It’s easy to think that landscape painters lead a life of leisure. Setting up shop in the middle of a field of wildflowers on a sunny day, wearing a billowy shirt and a big hat -- perhaps drinking a cool lemonade.

Scott Wright makes just a little of that possible for neophyte painters each year. Wright teaches "Landscape Painting in Fairmount Park," a free four-week course open to as many people as can fit in the great outdoors. He's not promising any lemonade, but he does guarantee a little plein air pleasure.

Administered through Fleisher Art Memorial, the class meets in the Azalea Garden behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art every Saturday for four hours, giving students plenty of time to choose a subject and practice their techniques. Students usually complete at least one painting per session, sometimes up to five.

Wright, who teaches at Tyler School of Art and SUNY Purchase College, says he's developed quite "a loyal legion of troops." While many are watercolor devotees, he says, "I absolutely get people who have never picked up a brush in their lives. But I sort of enjoy that, I like the challenge. It's a big challenge entertaining both sides. I have to think on my feet, give everyone something from the experience."

Painting out of doors is not without its perils. Wright recalls a class a couple of summers ago when Mother Nature was particularly uncooperative. "The weather was iffy and we decided to have class anyway. We had just gotten to the point where people were working on their first paintings and the skies just opened up. So [there was] this sight of 50 or 70 people just scattering and running in every direction with canvases and umbrellas and chairs," Wright says, laughing. "Sometimes weddings will take place at the same time. So in the middle of class, people from weddings come by and critique the work in their tuxes and gowns."

The course breaks down neatly into four sessions. Wright starts with an introduction to composition and theory, and brings props to show people how to handle a brush and the basics of painting techniques. The second week, he comes up with a color topic or theme, and sends folks on a "mission." The third week involves "something more conceptual." Finally, on the last meeting, he tries to assign a project that "taps into their personal vision." The grand finale is a great big critique under a tree, which Wright calls "a riot" because there can be hundreds of paintings.

Wright's a tough professor -- he gives homework. It's only for your own good, of course: "It turns four weeks into eight weeks" of instruction. "I usually try to toss a little environmental doctrine in there. I'll bring up articles, or talk about global warming or suburban sprawl."

In the search for that perfect azalea bud or the right angle at which to catch the Waterworks, Wright asks only that students don't stray too far. "I usually say, 'If you want feedback you have to let me find you.' It becomes a little bit like an Easter egg hunt trying to find people -- you get people up on the rock walls, down by the fishing pier, under trees. People get camouflaged."

first-timers to bring a basic watercolor kit, assorted brushes, a sun hat and sunscreen ("a must," he adds), different grades of paper and water containers. "Basically, whatever they can carry -- it's quite a caravan," laughs Wright.

There are three Saturdays left in this summer’s course. Because he adjusts the session each week depending on the number of newcomers, Wright says everyone is welcome to the remaining classes. Students’ work often ends up on view at Fleisher, so grab your sun hat and brushes and go.

Saturdays, June 14, 21 and 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Azalea Garden, Kelly Drive (adjacent to the Philadelphia Museum of Art); registration (suggested donation for Fleisher membership is $15) may be done on-site on class days between 9:45 and 10 a.m.