“Mastery is a humbling concept toward which we continue to strive; toward ever greater quality in our relationships with art, with craft, with self.” – DH

Overview

Oil painting mediums can be intimidating, as they offer a sophisticated approach to painting with unparalleled brilliance and depth, especially when paintings are produced in a calculated, layered approach. In this course, we will utilize simple, elegant solutions that can be easily modified to suit the needs of the artist throughout their painting process. Our mediums are formulated for their superior technical attributes, as well as their support of a nontoxic studio practice. Students will empower their painting practice by developing a thorough and practical comprehension of these essential aspects of the craft.

​​

Learning Objectives

​

– Traditional painting materials & philosophy

– Technical principles of layered painting processes

– A working understanding of oils, resins & solvents

– ‘Fat over Lean’ in theory & practice

– Toxicity & safe handling of oil paint & mediums

​​

Practical Outcomes

Students will create numerous painting sketches each day, as we work with a small number of essential ingredients to produce our own painting mediums. These mediums can be adjusted throughout the course of an ‘indirect’, or layered, painting process, to achieve luminosity on the surface while utilizing a logical progression and technically sound practices. Adjusting proportions in our mediums throughout the layers of a painting ensures cohesion and structural stability for the life of the painting.

This course is open to all skill levels, age 18 and up. Those with prior oil painting experience may benefit from familiarity with the processes, although those new to oil painting will benefit from learning logical steps from the ground up, demystifying oil painting mediums and empowering a solid practice rooted in sound technique. As we deeply explore oil painting mediums and processes, other topics inevitably arise. We’ll also take time to consider these adjacent topics which include: painting supports, traditional surfaces & grounds, putty mediums, transparency and opacity, impasto, “oiling out”, reliable drying times, varnish, materials compatibility, brush care and more.

​​

Materials

​

Students should bring their own brushes suitable for oil painting, including a range of sizes with soft synthetic or natural bristles. Small round brushes, a selection of filberts, and large flat brushes are all very useful. Students may also wish to bring their own oil paint to class, although a limited palette of colors will also be available. A variety of surfaces

will be available and others may be available for purchase. These include primed watercolor paper, traditional gesso panels, and primed linen panels.

​​

This course is open to all skill levels, age 18 and up. Those with prior oil painting experience may benefit from familiarity with the processes, although those new to oil painting will benefit from learning logical steps from the ground up, demystifying oil painting mediums and empowering a solid practice rooted in sound technique.

​

As we deeply explore oil painting mediums and processes, other topics inevitably arise. We’ll also take time to consider these adjacent topics which include: painting supports, traditional surfaces & grounds, putty mediums, transparency and opacity, impasto, “oiling out”, reliable drying times, varnish, materials compatibility, brush care and more.