Kathleen Dunphy: Premium Edition - Landscape Painting in the Studio

Discover How Kathleen Dunphy Creates Studio Paintings That Feel as Alive as Plein Air Work!

Imagine having painting instruction from an artist whose workshops consistently sell out with long waiting lists... 

…whose paintings have been acquired by collectors and prestigious museums... 

…and who was hand-selected to join elite painting organizations including Plein Air Painters of America.

After a long wait, we’re so proud to announce that Kathleen Dunphy is finally sharing her entire artistic process.

Step into Kathleen’s private home studio to witness her complete process for creating larger, more developed paintings that maintain the fresh energy of plein air work:

●      Watch how Kathleen combines multiple reference sources (quick studies, sketches, and photos) to create unique, emotionally resonant studio paintings…

●      Discover how to avoid the “boredom trap” that happens when merely sizing up a plein air study…

●      Master Kathleen’s approach to limited-palette color mixing that achieves remarkably realistic colors in any lighting situation…

●      Understand how to simplify complex elements while creating visual depth and atmosphere…

“My goal is to tell the viewer how it FELT out there — not how it looked out there.”

— Kathleen Dunphy

You’ll discover how to break free from boring, lifeless studio paintings with Kathleen Dunphy’s revolutionary approach to studio landscape painting. 

Instead of tediously copying plein air studies onto larger canvases (which Kathleen describes as “an exercise in frustration”), you’ll discover how to combine multiple reference sources to create entirely new works that maintain the excitement and freshness of painting outdoors.

Join Kathleen in her studio as she transforms field studies and reference photos from the Eastern Sierra into a vibrant lake scene. 

Throughout the demonstration, Kathleen shares invaluable insights like “My goal is to tell the viewer how it FELT out there — not how it looked out there” and “Never insult the intelligence of the viewer.” 

You’ll discover specific techniques for creating depth, atmosphere, and visual interest while avoiding common studio pitfalls like tight painting and geometric shapes that look unnatural in landscape elements. 

This is perfect for plein air painters who struggle with boredom in the studio or beginners who want to start their studio practice on the right foot!

Meet Your New Instructor, Kathleen Dunphy!

Kathleen Dunphy isn’t just another art instructor — she’s a painter whose work has earned her a place among today’s most respected landscape artists.

Her journey reflects her commitment to excellence and continual growth. 

Known primarily for “capturing the light on/in her subject matter” and “using a limited palette to achieve very realistic colors,” Kathleen takes an academic approach to her work, constantly pushing herself to improve through what she calls “cross-training” — painting small and fast to excel at larger studio work, practicing drawing to enhance her painting, and continually challenging herself with new subjects and approaches.

Her credentials speak volumes about her artistic mastery:

●      Two of her works have been purchased for permanent collection by the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum (2016 and 2024) from their annual Birds In Art exhibit, “the premier exhibit of avian art with artists from all over the world”

●      Selected as the Featured Artist for the prestigious Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition in 2024

●      Invited to join Plein Air Painters of America in 2013, “when the group was very small and select and composed of all of my ’hero’ painters”

●      Holds signature status in multiple prestigious art organizations, including Plein Air Painters of America, Society of Animal Artists, and Oil Painters of America

As an instructor, Kathleen has been teaching for 19 years with “consistently sold-out classes with long waiting lists.” 

Her teaching approach emphasizes not just technical skills but also the psychological aspects of artistic development, like:

●      How to get through slumps and plateaus…

●      How to deal with paintings that aren’t working….…

●      How to keep a positive outlook during the inevitable tough moments in an artist’s development…

●      …and so much more

When collectors describe Kathleen’s work, they consistently mention “how much light is in it” and how she “captures the unique essence of the subject, regardless of where she’s painting.” They also note “the realistic color in her work and obvious love for her subject matter.” 

This is your rare opportunity to learn directly from an artist who combines technical mastery with genuine passion and the proven ability to help others break through to their next level of artistic achievement.

What You’ll Discover Inside:

●      Discover Kathleen’s revolutionary method for combining multiple reference sources to create fresh, exciting studio paintings…

●      Learn why simply enlarging a plein air study leads to frustration and how to avoid this common pitfall…

●      Master the art of exploring a subject through multiple thumbnail sketches to discover what truly speaks to you…

●      Learn to establish a clear focal path that guides viewers through your composition with purpose and intention…

●      Discover how to mix realistic colors for water, reflections, and landscape elements using Kathleen’s limited palette…

●      Learn brushwork techniques that create organic, natural-looking water, trees, and rocks…

●      Master the subtle art of “painting around” shapes to create more organic forms than painting the shapes directly…

●      Discover why “water moves no matter how still you think it is” and techniques to make it look realistic…

●      Learn why painting an upside-down pine tree is not the correct way to create reflections — and what to do instead…

●      Understand the proper value relationships between objects and their reflections in water…

●      Discover how to create transparent-looking water that adds depth to your landscape…

●      How to strategically “pretend” elements exist to enhance your composition without being bound to reference materials…

●      Master the art of suggesting details rather than painting every element — “never insult the intelligence of the viewer” ...

