Painting I: Acrylics & Oils

Painting I, Acrylic is the introduction to the fundamentals of painting. We warmly recommend taking this course prior to any other painting course, even if your ultimate medium of choice is oil. Acrylics are fast drying, water-based paints, and will allow for quicker exploration of various approaches to painting.  Because of this, technical rules and planning process are (unlike with oils) virtually nonexistent in this course.

This said, the course will provide an in-depth introduction to color theory and invite students to begin to think about composition not just in terms of form and value but also with regard to color. As there is no one ‘right way’ to paint, we shall actively explore a variety of ways to begin and develop a painting, through hands-on investigation of concepts and techniques that these processes entail: tonal (under)painting, block-out (under)painting, wash, direct painting, layering, impasto, glazing, scumbling, dry-brushing, painting sgrafitto, etc. Incorporated in these processes are various technical questions that will also be answered:  we shall learn about canvases, primers, stretchers, brushes, palette knives and other tools, paints, pigments, mediums, and more.

Oils are back! There is a revival of interest in oils, and we understand why you are eager to jump into exploring this beautiful medium. However, if you you are entirely new to painting, we recommend (but don’t require) working with acrylics first. (Should you wonder why, please read the course description for Acrylics I.)

The course will commence with an introduction to the medium. Students will learn the rules for proper usage and develop an understanding of the chemistry of the medium (in layman terms) for easier manipulation. As in the Acrylics I course, students will learn hands-on different ways in which one may start and develop a painting. (If you have worked with acrylics before, you will be able to appreciate the differences between the mediums: you will discover what oils allow for that acrylics do not, and vice versa.  

You may also decide to combine techniques—of course, in the correct manner.) Furthermore, students will explore concepts and techniques that these processes entail, e.g.: wipe-out technique, tonal (under)painting, block-out (under)painting, wash, direct painting, layering, alla prima (wet-on-wet), impasto, glazing, scumbling, dry-brushing, painting sgrafitto, and more. Incorporated in these processes are various technical questions that will be answered: we shall learn about canvases, primers/grounds, stretchers, brushes, palette knives and other tools, paints, pigments, oil mediums, etc.

You will receive an email with the information about materials when you register.