Painting I, Oil

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) taking Acrylics I 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 taken Acrylics I, 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.

The course is comprised of 8 two-hour classes.

Materials:

• oil paints:

        Cadmium Yellow Light (hue)
        Cadmium Red Light (hue)
        Alizarin Crimson
        Phtalo Blue and/or Ultramarine blue
        Mars Black
        Titanium White

• brushes
• turpenoid natural
• linseed oil
• 2 small glass jars
• palette knife
• palette paper (alternatively wax paper)
• 4 canvases or canvas boards

You will receive an email with more in-depth information about materials when you register.

Arrivals: Please arrive 10 min early to set up your working space; instructors will start their lectures promptly at the beginning of each class.

What to bring and what to wear: Please bring your supplies as instructed. Please try not to come in nice clothes. We have aprons, but accidental splashes do occur.