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Oil Painting Classes NYC

Unleash your inner artist with a wide range of oil painting classes in NYC! Learn foundational techniques, express your creativity, and create stunning works of art that will leave you feeling accomplished and inspired.

16 classes have spots left

Oil Painting for Absolute Beginners

92nd Street Y @ 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY

Embark on a journey into the enchanting world of oil painting. Unleash your creativity and learn the fundamental techniques of oil painting at the prestigious 92nd Street Y. Discover the magic of this sumptuous medium and unleash your artistic potential in a supportive and inspiring environment.

No upcoming schedules
$290

7 sessions

Oil Painting II: Next Level (Single Session)

Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo @ 98 Water St, Brooklyn, NY

Take your oil painting skills to new heights with Oil Painting II at Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo. Learn how to add depth and clarity to your artwork, choose the right palette and style, and explore nontraditional angles and views. Get inspired by master artists and create fully realized oil paintings that you can proudly display or gift to loved ones.

Wednesday Dec 6th, 6:45–8:45pm Eastern Time

Oil Painting I: Beginner Steps for Adults (Single Session)

Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo @ 98 Water St, Brooklyn, NY

Discover the joy of oil painting as you unleash your creativity on canvas. Join us at the renowned Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo for an intensive course that will equip you with the essential techniques and skills needed to create stunning oil paintings. Whether you're a total beginner or an intermediate artist, this class offers a supportive environment for all levels.

Monday Dec 11th, 6:30–8:30pm Eastern Time

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Teens: Beginner Oil Painting (Single Session)

Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo @ 98 Water St, Brooklyn, NY

Unlock your creativity and explore the world of oil painting in this introductory class for teens. Learn professional techniques, color mixing, and application methods to create stunning and unique artwork. Whether you're a beginner or have some painting experience, this course is perfect for aspiring artists looking to develop their skills and express their artistic vision.

Thursday Dec 7th, 4:15–6:15pm Eastern Time

Classical Painting Techniques

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY

Unlock the secrets of classical oil painting techniques in this comprehensive course at the prestigious New York School of the Arts. Discover the power of underpainting and grisaille, while honing your skills in composition, value, and color. Suitable for all levels, this course delves into the rich history of painting methods since the Renaissance.

Wednesday Jan 31st, 3–6pm Eastern Time

 (10 sessions)

$400

10 sessions

Painting: The Essential Elements

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY

Unleash your artistic potential through the exploration of oil paint at the renowned New York School of the Arts. Discover essential techniques such as canvas stretching, surface preparation, and brush cleaning, while immersing yourself in the language of painting. Historical examples and diverse approaches to working from life will inspire your creative journey.

Monday Jan 29th, 9:30am–12:30pm Eastern Time

 (8 sessions)

$430

8 sessions

Figure: Painting the Model in Costume, with a Focus on Portrait

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY

Immerse yourself in the world of historical dress and evoke emotion through painting the human figure in costume. Develop your understanding of light and shadow, warm and cool colors, and create lifelike portraits with accurate and three-dimensional facial features. Join us for a transformative art experience at the New York School of the Arts.

Monday Jan 29th, 4–7pm Eastern Time

 (8 sessions)

$430

8 sessions

Introduction to Painting Techniques

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY

Discover the fundamentals of oil painting, from canvas preparation to color theory, at the prestigious New York School of the Arts. Immerse yourself in techniques taught by seasoned artists, take inspiration from museum visits, and receive personalized critiques to elevate your artwork to new heights.

Monday Jan 29th, 2–4pm Eastern Time

 (8 sessions)

$330

8 sessions

Figure Drawing or Painting: A Foundation

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY

Discover the secrets of capturing the human form through drawing and painting in this dynamic course at the esteemed New York School of the Arts. Join a supportive community of artists as you learn to master light and shadow, create three-dimensional effects, and bring depth and expression to your artwork. All skill levels are welcome to join this transformative artistic journey.

Tuesday Jan 30th, 10am–1pm Eastern Time

 (8 sessions)

$430

8 sessions

Long Pose Figure Drawing & Painting

Chelsea Classical Studio @ 526 W 26th St, New York, NY

Learn the art of composition, proportions, and color in this figure drawing and painting class at Chelsea Classical Studio. Working from a live model, students will develop their skills in a direct alla-prima approach, focusing on draftsmanship, values, and color mixing. All levels are welcome to join this hands-on and immersive experience.

Monday Dec 4th, 6:30–9:30pm Eastern Time

Painting from Life: Alla Prima

Chelsea Classical Studio @ 526 W 26th St, New York, NY

Unlock the secrets of direct painting in this immersive course at Chelsea Classical Studio. Learn to master draftsmanship, values, and color as you work with live models. With constant demonstrations and critiques, you'll develop your skills and create stunning compositions.

Tuesday Dec 5th, 6:30–9:30pm Eastern Time

Studio Night | Jean-Michel Basquiat

ArtsClub @ 311 E 3rd St, New York, NY

Jean-Michel Basquiat took the New York art scene by storm in the 1980s, when he became famous for his  mixed-media works incorporating crowns, skulls and cryptic words. He took his inspiration from a combination of jazz, boxing, pop culture, anatomical drawings in Grey's Anatomy, and life in New York in the 1980s. Learn about Jean-Michel Basquiat and create your own painting inspired by his work, using paint and oil pastels on canvas. Tickets...

Friday Jan 12th, 6:30–8:30pm Eastern Time

Beginner’s Guide to Painting for Teens: Acrylic, Watercolors + Oils (Single Session)

Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo @ 98 Water St, Brooklyn, NY

Discover the potential of acrylics, watercolors, and oils in this inspiring art course. Learn to match your subject matter to the media and explore different results with each painting medium. Focus on color, light, and composition as you develop your own unique style. Suitable for beginners or intermediate students looking for inspiration.

Sunday Dec 10th, 11:15am–1:15pm Eastern Time

Painting for the First Time: Acrylics (Single Session)

Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo @ 98 Water St, Brooklyn, NY

Discover the joy of painting with acrylics in a supportive and nurturing environment at Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo. Overcome your fears and gain confidence as you learn the fundamentals of painting, including choosing subjects, working on a canvas, and mastering color mixing. Join us and leave with new skills and beautiful canvas creations!

Tuesday Dec 12th, 7–9pm Eastern Time

Contemporary Watercolor

New York School of the Arts @ 315 E 62nd St, New York, NY

Explore the possibilities of expressive, contemporary watercolor painting at the New York School of the Arts. From composition to color, this class encourages experimentation and individual growth. All levels are welcome.

Tuesday Jan 30th, 1:30–4:30pm Eastern Time

 (8 sessions)

$430

8 sessions

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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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