4-Week Painting Course

Week 1: Introduction & Foundations

Objective: Familiarize students with materials, basic techniques, and color mixing.

• Introduction to Oil Painting: Overview of the medium, tools, and workspace setup.

• Understanding Oil Paint & Mediums: How to use and mix oil paints, solvents, and mediums.

• Color Mixing Basics: Primary colors, warm vs. cool tones

• Brush Techniques & Application: Dry brush, glazing, scumbling, and impasto.

• Mini Practice Exercise: Paint a simple gradient and a monochromatic study to understand values.

Week 2: Underpainting & Blocking In

Objective: Learn composition, underpainting, and blocking in colors.

• Sketching & Composition: Transfer a simple drawing onto the canvas.

• Underpainting Techniques: Using thin paint layers to establish values and forms.

• Blocking In Shapes & Colors: Establish large color masses, avoiding details at this stage.

• Edges & Transitions: Soft vs. hard edges for depth and form.

Week 3: Adding Depth & Details

Objective: Introduce layering, blending, and refining forms.

• Refining the Painting: Adding a second layer to correct values, colors, and edges.

• Blending Techniques: Smooth transitions and softening edges where necessary.

• Light & Shadow: How to create contrast and depth.

• Details & Texture: Using smaller brushes and palette knives for highlights and texture.

Week 4: Final Details & Critique

Objective: Polish the painting and learn how to protect finished work.

• Final Adjustments: Enhancing highlights, shadows, and color balance.

• Signature & Finishing Touches: When to stop and how to sign your work.

• Class Critique & Wrap-Up: Last 30 mins of class. Share work, discuss challenges, and celebrate progress!

List of materials you’ll need: (Materials are not included)

• Oil Paints – A basic set including primary colors (red, yellow, blue), white, and a few earth tones (such as burnt umber and ochre) 37ml / 1.25 fl. oz sizes: Ultramarine blue, phthalo blue, cerulean blue, permanent green, viridian green, alizarin crimson, cadmium red light, cadmium orange, cadmium yellow light, yellow ochre, raw umber, burnt umber, Payne’s grey, and titanium white. (My preferred brand is Winsor & Newton)

• Brushes – A variety of round, flat, and filbert brushes in different sizes.  A set of four sizes Bristle brushes. Two of each (Total 8): 1/8 flat inches square bristle brush (x small), 1/2-inch flat square bristle brush (small), 3/4 Inches square flat bristle brush (medium), 1-inch flat bristle brush (large) [Note some brushes are oil or acrylic paint specific] https://www.dickblick.com/products/princeton-velvetouch-synthetic-brushes/

• Palette –     Multi-palette/ disposable paper palette 12” x 16” pad. https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-disposable-palette-pads/?fromSearch=%2Fsearch%2F%3Fsearchword%3Ddisposable%20paper%20palette

• Palette Knife –   2 palette knives (metal or plastic) medium and small. For mixing and applying paint. https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-palette-knives-by-rgm/

• Canvas– 2 stretched canvases (8”x10” and 16” x 20”) Michael’s sometimes has good deals.

• Oil Medium – Winsor & Newton Liquin Original Medium https://www.dickblick.com/products/winsor-newton-liquin-original/?fromSearch=%2Fsearch%2F%3Fsearchword%3Dliquin

• Odorless Turpentine – For cleaning brushes and thinning paint (avoid harsh solvents) https://www.dickblick.com/products/weber-odorless-turpenoid/?fromSearch=%2Fsearch%2F%3Fsearchword%3D%20Odorless%20turpentine
  IN-PERSON ONLY: Please do not purchase. We can share mine.

• Rags or Paper Towels – For wiping brushes and cleaning up

• Glass Jar or Container With Lid – To store your cleaning solution. (You can reuse clean jelly jars from home)

•  2HB pencils, one eraser, one sharpener

• Apron

• Brush Cleaner – https://www.dickblick.com/products/the-masters-brush-cleaner-preserver/

• VIRTUAL STUDENTS ONLY: Easel – Optional but helpful for working comfortably.