W. Truman Hosner PSA-MP
Light is Our Most Reliable Narrator
Understanding Light and Movement in Nature
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Six Thursdays: September 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 2027
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm (ET)
Zoom Only
Course Description
In painting natural light, the idea behind a painting can arise much like a poem arises from words. In this PSA Academy course, artists will explore how light and movement found in nature can serve as the driving force behind expressive and meaningful pastel paintings.
Rather than fixing an image too early, students will learn to keep their work fluid and open to change. Emphasis is placed on allowing the painting to evolve, using unfinished passages, shifting light, and spontaneous movement as integral parts of the visual language.
Through demonstration, discussion, and critique, Truman will guide artists in observing how light defines form, suggests movement, and creates narrative within a painting. Students will develop a deeper sensitivity to natural rhythms and learn how to translate those experiences into their work.
Between sessions, participants will engage in independent studio practice, allowing time for reflection, experimentation, and the development of a more personal and intuitive approach to painting.
Who This Course is For
Ideal for painters who:
• have a working familiarity with pastel materials
• are interested in painting from observation and natural light
• want to develop a more expressive and fluid approach to painting
• are drawn to capturing movement, atmosphere, and changing conditions
• seek to move beyond rigid methods toward a more responsive process
• are open to exploration and evolving their artistic voice
Tuition
Members: $700 and Non-Members: $775
What You Will Gain
• a deeper understanding of how light shapes form and meaning in a painting
• greater sensitivity to movement and change within natural subjects
• strategies for keeping paintings open, fluid, and responsive
• approaches to using unfinished passages as an expressive tool
• increased confidence in allowing a painting to evolve organically
• direction for developing a more personal and intuitive studio practice
Instructor Bio
W. Truman Hosner is a pastel artist known for his expressive interpretations of light and the natural landscape. His work reflects a deep engagement with observation, atmosphere, and the transient qualities of light in nature.
As an instructor, Truman encourages artists to remain open and responsive throughout the painting process, helping them move beyond rigid approaches and toward a more intuitive and personal way of working. His teaching emphasizes observation, sensitivity, and the development of an individual artistic voice.
Course Structure
Over six weekly sessions, students will explore:
- observing and interpreting natural light
- capturing movement and atmosphere in the landscape
- working with evolving compositions
- the role of unfinished passages in creating visual energy
- developing a responsive and intuitive painting process
- translating observation into expressive mark making
Students will be encouraged to work from their own reference and direct observation, allowing their paintings to evolve through exploration rather than predetermined outcomes.
Critique Component
Students will receive individual critique and feedback during class, with an emphasis on observation, responsiveness, and artistic decision making. Critiques are designed to support each artist’s individual direction and help them build confidence in a more fluid and evolving process.
Student Experience
Students can expect a thoughtful and exploratory learning environment that encourages experimentation, reflection, and growth. The course supports both technical development and a deeper connection to personal expression.
Q & A
Q: What draws you personally to this subject of light and movement in nature?
A: Color. Even as a child, I had a love affair with the colors found in natural light.
Q: What do you hope students gain from this course?
A: An understanding of the manner in which light reveals a truth about the things we observe.
Q: What makes this course unique or especially meaningful to you?
A: I have dedicated my life for over 50 years now to art. I’ve learned a few things over the years. This is an opportunity to pass them on to a wider audience.
Q: What would you like prospective students to know before enrolling?
A: Painting is more a manner of thinking than a matter of technique. We artists are about things that can’t be said with words.
Materials and Studio Setup
A materials list will be provided to enrolled students prior to the start of the course and is also available on the instructor’s website.
