Beginning Oil Painting: Master Study
Abigail Drapkin
$430
This 5-week class orients students to the materials and processes of oil painting through color mixing exercises and master study subjects. We’ll begin with a focus on value and form with a monochromatic painting in black and white. Moving on to a second painting, we'll explore the Zorn palette (Cadmium Red, Ivory Black, Yellow Ochre, and Titanium White) through color mixing exercises. This limited color palette stretches students to see value and color relationships, practice brush control, and focus deeply on observation of subjects. We’ll work from image references including cropped sections of master paintings by Euan Uglow, Jean Simeon Chardin, Johannes Vermeer, Frida Kahlo, John Singer Sargent, and more!
Required Supplies
Oil Paints (37ml tubes, I like Gamblin 1980):
Titanium White or Gamblin Flake White Replacement
Yellow Ochre
Cadmium Red Light
Ivory Black
Burnt Sienna (optional)
Other Supplies:
Supports: Two 6” x 8” or 8" x 10" smooth canvas panels
3-4 sheets of canvas paper, oil painting paper, or gesso-primed watercolor paper
Brushes: mix of sizes, shapes, and bristle vs. synthetic brushes
Long or Short Handle Synthetic Brushes: detail brush(#1 or #2) and flat brushes (#2 or #4)
Long Handle Bristle brushes: filbert and/or flat (#6 or #8)
Roll of 1” blue tape
Palette paper pad
Palette Knife (metal, trowel-shaped, medium size)
Absorbent Rags (old t-shirts torn up are great)
Galkyd or Liquin (4oz)
Odorless Mineral Spirits (16oz Gamblin Gamsol is best)
Silicoil Brush Cleaning Tank (recommended) and/or a Small Jar
Brush Washer (The Masters Brush Cleaner or Baby Oil)
