Class outline

BEGINNER OIL PAINTING CLASSES
(Intermediate and Advanced students, please scroll down and click the registration button)

Join me at my home studio near Ogilvie, Minnesota, located in the middle of beautiful, quiet farmland, for five informal oil painting lessons. The object of these 5 sessions is to introduce each student to the basic principles of oil painting with an emphasis on proportioning, creating dimension and choosing an appropriate subject to suit and maintain the painter's interest. Students will also learn skills to survive frustrations inherent in the process of evolving as a painter, freeing the student to continue study on their own. In these beginner classes, the students will paint from a still life in the studio. If the students wish to continue their study, intermediate level classes will be offered, focusing on figurative subjects.

ADULT BEGINNERS (18 & up)
Five 2 1/2 hour sessions

INDIVIDUAL RATE: $35/session if paid per session or $140 for all 5 sessions if paid up front
( The latter option represents a 20% discount - no refunds for missed classes )

GROUP RATE: $25/session if paid per session or $100 for all 5 sessions if paid up front
( Group sessions are either prescheduled and announced on my homepage
or you may form your own group. CONTACT ME for scheduling before you register. )

MATERIALS: Students have the option to either add to their tuition a one-time $35 fee for their brushes and canvases or they may purchase these materials independently ( see "STUDENT PROVIDES" list below ).

INSTRUCTOR PROVIDES:
(The following materials may be used by the students during class, but will remain with the studio.
These items are provided to the beginner students to minimize their initial investment.
Students who wish to continue painting when the course is complete will need to purchase these supplies independently.)

Easels, tables, palette pads, chairs, paint, medium, thinner, aprons, rags, clean up mat'ls,
tea, snacks ... and inspiration

STUDENT PROVIDES:
(These materials will, of course, belong to the students)

4 brushes (1 - #2 filbert, 1 - #12 filbert, 1 - #30 filbert & 1 - #1 round),
3 - 8" x 10" canvas panels and 2 - 16" x 20" stretched canvases

5 Thursday sessions, 9:00 am to 11:30 am (maximum 4 students/session) *

OR

5 Saturday sessions, 9:00 am to 11:30 am (maximum 4 students/session) *

* (Choose either all Thursday or all Saturday sessions.
However, if you miss a class, you may "audit" on an alternate day, if space allows.)

Class one:

Student introductions. Discussion re: expectations, experience levels of students, punctuality, set up, clean up Discussion re: PREPARING YOUR CANVAS, gesso and ground (canvases will be prepared prior to this session) Discussion re: BEING PAINTERLY "drawing is not painting" --> hands on (students will begin to think and paint in shapes and planes as opposed to linear drawing Discussion re: VALUE vs. HUE "if the value isn't right, color won't save you" --> examination of gradations of light in the still life -->hands on (students will learn "value" by painting an element of the still life using monochrome) Clean up

Next time: color (hues)

Class two:

Set up. Discussion re: TOOLS, PAINT, MEDIUMS, VARNISH --> choice of brush, paint consistency (fat to lean), paint mixing, basic color wheel --> hands on (students will be asked to mix paint to match fabric swatches based on the principles of the color wheel) Technique outline passed out (for later discussion/study in Classes four and five) Examining the subject with focus --> Discussion re: THE ARTIST DECIDES --> "stick with what you first liked about the image, let the rest fade" --> "the image belongs to YOU" (students will articulate their particular interests in the still life) Clean up

Next time: starting the image

Class three:
Set up. Discussion re: ADJUSTING EASEL/CANVAS in relation to the subject and PROPORTIONING using "thumb/brush", negative space & angle techniques Discussion re: PLACING THE IMAGE ON THE CANVAS --> hands on (students will learn to place the general mass (silhouette) of the objects of the still life onto the canvas using shadow color) Discussion re: "fearing the blank canvas and other phobias", "nurture mistakes and confusion", "paint loosely with humor and abandon" Clean up

Next time: painting the light

Class four:
Set up. Discussion re: (Technique outline passed out in Class two - "This technique vs. the Impressionists") WARM SHADOW/COOL LIGHT ("In life, you notice the light on an object, not its shadow") --> demonstration of warm/cool colors Discussion re: PAINTING THE LIGHT --> hands on (students will begin the process of pulling dimension out of shadow using layers of color and value) Clean up

Next time: creating dimension

Class five:
Set up. Discussion re: CREATING DIMENSION --> techniques using the contrast of "cool" and "warm" colors to give the illusion of edges rounding and receding --> hands on (students will continue to paint on their previous work, using value and color to create dimension, culminating in highlights) Discussion re: HOLISTIC PAINTING "while painting each element or detail of your subject, keep the entirety of the image on your canvas in peripheral view" Discussion re: WHAT'S AN ARTIST ANYWAY? (students will get an earful about how to not compare themselves to the masters or even other students) "if you create from your heart, mind and life experience, you ARE an artist", "competition and other distractions"
SUMMATION: Students will have an opportunity to digest their experience in these beginner sessions, e.g., "light bulb" moments, strengths/weaknesses, confusions, inspirations, etc. Students will be provided with a prospectus/application for intermediate-level sessions. Discussion re: discounts for referrals, supply sources, etc. Clean up

( Four easels fill up pretty quickly at my place ... just so you know.)

HOME  |   INTRODUCTION  |   GALLERY  |   WHY BOTHER?  |   COMMISSION INFO  |   ABOUT THE ARTIST  |   CONTACT ME  |   CARDS AND WRITING  |   LESSONS

Copyright © 2008 - 2010 Oil Portraiture by Kiefer  All Rights Reserved.
Website design by Karen Kiefer. Inquire within.