JohnMacKah.com

    Weekly and Private Instruction     Classes start at YOUR level…Beginner’s Welcome

Experienced Instruction Available - Drawing & Painting in Oils -Direct and Indirect Techniques

John has been teaching painting and drawing since 1984 in classrooms and out of doors, from his own studio and in nationally known as well as local schools.  Off-site workshops available.

• For more information or to arrange for private instruction, please call 828-252-5000 mail@johnmackah.com

Thursdays, 7:00 to 10:00 pm  

• Long Branch Studios, 122 Riverside Drive,  Cotton Mill Studios Building  - Studio H  (upstairs right) . Please enter through central door; buzz us on the key pad if it is closed and locked.

Saturdays 10:00 am  to 1:00 pm     

 (This is an instructional class open air class; we meet in the studio in the event of bad weather. Call to learn where we meet.)  Currently meeting at Botanical Gardens of Asheville

Classroom Instruction

John is on the faculty of the Fine Arts League of Asheville (website is still listed as Asheville: new name is Fine Arts League of the Carolinas)  in their new location on Depot Street  in the River District (opening September 2007).  New Building opens Spet. 14. Dedication 6pm.

Classes will resume  at FALC in September of 2007.  John teaches classes Still-Life Painting and Landscape throughout the year for students enrolled in the full-time program. The Fine Arts League of the Carolinas (recently renamed, website link uses old name) is a school founded by fresco painter Ben Long and devoted to arts education founded on traditional skills with a strong emphasis on drawing and painting using time-honored applications developed in Renaissance Italy. For further details, call 828-252-5050. 

Anne Rawson, Executive Director.  Portfolio  review required.

Join us for these classes at nationally known locations:

 October 21-27, 2007 
Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts             Gatlinburg, TN

Illuminated Landscapes:  Master Class

This could be the first and last course in oil painting for any level of student. A complete understanding of pigments, mediums and supports will be offered. With materials and methods used by the masters for centuries, learn how to make proper painting supports of canvas and wood panels. The use of oil and varnish mediums will be demonstrated and employed, as these are the secrets of illuminated paintings. Field work, on location painting with the instructor and studio demonstrations will round out the course. Serious beginner to advanced.

Arrowmont School  is located with easy access to areas of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, where we will explore for inspired landscape sites.  The weeklong workshop is residential and you can register by contacting the school

October 28 to November 3, 2007

John C. Campbell Folk School  -

Illuminated Landscapes: Using Oils in the Open Air

This is a real painting course for intermediate to advanced students who are serious about creating a good painting in a professional manner. We will make our own supports and grounds as well as oil-varnish mediums in the tradition of the masters. Painting will be on location and in the studio. This is NOT a class about “Impressionism”, but about learning to use oils to paint realistic landscapes based on good drawing skills using time-honored applications appropriate for oils developed in Europe in the 17th century and used by the Hudson River School of of painting, the Barbizon and others. Pure gum turpentine will be used in the field and with the mixing of the painting mediums; odorless Turpenoid® will be used inside the studio. Walking and carrying supplies is to be expected.

The Campbell Folk is also residential and a wonderful painting location.  Please contact them via the link above to register.  These classes fill quickly, so register early!

  April 13-19, 2008
John C. Campbell Folk School -

Oil in Plein Air:  The Painter’s Craft

This is a real painting course for intermediate to advanced students who are serious about creating a good painting in a professional manner. We will make our own supports and grounds as well as oil-varnish mediums in the tradition of the masters.  We will be working on location and in the studio. Pure gum turpentine will be used in the field and with the mixing of the painting mediums; odorless Turpenoid® will be used inside the studio. Walking and carrying supplies is to be expected.

 UPCOMING CLASSES - To be Announced

Summer 2008
Art School of the Aegean - Painting on the Greek island of Samos.

Susan Trovas, Director
Beyond Plein Air: Open Air Painting
The course of study for this painting class is intended for those who are interested in realism and serious about creating a highly crafted painting. The primary goal will be to capture the superb light and unique sights of Samos. Starting with monochromatic under-painting as a foundation, you will learn to use oil-varnish mediums to create layered tonal values (indirect painting) and “a la prima” (direct painting) methods while working on location. With these time-honored applications and skilled drawing, used since oil painting was invented, the focus is to achieve evocative, light filled landscapes that will capture the atmosphere found on in open air.

AVAILABLE WORKSHOPS - mail@johnmackah.com

Art organizations or other groups can schedule John for workshops in his studio or on their site for these and other classes. Private instruction available in wildlife drawing (for children or adults);  materials and mediums for oils; drawing; use of color and pigments. Slide lectures available on the history of landscape painting. He is also available to jury exhibtions.

Drawing on Nature
Studio drawing with pencil, charcoal and ink washes. Form and texture of natural and manmade objects will be rendered to understand how design and composition can be enhanced. A good starting point for the beginner and a problem solving experience for working artists and crafts people. Advanced layering techniques in pencil and charcoal explored.

The Painter’s Craft
Oil Painting in the Tradition of the Masters        

From a historical approach, the tools, mediums and time-honored techniques of the past will be explained and
demonstrated. The preparation of supports and grounds, using rabbit-skin size and linen, use of varied
varnish mediums and grinding pigments will be covered in this hands on course. Application of materials
in a still life study completed by weeks end. Open to intermediate and advanced students.