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Basic Painting Fundamentals is unfortunately unavailable

Thankfully we have 20 other Beginner Painting Classes for you to choose from. Check our top choices below or see all classes for more options.

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Unleash your artistic talents in a supportive and collaborative environment with professional artists at The Art Studio's Life Model Drawing Sessions. Explore the elements of art, techniques, and mediums while working on small, medium, or large projects. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced artist, this class offers a sanctuary for creating, socializing, and collaborating.

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Weekly Drawing (Adults & Teens)

The Art Studio @ 6450 Westminster Blvd, Westminster, CA

Master the fundamentals of drawing in this course at The Art Studio. Strengthen your skills as a draftsman and learn the age-old tradition of drawing from the art masters. Discover composition, construction, shading, lighting, and more in this immersive class.

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Basic Painting Fundamentals

  • Beginner
  • 18 and older
  • $549
  • 16926 Saticoy St, Van Nuys, CA
  • 24 hours over 8 sessions

Start Dates (0)

  • $549
  • Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art @ 16926 Saticoy St, Van Nuys, CA 91406
  • 24 hours over 8 sessions
  • Please pay the $20 registration fee directly to LAAFA.
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Class Description

Description

What you'll learn in this beginner painting class:

This class is for those who are more comfortable with drawing, but would like to start painting. We will start with using what we already know (drawing), and build progressively towards a comfortable relationship with painting. We’ll start with using an approach to drawing that uses a brush and soft charcoal, and closely mimics the issues we’ll be tackling while painting. Then we’ll move on to an open grisaille (or rub out), which involves painting with only one color. After open grisaille, we move onto closed grisaille (opaque grey), then a limited palette of four colors (black, white, red, and yellow), and finally a full palette. Anyone can bridge the gap from drawing to painting; and the transition should be fun and exciting, never intimidating or frustrating.

Supply List

  • Charcoal pencils- a variety of hardness, hb, 2b, 4b, 6b, etc
  • Brush- Bristle brush, small to medium size, willow charcoal
  • Paper- A couple of sheets of paper suitable for charcoal work- strathmore 400, canson mi-tientes, etc
  • Surface- you can paint on any surface of your choosing, but I recommend canvas panels (or just wood panels) to work on in class. They’re cheap and sturdy. For class, I’d recommend either 9×12 or 12×16, but you can use anything you want. They come a little under-gessoed straight out of the package, but a thin coat of spray shellac fixes that problem. I’ll bring a can to class, and we can shellac them together.
  • Solvent- Odorless mineral spirits (such as gamsol) or a nontoxic alternative solvent (such as the citrus based varieties) and a container to hold the solvent, such as a silicoil
  • Brushes- A variety of paintbrushes, all different sizes. I generally recommend 2 of each size (one for lights and 1 for darks), maybe #2, 4, 6, 8, and possibly one bigger brush size 10 or 12. All brush brands have their own sizes though, so use your best judgment when selecting sizes. If you’re painting on a smoother surface, I’d recommend synthetics. If you’re painting on a more textured canvas surface, I’d recommend hog bristle brushes, or anything with a stiffer bristle. I like using anything from Trekell (especially their golden taklon and legion series of brushes). Windsor & Newton makes great synthetics with their university series brushes, and Robert Simmons Signet series brushes for stuff hog bristle brushes. If you already have brushes though, just bring what you have
  • Paints- at the very least, have black and white, plus red and yellow. I recommend ivory black, titanium white, scarlet lake, and yellow ochre. You’ll also want a semitransparent earth tone like burnt umber. That’s it for the limited palette. If you’re interested in expanding to a full palette, we can talk more about that in class
  • Paper towels

You do not need to spend a lot of money on supplies for this class, these are merely suggestions. If you already have supplies that you’d like to use that aren’t listed here, just bring them in and we can go over them together. This is art. It’s supposed to be fun and creative, so please don’t get overly concerned about getting the right pencil or tube of paint. We can have fun and make beautiful art with nearly anything. 

Workshop Etiquette

  • If you arrive late, please enter quietly. If you have equipment to set up, please wait for a break to set up so that you do not disrupt the class.
  • The front row of benches is reserved for individuals who are sitting. Standing in the front row will block the view of those behind you. Personal easels are not allowed in the front row, unless they are low enough that it does not obstruct any portion of the view of the people behind you.
  • Please be mindful of the amount of space you and your equipment occupy. Economize your work space to accommodate fellow artists.
  • Please be polite to the models, and ask first before taking their pictures. The model may require a fee.
  • Please do not talk while class is in session. Save all discussions for outside the studio.
  • Be sure to switch cell phones and pagers to silent model.
  • Don’t comment on others’ work unless it is solicited.
  • Animals are not permitted at school for health reasons. Assistance dogs for the disabled are allowed.
  • Please clean up your work area and properly dispose of your waste after class. Use the brush cleaning closet, not the bathroom sinks, to clean your hands, paintbrushes and other art tools.
  • No turpentine or smelly solvents and mediums are allowed. Odorless mineral spirits is preferred.

Q&A

Q: Can students under 18 take this class?

A: A student under 18 will need a waiver signed by a parent/guardian to participate. The waiver should acknowledge that as part of his enrollment in an art school, a student may encounter artwork depicting nudity.

Refund Policy

LAAFA reserves the right to cancel any class, limit class size, change class times or substitute instructors for those listed in the schedule. If a class is cancelled, students will be issued a full refund or may transfer with no fee to another class. If an instructor must leave after a term has begun, and no suitable substitute is available, the student will be refunded a pro-rated amount.

Refunds & Transfers

All classes, uninstructed workshops, visiting artist workshops and artist demonstrations are non-refundable. You may request to drop for credit or transfer into another class. You have two weeks to evaluate each class and decide whether you want to drop for credit (a dollar amount calculated based on the receipt of request) or transfer into a new class. Requests must be submitted before the start of the third session. A $25 drop/transfer fee is assessed. Credit will be valid for a full year and is non-refundable. It can be applied toward any extension course, workshop or visiting artist event at LAAFA. All artist demonstrations are non-refundable and non-transferable.

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