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Capturing the Moment in Plein Air Watercolor:
Three-Day Intensive
About the Class
Learn the joys of capturing the moment, color and mood of the Sonoma County landscape. Taught by award-winning visiting artist Geoff Allen, this three-day workshop will cover the basic watercolor techniques that can speed up your process, loosen you up, and increase your success in capturing outdoor scenes.
There will be daily skill building exercises focusing on controlling moisture in your paper, mixtures in your brush, and application timing to get the watercolor effects you want. Geoff will review the difference in brushes and color palettes, and show students how to let water do the work for them.
There will be daily demonstrations (classroom or plein air) taking inspirational scenes through a process of simplification while enhancing design dynamics, expression and creating atmosphere. It all starts with practicing watercolor’s quartet of skills: values, major shapes, visual dynamics, and calligraphy.
Geoff will be following up individually with students to reinforce concepts and skills such as judging values, separating light and shadow, “one-go” mark making, and softening edges in order to get an impressionistic expressive watercolor painting.
This class is recommended for artists with at least beginning level experience with watercolor.
Note: Please bring a bag lunch each day.
Required Class Supply List
Location
Day 1 will take place at the Sonoma Community Center in Room 110.
Day 2 and Day 3 will take place at nearby outdoor sites (weather permitting).
As well as other local outdoor sites
About your Instructor
Geof Allen
Geoff Allen is an award-winning Plein Air watercolor artist, whose painting “Color for Nothing” was recently on the cover of Plein Air Magazine (June/July 2024 issue). Locally, Geoff received First Place Artist’s Choice Award at Sonoma Plein Air Invitational 2023. He received his MFA from Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA and taught drawing, design, and painting courses at the college level. Geoff lives in the San Diego area and is a member of the San Diego Watercolor Society, California Art Club, National Watercolor Society, and American Impressionist Society.
“Going with the flow” is what inspires Geoff. He loves the process of inserting himself into an environment with the goal of capturing its elusive essence in a quick fresh watercolor style. The mystery of not knowing the expressive outcome and allowing for discovery along the way makes plein air painting Geoff’s preferred art making process.
2024 Awards and Exhibitions Highlights:
The Hilbert Museum Award, Laguna Plein Air Invitational
Frank Bette Award, Frank Bette Plein Air Paint Out, juror Barbra Tapp
Quick Draw Artists Choice Award, Frank Bette Plein Air Paint Out
Second Place, San Diego Watercolor Society, “Plein Air Show”, juror Shuang Li
Plein Air Magazine, Cover and Contributing Writer, July 2024 Issue, Article “A Deep Dive Into a Favorite Subject”, by Kelly Kane
Third Place, Carmel Art Festival, Plein Air Event
Second Place Borrego Plein Air Invitational
First Place, Quick Draw, Borrego Plein Air Invitational
Website: www.geoffallenart.com
Instagram: @geoffallenart
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/geoffrey.allen.71?
You Tube
https://www.youtube.com/@geoffallen7321
Schedule
Monday, September 15 through Wednesday, September 17, 2025
3 Day Workshop
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
This Session
September 15, 2025 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Experience Level
IntermediateAges
Adults
Class FAQ
We ask that you notify us at least 10 days in advance of a class if you need to cancel your registration. You may cancel by phone or email and we will gladly offer you a refund or credit toward a future class. If you cancel with less than 10 days’ notice, we will not be able to provide refunds, due to our contractual obligations and material purchases for each class.
Sometimes, the Sonoma Community Center has to cancel a class due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, such as a natural disaster or health emergency. If this happens and we do not offer a reschedule date, you will be refunded 100% of your registration fee (minus the payment processing and services fee), or credit towards a future class. If we are able to offer a reschedule date but you are unable to make the new date, we will gladly offer credit towards a future class.
All credits must be used within 1 year.
You can view our full class policies and guidelines here.
The Sonoma Community Center is committed to creating an accessible learning environment. If you require any special considerations(medical, physical, learning) please share them with Sean Baskin, Program Associate, by emailing him at [email protected] so that he can forward them to the relevant Program Director and Instructor.
Late additions to any program, class, or workshop that has already begun will be allowed on a per-case basis depending upon the Program Director & instructors approval. Late additions will have to pay the full registration cost of the class, along with any materials fees, and will not be prorated for the time missed. You may reach out to the program directors directly, or the Program Associate Sean Baskin at [email protected] to request a late addition.
We are always looking for new instructors. You can fill out the form directly here.
