Presents
Mark Dober
Course dates
Saturday 1 July to Saturday 8 July 2023
Profile
Watercolour en plein-air
Mark Dober is a plein-air painter, in watercolours and oils, from the State of Victoria, Australia. His work is a response to being in the landscape. He says: “The beauty of nature inspires me, but also a sense of its strangeness. My work expresses both belonging and otherness. I seek to convey immediacy and a sense of the experiential in my work, hence the necessity of working on site.” Mark regularly exhibits in commercial galleries as well as in Australia’s comprehensive network of public galleries. He has a PhD in Painting from Monash University and is also a freelance art writer.
As a talented artist known in Australia’s contemporary art world, Mark’s plein-air workshops are in high demand. His teaching encourages close observation that allows for the expressive use of colour and a contrast of broad washes with gestural mark-making.
Mark will demonstrate in watercolour, though students may choose to use or try other painting media – gouache, acrylics and oils. He will proceed step by step, increasingly giving individual attention to each artist’s work. Mark says: “I will show you how to look for a point of emphasis, how to create a composition and build your painting in stages, and how to attend to negative and positive shapes.” Mark will also show you strategies for dealing with the changing light. You will learn how to deal with edges as the work moves to completion.
Each day’s painting will end with a ‘show and tell’ and wrap-up of everyone’s work. Mark’s workshop is suitable for all levels of experience.
You can see Mark’s artwork and read interviews with the artist by visiting his website: www.markdober.com
Praise from some of Mark’s previous students
I have found Mark Dober to be an inspirational tutor. He has a wealth of knowledge about plein air painting and shares his knowledge generously. No matter what skill level you have he can give you the confidence and encouragement to put paint to (surface/canvas/paper) in a way which is fresh and exciting. JS
I enjoyed and benefited from Mark’s friendly, encouraging and knowledgeable approach to teaching painting. I learnt a great deal and enjoyed exploring my creativity with the group under Mark Dober’s watchful eye. I highly recommend Mark as a plein air painting teacher! S-XC
Mark’s affinity with nature shows in his paintings. He is able to see an intensity of colour and variety of shapes in the landscape that would ordinarily be overlooked. With Mark’s guidance I love to draw out these characteristics in my paintings. I highly recommend Mark for anyone wishing to participate in an enjoyable and very rewarding en plein air experience. RF
Mark is an excellent teacher and very professional in his approach. I love working with Mark as he shares all his knowledge on many levels, his experience in the field is extraordinary as he teaches colour mixing and painting what you see in a confident inclusive class. His colour range is extraordinary, and I keep going back to Marks classes regularly as I always learn more. SA