdoor piece is done!
You will leave with a reference packet full of tips, tools, book titles, and artists to study further, as well as the confidence, and enthusiasm to create your next plein air piece.
*Please email Tiffany if you’d like to borrow a French easel or need to use Chestnut Group available paints.
Friday, September 11
9:30am – 3:30pm
Shelby Park
Meet at the Mission Picnic Pavillion
Parking park right at the pavilion or alongside on the road.
10 spots offered
Supplies Needed:
Bring what you have as far as a set-up and paints.
*Please let us know if you’d like to borrow a French easel or need to use Chestnut Group available paints.
Paper towels
Size 2,4,6, each of flat and filbert brushes – good quality like hogs hair or synthetic, flexible.
Brush washer (small metal canister to hold the gamsol) *Please do NOT bring turpentine or turpenoid type products!
Palette or palette paper (can be taped to a still wrapped canvas or a piece of thin plywood if you don't have a palette)
Canvas boards sizes 8 x10, 9x12 or 11x14.
Pencil and paper for thumbnail sketches
Viewfinder – like this one
Bug spray / sunscreen
Grocery bags for trash
Gloves/baby wipes
Sun hat
Phone/ camera for documenting the scene
Water bottles or drinks
Lunch/snacks
A way to carry wet paintings – pizza boxes or gift boxes work
Patience and curiosity
A folding chair if you prefer to sit
Rain date: Sun, Sept 13
Contact info: Tiffany Foss, tiffanyfossfineart@gmail.com
Cancellations & Refunds
Cancellations made 7 or more days before the workshop: eligible for a 100% refund.
Cancellations made within 7 days of the workshop: non‑refundable.
If you are unable to attend, please email Lolly Brown at chestnuts.marketing@gmail.com so we can update the roster.
In this class, we will paint small studies with (approximately) three to seven shapes. This is an exercise in simplifying the number of shapes within your painting to make it a more impactful piece.
I’ve been experimenting with limiting the number of shapes, looking out my studio window.
In the afternoon, we will take one of your earlier studies and play with changing some of those shape values.
We will paint outside, here at On Track Studios, have lunch and paint some more! Please participate in critique at the end.
Sat, September 19, 2026
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
On Track Studios
1978 Wilson Pike
Franklin, TN 37067
8 spots offered
Supplied needed:
Please bring your lunch. I’ll have tea, water, coffee.
Plein air gear
Your own palette of paint-whatever you are comfortable using. I use a primary palette with a few “add ons”.
Small and medium palette knife; we will use these mostly!
Small brushes: size 3-4
Pencil
9 x 12 panel to be taped off when you come to workshop, (I have the tape)
Oderless mineral spirits
Paper towels.
Bring a playful attitude! There is no pressure to “create a painting” This is an opportunity to learn to see fewer shapes and hopefully it will translate into your plein air and studio work.
Questions? Brenda Coldwell, brendafayecoldwell@gmail.com
Cancellations & Refunds
Cancellations made 7 or more days before the workshop: eligible for a 100% refund.
Cancellations made within 7 days of the workshop: non‑refundable.
If you are unable to attend, please email Lolly Brown at chestnuts.marketing@gmail.com so we can update the roster.
In this plein air workshop, we will explore ways to prioritize the essence of a scene while avoiding over-correcting and adding unnecessary details. Through a series of short painting sessions we will practice by stopping before we think we are finished. This will help improve our early design-decisions, build confidence in our first impressions, and encourage us to appreciate the beauty of imperfection.
Sunday, September 20
1:00 - 5:00 PM
Shelby Park
Meeting location TBD
12 spots offered
Supplies needed:
Your plein air set-up—easel/tripod/palette
Bag for trash
Can or cup for your brush cleaner, mediums, solvent, etc.
Paper towels/rags
Paint Brushes, Palette Knives, Mark-making tools
Substrates
4 small (roughly 5"x7”) for “paint sketches”—appropriate surface for your medium—you could also bring a larger surface to be divided into smaller sections
1 or 2 medium (roughly 11”x14” to 14”x18") for a longer painting session—appropriate surface for your medium
Medium—whatever medium you prefer along with your mixer—solvent, water, etc. (I will be working in oil)
Colors—no specific colors are required you can bring what you are most comfortable with (My regulars are listed below)
Ultramarine Blue
Windsor Blue Red Shade
Cad Red medium
Quinacridone Red
Cad Yellow Medium
Cad Yellow Light
Transparent Red Oxide or Burnt Sienna
Titanium White
Rain date: Sunday, September 27
Questions? Ellen Bibb, epbibb@me.com
Cancellations & Refunds
Cancellations made 7 or more days before the workshop: eligible for a 100% refund.
