Joseph McGurl – Oil Painting
Painting Along the Coast – Tips & Techniques
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 6:30 PM
RAA&M Members: $35 | Non-Members: $45
There are countless approaches to painting the elements found in nature. Most artists, including Joe, utilize a combination of techniques learned from forebearers, peers, and trial and error in the studio. Joe will demonstrate methods he’s found helpful in translating paint on canvas into the perception of reality while painting the coastal landscapes he’s become known for.
The demonstration will begin with examples of his artwork and a discussion of the techniques he employed including creating texture, applying glazes, and using unconventional tools to manipulate the paint. He will also comment on the philosophical principles which form the basis of his artmaking.
Joe will then demonstrate several of these techniques with oil paint on canvas. Questions and interaction with the attendees will be encouraged.
Landscape painter Joseph McGurl graduated from Massachusetts College of art with a dual major in fine art and education. He subsequently studied figure drawing under Robert Cormier. Joseph has been designated a Living Master by the Art Renewal Center, is a signature member of the Plein Air Painters of America, an elected member of the Guild of Boston Artists, was a Copley Master with the Copley Society of Boston, a past fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists, and was the featured artist at the 2024 Coors Western Art show. He has won significant awards for his artwork which is in the collection of several prominent museums, he is represented by some of America’s most prestigious galleries, has been the subject of numerous book and magazine articles, and he conducts workshops and presents lectures throughout the country.
Joseph's interest in modern physics and the nature of reality combined with the spirituality he finds in nature has resulted in a unique approach to style and subject. He is a devoted plein air painter which allows him to connect with the landscape on a profound level and gain a deep understanding of his subject. Rather than relying on photography, this method gives him the freedom to create paintings based on his imagination, memory, and observation.
Although the objects depicted in the paintings are elements of the landscape and have a deep personal meaning to him, of equal importance is an exploration of light, form, space, and color interpreted through paint. The landscape, whether it is the American West, the seacoast, or Europe is a source of endless inspiration and the ideal vehicle to explore his subject.
