April 17, 2005
Argus Courier Article
Argus Courier Online
© Argus Courier and The Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
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March 30, 2005
In plein air
Local artists Camille Przewodek and Carole Gray-Weihman open a plein air art academy in downtown Petaluma.
-------- By Karen Hess, for the Argus-Courier
Walk down by the river in old downtown Petaluma, and you may run into painters - not one or two, but 20, all painting outdoors with easels in the plein air style, a method that involves painting in the open air and capturing the natural light seen in a landscape or figure.
The painters are students of the Petaluma-based l'Atelier aux Couleurs, Northern California's premier plein air art academy. The founders are artists Camille Przewodek and Carole Gray-Weihman, who opened the school to plein air students from all over the country in the fall of 2003.
The Academy hosts a core of workshops led by Przewodek, Gray-Weihman and other nationally respected painters. All instructors, including the founders, are either classically trained in plein air techniques or are the protégés of masters.
The two founders have worked together for nine years, sharing a Petaluma studio and leading painting tours and workshops in France. They created the academy in northern California to offer quality art instruction and the opportunity to study with some of the best plein air painters in the world.
L'Atelier aux Couleurs offers workshops of various lengths and weekly painting sessions, in a mentoring style. There are no semesters or breaks, just consistent weekly painting in the outdoors. The workshops travel to various local destinations to paint the landscape. During inclement weather they paint at the academy studio, a building on Water Street affectionately known as "The Tin Barn."
Plein air painting has generated increased interest in the United States during the past few years.
"Twenty years ago no one painted outdoors, but it's very popular now," says Przewodek. "It takes a lot of study, and you have to be out there painting all the time."
She emphasizes the fact that painting is work.
"People don't always look at painting seriously. Some people see you painting and say, 'Oh, that must be fun.' It's not just fun. It takes the same kind of commitment that it does to become a doctor or a lawyer."
Of the hand-picked Art Academy faculty, Przewodek says, "I know them as teachers and as artists. They are both good painters and teachers willing to share information."
Przewodek and Gray-Weihman themselves are part of a plein air lineage. Gray-Weihman is Przewodek's protégé, and Przewodek was the student of Henry Henche, who in turn was a student of famed American Impressionist Charles Webster Hawthorne.
"I knew immediately, from my first encounter with Henche's teaching, that I was in contact with a significant part of art history," says Przewodek.
As northern California editor of "PleinAir" magazine, Gray-Weihman has studied painting full-time with Przewodek and with other painters here and in Cape Cod since 1996. She came from an abstract art background into the plein air style after meeting her mentor. She finds the newfound knowledge valuable and, like those before her, enjoys teaching.
"I'd like to pass on what I'm learning from Camille," she says.
Przewodek agrees: "The more you share, the more quality you have; and the more everyone benefits."
L'ATELIER AUX COULEURS: THE ART ACADEMY
Where: 250 Water St., Petaluma
Phone: 291-7756. Fax: 795-7396.
Classes:
"Mondays with Camille." For beginners to advanced. Students must enroll for four consecutive classes at a time. $120 for four sessions. To find out the current class schedule and to enroll, call Camille Przewodek directly at: 762-4125.
"Wednesdays with Carole." For beginners. $80 for four sessions or $25 for individual sessions
To find out the current class schedule and to enroll, Call Carole Gray-Weihman directly at: 291-7756
Workshops:
For plein air painting workshops check the Web site calendar: www.gray-weihman.com/ lacademy
April 30, 2008
l'Atelier aux Couleurs: the Art Academy is on Facebook
Login in to Facebook and become a fan of our school! You can upload photos and images of your paintings, talk about our workshops and classes, and get plein air tips. Click on Image.
Become A Supporter. Be a Fan!
September 15, 2008
Wornall Art Collection
"If You Look Towards Richards House"
by Dan Gerhartz
For Sale: Artwork by, Anders Zorn,
Aleksander Titovets, Clyde Aspevig, Richard
Schmid, Scott Burdick, Leonard Chmiel, Mark
Daily, Albert Handel, Ned Jacob, Ramon
Kelly, Sheila Reiman, Burton Silverman, Ken
Auster, Hans Bayen, Berian Berberian,
Ovannes Berberian, Galust Berberian, Kim
English, Ray Roberts, Dan Gerhartz, Delbert
Gish, Quang Ho, Micheal Lynch, William
Reese, Camille Przewodek and more!
Former student of "l'Atelier aux Couleurs",
Robert Wornall, presents a collection of fine
art for sale- ranging from oil paintings to
pastels, watercolors, drawings, prints and
sculpture. Visit his online store here.
"Sunset, Early Spring", by Berian Berberian