Cancellations made within 7 days of the workshop: non‑refundable.
If you are unable to attend, please email Lolly Brown at chestnuts.marketing@gmail.com so we can update the roster.
Developing simple and effective compositions.
We will discuss ways to improve the overall aesthetic of a painting. Eliminate the overworking and “noodling” that we all fall into. We will work from several images and paint a dozen studies
Saturday, September 26
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
On Track Studios
1978 Wilson Pike
Franklin, TN 37067
8 spots offered
Supplies needed:
Bring 4 -11x14 paint panels,
Oil Paint - alizarin crimson, cadmium red med, cadmium yellow med, Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White
Brushes – Hog Bristle filberts sizes 4-6-8
Bring your lunch
Questions? Pam Padgett, jppadgett@comcast.net
Cancellations & Refunds
Cancellations made 7 or more days before the workshop: eligible for a 100% refund.
Cancellations made within 7 days of the workshop: non‑refundable.
If you are unable to attend, please email Lolly Brown at chestnuts.marketing@gmail.com so we can update the roster.
We will start the class with a quick demo of a simple still life painting where I will talk through my choices in composition, color mixing, and brush work. Then I will work with students to create a painting that is uniquely theirs. This class is great for beginners or those who are looking to loosen up their paintings.
Saturday, October 10
9:00 - 12:30 PM
Warehouse 521
521 Heather Place
Nashville, TN 37204
10 spots offered
Supplies needed:
Students are welcome to bring as many paint colors as they like.
Please bring at least 1-panel or canvas (students are welcome to bring more if they want to work on more than one piece.) I recommend 9x12 or smaller.
Lot of Brushes--and larger size than they think they might use. I have a lot of extra brushes for those using acrylic paint.
Bring your easel and set up or use one provided at Warehouse 521.
I will be working in water soluble oils, but students can bring oils or acrylics. My palette includes:
Titanium White
Cad Red Medium
Alizarin Crimson
Cad yellow medium
Cad Yellow Light
Ultramarine Blue
Cobalt Blue
Pthalo Green
Burnt Sienna
Raw Umber
And maybe:
Yellow Ochre
Sap Green
Questions? Email Lauren, laurenossolinski@gmail.com
In class, you will learn basic Procreate skills that are beneficial in altering reference for painting, sampling color and value from reference, checking a drawing, auditioning changes for a painting, making quick digital value and color studies, plus a few other tricks. In the afternoon you can practice putting those skills to work on your own reference.
Saturday, October 17
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
On Track Studios
1978 Wilson Pike
Franklin, TN 37067
8 spots available
Supplies needed:
Ipad or other tablet that works with procreate app.
Google to make sure your iPad or tablet works with procreate app
Apple Pencil OPTIONAL- i will have a stylus alternate to give you
Digital reference material to practice on
Notepad/pen or pencil for notes.
Charging cord for iPad … just in case.
Cancellations & Refunds
Cancellations made 7 or more days before the workshop: eligible for a 100% refund.
Cancellations made within 7 days of the workshop: non‑refundable.
If you are unable to attend, please email Lolly Brown at chestnuts.marketing@gmail.com so we can update the roster.
The process of taking your photo and making a good composition for your canvas. Beginning with some photo editing and then putting the photo in GridPainter to help create the drawing.
Saturday, October 29
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Warehouse 521
521 Heather Place
Nashville, TN 37204
8 spots offered
Supplies needed:
Please download GridPainter
Bring favorite reference photo
Oil paints
Questions? Email Teresa, shewearsachapeau@aol.com
Cancellations & Refunds
Cancellations made 7 or more days before the workshop: eligible for a 100% refund.
Cancellations made within 7 days of the workshop: non‑refundable.
If you are unable to attend, please email Lolly Brown at chestnuts.marketing@gmail.com so we can update the roster.
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