●      Discover how to avoid “unreal” geometric shapes in natural elements that can make landscapes look artificial…

●      How to avoid the “bullseye effect” by repeating colors in multiple areas rather than isolating them…

Your Lesson Plan for Studio Painting!

Introduction:

Meet Kathleen Dunphy, a signature member of Plein Air Painters of America whose paintings have been acquired by prestigious museums. In this introduction, Kathleen shares her approach to studio landscape painting, emphasizing that her goal is to create works that maintain the excitement and spontaneity of plein air paintings rather than simply copying field studies onto larger canvases. You’ll get a glimpse of what’s to come in this comprehensive studio demonstration featuring her beautiful Eastern Sierra lake scene.

Materials & Colors:

Discover Kathleen’s streamlined approach to studio setup and her surprisingly simple limited palette using just 3 colors + white (and 2 “cheater colors” ). Learn how this limited palette allows for remarkably realistic color regardless of the subject matter while simplifying the mixing process. Kathleen demonstrates how premixing colors provides a valuable transition into “art mode” while keeping brushes clean and the palette organized. This approach to color mixing creates harmony throughout the painting and makes it easier to maintain consistency, especially when you need to remix a color.

Exploring the Subject:

Learn Kathleen’s approach to working from reference materials in a way that maintains creative engagement and emotional connection. Rather than simply copying a plein air study, Kathleen demonstrates how to combine multiple sources — field studies, sketches, and photographs from her Eastern Sierra trip — to create something entirely new. Through thumbnail sketches, she explores compositional options to find what truly resonates, focusing on creating a clear focal path that will guide viewers through the painting. As Kathleen explains, “My goal is to tell the viewer how it FELT out there — not how it looked out there.”

Color Mixing:

Join Kathleen as she mixes the specific colors needed for this Eastern Sierra lake scene. Learn her techniques for creating realistic colors that show water’s depth, how to mix subtle variations for shadows and highlights, and how to establish relationships between colors in light versus shadow. This focused mixing session establishes the palette for the entire painting, ensuring harmony and consistency throughout the work while giving you the skills to mix accurate colors for any landscape subject.

Establish the Shoreline:

Discover Kathleen’s techniques for creating convincing, natural-looking landscape elements. Learn how to establish variety and a roadmap for land masses, using “placeholder” dark values before developing more detailed elements. Kathleen shares her approach to suggesting rocks and terrain without overpainting — “never insult the intelligence of the viewer” — by painting just enough detail for the viewer to understand what they’re seeing. Master how to create organic shapes through “painting around” rather than painting shapes directly, how to avoid unnatural geometric forms, and how to lead the viewer’s eye through the composition.

Establish the Water:

Master the art of creating believable water and reflections in your landscape paintings. Kathleen reveals why “water moves no matter how still you think it is” and shares techniques to make it look realistic. Learn why painting an upside-down pine tree is not the correct approach to creating reflections, how to establish proper value relationships between objects and their reflections, and techniques for creating the appearance of transparency in water. Discover Kathleen’s brushwork approaches specific to water surfaces and how to establish a full range of values that serves as your “keyboard” for the rest of the painting.

Develop the Painting:

Experience Kathleen’s thoughtful, analytical approach to refining the painting. Learn to slow down at this stage, adding defining highlights while paying attention to variety in values and temperatures for more realistic results. Discover how to create a variety of beautiful marks with a limited number of brushes, how to bring excitement into shadows with reflected light, and how to add elegance and interest to your painting through subtle touches. Kathleen shares her philosophy on representing complex elements: “I’m going to make the viewer believe there are 472 rocks without painting every one of them,” demonstrating how suggestion often works better than detailed rendering.

Refinements & Half Steps

Follow Kathleen’s deliberate process of making small, incremental adjustments that transform the painting. She emphasizes her guiding principle at this stage: “Perfect is the enemy of good,” warning that “I have ruined more paintings than I’d like to admit to by working too much on them.” Learn essential techniques for softening edges without blending colors, avoiding mud, and adding convincing water reflections. Discover how to measure for accurate reflections, create rippled effects on moving water, and paint objects both on and below the water’s surface — all skills that will bring natural authenticity to your landscape paintings.

Fresh Eyes

Return to the painting with Kathleen after a break and learn how to objectively analyze your work. Discover her clever technique for creating an appearance of looseness and confidence in a painting that may have become too tight. See how she adds vibrancy through color shifts and makes compositional adjustments with fresh perspective. This chapter teaches you the critical skill of self-assessment that will elevate the quality of all your future paintings.

Final Touches

Complete the painting journey as Kathleen demonstrates how to make every brushstroke count with intentional, confident marks. Learn how subtle background adjustments and thoughtful water refinements create harmony throughout the composition. Discover Kathleen’s approach to determining when a painting is truly finished and her practice of setting work aside before making final decisions. These finishing techniques will give your paintings that professional polish that captivates viewers.

Extra Bonuses:

●      High Speed View for your painting convenience

●      Studio tour

●      Exhibit of Kathleen Dunphy’s works for your creative inspiration

●      Interview with Kathleen Dunphy by Eric Rhoads for insights and motivation

●      Kathleen’s process for critiquing your work