Elissa Gore, a New York-based artist who stays busy on the plein air circuit, hosts plein air watercolor classes when her schedule permits. We caught up with her in the Northern Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood in late June, as her group painted the Henry Hudson Bridge and other sights in Inwood Hill Park.
Gore’s Inwood watercolor class, from left to right: Janet Levey, Karen Stewart, Elissa Gore, Eileen Hahn, Ella Biondi
Gore says this group is an extension of a botanical watercolor and scientific drawing class she previously taught at the New York Botanical Garden. The group is skilled in other areas, but the artists are being stretched when placed out en plein air. When we came across them, the artists were contentedly focusing on their paintings and preparing to take a quick sandwich break in the summer heat.
Eileen Hahn
The Henry Hudson Bridge, which spans Spuyten Duyvil Creek and links Manhattan to the Bronx, served as the subject for several artists that day.
“People come when they want to,” says Gore. “I taught college art classes all over for about 20 years, so I have lots of experience helping people with process. Each person is so very individually accomplished. The class is more coaching than anything else.”
