Picket Fence Art Studio

Mondays, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

May 6, 13, 20

No class on Memorial Day

All levels welcome. 

Painters will be given the option to follow given exercises or get help developing a painting based on their own reference. We will work from photo reference unless you want to bring in a small object for still life. 

Each monthly course has a general focus that can be deviated from if it is not useful. If you are challenged, select the given exercise; if not, you can choose another area of focus for the day. 

Class 1. Value/measuring/color spots 

Class 2. Limited palette and interpreting color temperature and saturation. 

Class 3. Earth palette and mark-making 

Class 4. Putting it together/developing an area of focus (value, color, etc.). 

Each of these topics gets fleshed out a bit differently each month depending on class participants and their experience, combined with the given or self-chosen reference. The object or subject of your painting can be anything: portrait, landscape, still life.

I approach painting as a type of note-taking on our visual experience. Each study can be developed into a final work if desired, but I focus on small studies over final works of art for beginners. We discuss the basics of painting and concepts meant to change how we think about what painting is and what we can do with it. 

I use Golden Open acrylics; you may use whatever paint you wish. I suggest working small (9x12) on painting paper or loose canvas, but you may choose the size and support of your choice.

Supply List: 

● Strathmore 400 Acrylic paper - durable, heavyweight paper (246lb, 400 g/M2) is perfect for Acrylic painting as are canvas boards. 9x12 up to 11x17. I am currently working on 11x14, canvas boards.

● Paint, Golden Open Acrylics, or regular Acrylic if you prefer. I use OPEN acrylic by Golden.

● Please do not bring “decorative” paints or “Artists Loft” like you see at Michaels or “pour” paints.

● Brushes (princeton sets from Michaels are fine, I use them) flats, rounds, filberts assortment.

● Palettes knives for mixing and painting