Tonalism was an artistic style that emerged in the 1880s when American artists began to paint landscapes with an overall neutral hue. Regional landscape painter Claire Marschak will guide you through brush techniques, paint application and removal, using only 2 colors of oil paint. Using thin washes, loose brushy strokes and wiping out creates a strong underpainting with focus on values and composition.

This class is a great introduction to oil painting for all levels.

About Claire Marschak

Claire Marschak is a painter of life. She is a Northeast regional  oil painter of landscape, architecture, and coastal scenes. As a plein air painter, she enjoys the challenge of being outside to create vibrant, spontaneous works. Coastal New England has so much natural beauty, inspiration is close to home. Painting the Victorian architecture of seaside resort towns, pastoral views and seascapes are some of the themes present in her work.

CLAIRE MARI  STUDIO  is where Claire Marschak creates, exhibits and teaches. It is also the brand name for the collection of sea and shore prints, paintings, and cards sold on ETSY.

Follow Claire on Instagram @clairemaripaint and FB ClaireMariStudio or Claire Marschak.

Artist Statement

I have a passion for painting from life. My style focuses on light and what it does to color and form. I’m inspired to capture the ethereal quality of light on land, seascapes, and architecture. Painting pleinaire I love the challenge of being outside to create vibrant, spontaneous works. I believe there are images in nature that have a universal appeal, and through my works I wish to share that vision. I currently am focusing on SEASCAPES and CLOUDSCAPES.

My paintings evolve from feeling connected to a place.  As a regional  Rhode Island painter I’m lucky to be surrounded by so much natural beauty and subject matter is always close to home. I lived on the Potowomut Peninsula rich in history, with timeless visual splendor and sweeping views of Narragansett Bay.  Block Island is another favorite muse with it’s unique island light, Victorian buildings, and stunning views. I’m now located in the Pawtuxet River Valley in West Warwick, home to many original textile mills and quaint villages. My studio is in a renovated loft with 16’ high ceilings, huge windows, and authentic distressed factory floors.

I  attended the Cleveland Institute of Art and graduated from the Philadelphia College of Art, with a degree in Industrial Design. I worked at Fisher Price as a toy designer, then ran my own design studio. Blue Sky was created as a design studio that invents toys and products for children. After 35 years as a toy designer, I’m enjoying a second career as a visual artist and art teacher.