Discover the Best Oil Painting Classes in NYC
The use of oil colors has been traced back to the 7th century CE to a cave in Bamiyan, Afghanistan. In 11th-century Europe, people began painting with oil colors. It was not until the 15th century, however, that easel painting with oil colors emerged. Over time, the practice of oil painting was refined by various artists. Paints and solvents were improved, and styles were developed.
Oil painting is one of the most respected painting processes in the fine arts and has become incredibly popular. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night, and Grant Wood’s American Gothic are all well-known and well-loved oil paintings. Oil paintings are notoriously long-lasting, fading much slower than other artworks. This, along with their prestigious place in history, makes them highly sought after by collectors.
Oil painting is characterized by its long drying time and the versatility of the oil paints used in the process. The paints themselves are a mixture of powdered pigment and drying oil. The oil acts as a binder and affects the color of the paint. Linseed oil is the most popular oil used, however, there are a variety of choices, all of which will impact the consistency of the paint. Oil paints are thicker and heavier than other types of paint such as watercolor.
Why You Should Learn Oil Painting in NYC
Oil painting is a great painting process to learn for both experienced painters and beginners. The use of oil paints can seem intimidating with no prior experience but is actually an easier painting method for beginners compared to others like acrylic or watercolor. This is because of its characteristically slow drying time and opacity. These features make it easier to correct your mistakes as you work.
The process of oil painting involves layering the oil paint repeatedly. When using a layered painting technique, you need to ensure that the previous layer is dry enough before adding the next layer. This will ensure that the previous layer does not dissolve. A great deal of patience is thus required when working with oil paints, making this a great hobby for anyone looking to work on their patience or partake in a very focused art activity.
Painting is a great activity to work on regulating your emotions. Whether used specifically as a therapeutic hobby or not, painting has been found to help alleviate depression, stress, and anxiety. Additionally, working toward creating your own finished art piece helps boost confidence and self-esteem. Oil painting is also great for exercising your imagination and creativity, as you decide what your project will look like and work on correctly determining the color mixtures that should be used for your piece.
Oil painting is a highly rewarding activity. It is a highly respected painting process by those in the fine arts and even has gained an appreciation among those outside of the arts thanks to the well-known oil paintings that have been created and lauded throughout history. If you have developed an interest in oil painting and are concerned with the preservation of these timeless pieces, consider looking into Oil Painters of America, an organization dedicated to the preservation of representational art.
In-Person Oil Painting Classes & Schools in NYC
In-person oil painting classes are offered across New York City and surrounding areas. In-person classes are taught by expert instructors who can give you individualized feedback and offer detailed demonstrations. Taking an in-person oil painting class in NYC is a great way to learn the basics of oil painting, including safely working with materials like solvents and oils.
Creatively Wild Art Studio in Brooklyn offers a beginner class in oil painting for adults. In this class, Oil Painting I, you will learn the basics of working with oil paints. Your instructor will walk you through the process of creating an original finished oil painting. If you decide you would like to work on smaller pieces in this class, you have the opportunity of finishing multiple paintings. Oil paint is notoriously slow drying but thankfully this studio will allow you to leave your work there until the course has ended.
This studio also offers an introductory oil painting class for teenagers, aged 12 through 17. The instructor will teach them the basics of color mixing and the techniques used to apply oil paints to canvas. Like participants in the adult introductory oil painting class, teens in this class will work on a piece of their choosing.
Paint Makers Notes in Long Island City, New York also offers a basic class in oil painting. Oil Paint Making - Basics teaches you how to create your own oil paint. This is a great course if you’re interested in color theory and the process of working with raw materials. You’ll leave this class with 5 tubes of your own custom handmade paint.
Nearby One River School, in Englewood, New Jersey, offers a close look at master oil painting techniques in their Adult Focus on Painting class. A professional artist will serve as your instructor, providing you with one-on-one instruction in underpainting, glazing, chiaroscuro, palette knife painting, and action painting. This interactive class allows you to work on a subject of your choice, including a portrait or landscape.
Virtual Oil Painting Classes & Schools
Virtual classes are a great way to receive expert instruction in oil painting if in-person classes are not accessible for you. Online oil painting classes are taught by studios and schools around the US. They focus on different oil painting techniques and styles while allowing you to work on a variety of projects, from abstract to realism art. The online delivery of the course eliminates the commute that would be necessary to take an in-person class, allowing you to take the course from anywhere.
All oil painting classes require materials like paint and canvas. In-person classes will typically provide most materials, but virtual classes do not. A detailed supply list will be provided by your instructor before your session. These items may be purchased from a local art or craft store. If any items are difficult to find, consider looking for a specialty shop in your area or look for an online storefront.
There are a few online oil painting classes available for students to take from the comfort of their own home studios. Pastimes for Life offers several painting classes focused on different mediums. These beginner and intermediate-level classes allow you to learn the basics of oil painting and watercolor. The oil painting-focused class teaches participants the basics of color theory, an important aspect to working on an oil painting. A water-soluble oil painting class is also available where you can learn how to create your own non-toxic water-soluble paint.
If you’re interested in taking a multi-medium painting class and are at the intermediate level, Abstract Painting is offered by the Richmond Art Center. You will learn how to create your own abstract painting using the paint tupe you would prefer to use, including oil paint.
The Art Studio NY hosts Dare to Paint, an advanced-level class where you can explore using acrylic and oil paint for advanced painting techniques. Your instructor will guide you through your exploration of paint application, texture, and depth. This class allows you to choose your own subject, whether it is still life or abstract. Close one-on-one instruction and individualized real-time feedback are available to you in this remote class.
Private Group Oil Painting Classes in NYC
Is your group of friends looking for a fun weekend activity? Or is your business or organization looking to schedule an oil painting class as a team-building event? Whatever your group’s needs are, CourseHorse offers online painting classes for private groups in NYC that they can deliver to you.
There are several virtual watercolor courses available for your group to take. One in particular, the Virtual Watercolor Workshop, focuses on teaching your group the techniques of modernist painter Georgia O’Keeffe. These techniques will be useful in creating your own landscape piece inspired by O’Keeffe’s famous work.
In the interactive watercolor workshops that CourseHorse offers, you and your group will learn the basics of watercolor painting. Your group can count on it being a relaxing learning experience as you create watercolors on the subject of your group’s choosing. If your group would prefer to learn the basics of painting with acrylics, a private Virtual Acrylic Painting class is also available through CourseHorse. If your group is looking to take a class that uses oil colors, you can reach out to CourseHorse through the contact form on their website to learn about oil painting classes.
Each online class requires materials like paint, brushes, and paper or canvas. CourseHorse supplies participants with all these items ahead of your class. CourseHorse can accommodate a large number of people in each class, but if you’re not sure of your exact group size, you can update your headcount up to a week before your class. There are no booking fees with CourseHorse and they allow free cancellations up to two weeks before your class.
CourseHorse recommends using Zoom, but they can also accommodate other platforms like Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx.
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