Intro to Figurative Painting
No Class: 1/19/26 (MLK Holiday)
This course is designed for anyone interested in learning how to paint the human figure, whether you're a beginner or have some experience. Using a simple, limited set of colors known as the Zorn Palette, you'll explore the basics of mixing colors, understanding light and shadow, and creating realistic proportions. Through guided lessons and live model sessions, you'll develop skills in capturing the figure’s shape, movement, and depth. This course offers step-by-step instruction to help beginners feel confident, while also giving more experienced painters the opportunity to refine their techniques in a supportive environment.
Course Goals:
- Develop foundational painting skills using the Zorn Palette
- Gain confidence in working from a live model
- Learn to construct the figure through gesture, planar analysis, and anatomy
- Understand color mixing, toning, and temperature relationships
- Explore composition and figure-ground relationships
Required Supplies
Oil Paint Recommended Brands - Winsor Newton (No Water Mixable) & Gamblin (Also the 1980s Brand)
- Titanium White (200 ml)
- Cadmium Red
- Ultramarine Blue (200 ml)
- Cadmium Yellow Light
- Cadmium Yellow
- Alizarin Crimson (200 ml)
- Burnt Sienna
- Burnt Umber
- Yellow Ochre
Optional Colors: Phthalo Blue, Viridian Hue, Quinacridone Magenta
Medium/Solvent Stand Oil or Refined Linseed Oil Liquin Gamsol
Palette Glass or Disposable palette paper - Recommend Jack Richeson Grey Matters Paper Palette, 12 by 16-Inch, 50 Sheets
Palette/Paint Scraper Other Palette Knife - Any variety pack or 4 of the metal kind
Paper towels
Mason jars or any type of jars
Brushes - You can use any kind of brush you like. If you aren’t sure, buy a variety. Hog Hair Bristle or synthetic for oil or acrylic painting: Round, Flat, Bright, Filbert Small #2 or 4, Medium #6 or 8, Large # 10 or 12 (just get a variety of sizes) 2” or 3” Acrylic
Gesso Canvas Pad 16x20 or 18x24 (Can be found at BLICK)
Lila Thomas
I’m Lila Thomas (she/they) and I’m a black queer Seattle-based visual artist from Southern Louisiana. I received my BFA in Drawing/Painting at Nicholls State University....