Studio Courses in Oil Painting

Oil Painting for Beginners:

Requiring a working knowledge of recognizing and translating values, this course introduces the basic elements of oil painting using a sequence of exercises designed to build skills in handling the medium, procedures for applying paint to keep the colors fresh and brilliant, and ways to plan a good composition. Emphasis is placed on building sound habits while painting. this is for the student new to oil painting.

Oil Painting for Advanced Beginners:

Requiring some basic familiarity with handling oil paint this course focuses on developing your perceptual and observational skills with the aim of depicting convincing representational forms with paint. Previous Color class is helpful but we will cover skills in color mixing. A variety of traditional painting methods will be explored while working toward capturing realistic representation in form and color. Good painting requires sufficient drawing skills and the student is urged to attend a drawing class first if their skills are week in this area.

Oil Painting: Color Studies I, II, III

This very important course expands beyond color harmony to gaining on understanding and working ability in mixing colors of your personal palette, then translating this to interpreting the local color, temperature of your individual subject choice with attention upon obtaining hue, value, and intensity of specific colors. A variety of subject matter will be painted, with the end result geared to learning to interpret the various colors covered in detail in the class. Underpainting techniques including Grissaille' and Imprimatura will be learned as well, and additional independent choice of subject matter will be encouraged.

Oil Painting: Expressive Brushstrokes

This class session focuses on interpreting the painting subject,( choice of scenic or static subject matter), with an expressively painted approach. The goal of class is to paint lively loose yet readable forms, in a more impressionistic direction. Color Chroma's can be heightened or kept quite natural, as it is the goal to help the student define the subject into more expressively painted shapes while maintaining a clear understanding of all the key ingredients in their painting, such as value, contrast and compositional form. Loose brush strokes, and palette knife use will be stressed. This is an advanced class.

Oil Painting: Alla Prima I

A demonstration-driven course covering exercises and studies in color done in an Alla Prima approach. Wet in wet, color and value study painting from life studio setups will be utilized to foster a comfortable and effective result in your direct painting ability. Some previous working ability in oils is suggested and good drawing skills are a must, with a minimum of one drawing class.

Oil Painting: Ala Prima Intermediate & Advanced

These courses will expand your skills of painting Alla Prima. Stroke Techniques and wet-on-wet handling of the paint will be the primary focus, as we use life subjects to create finished works. Some experience painting Alla Prima is necessary for these level courses as well as competent drawing skills, or a minimum of Responsive Drawing II.

Oil Painting: Intermediate & Advanced

At this level, students should have a good grasp of color, value, form etc, as well as good paint and brush handling so we can hone in on the structure of your painting; proportions, balance, rhythm and other composing concerns with an aim to encouraging the student to become an independent painter. Subject matter is partially directed, with emphasis on making your own choices.

Oil Painting: Plein Aire

At this level, students should have a solid grasp of painting. We will work outside the studio, weather permitting, and the student will be responsible for arriving at the site and set up prior to class start. Local scenery and choice of subject to paint, will be decided upon from input from the class.