Make a Small Painting a Work of Art
Location: Scottsdale Location
Room: TBA
Mar 1-5, 2010
Meets 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
on Mon Tue Wed Th Fri
Tuition: $585.00
Level: BEG-ADV
Status: This program is completed
In this class, everyone will set up a still life. I will assist and give advice as needed. Expect to hear me say, “Keep it simple”. A few or even sometimes one object painted beautifully is more compelling than a bunch of stuff crammed together. Expect to do studies. Learn to get a lot of problems out of the way so that the finish will be fun. Don’t expect to work on a painting for a long time, one day max. Every day we’ll start something fresh. Some days you might do more than one or do a few studies. I will spend some time painting each day because it’s easier to show than tell. I’ll show you how to start loose and finish with some great edge work.
Some of the things that will be covered in this class; Setting up and lighting a still life, how and why to use a fan brush (don’t forget your fan brush!), how, why and where to use a palette knife (don’t forget your palette knife,) how to mix close values, how to start and finish a painting, how and why to squint, how to look for and paint shapes, how to paint white drapery, how to keep your darks clean and transparent and why you want to do that.. End of week critiques with suggestions of what you should concentrate on after you leave the class. Expect to work hard and take away the knowledge to do good paintings.
Instructor -- Jean Chambers
Jean Chambers is a Signature Member of Oil Painters of America. Chambers has spent years traveling and studying the Masters in the major museums in the United States and Europe. She recognizes the importance of continuing education for all artists and sets aside time daily from her painting to study and draw. Her work can be found in Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, AZ; Ponderosa Art Gallery, Hamilton, MN; and WhistlePik Galleries, Fredericksburg, TX. www.jeanchambers.com
- 6 canvases, 8”x10” to 12”x16” or 1 ½ yards canvas. I recommend a good quality linen oil or lead primed canvas. There are some techniques that can be accomplished much better with a good canvas. This is not mandatory, just a suggestion! Canvas can be taped to boards or stretched. Sizes aren’t critical so if you have other sizes that you want to bring, that will be fine.
- 2 – lightweight panels about 16” square that will be used for taping the canvas. ¼” luan plywood, fiber board, foam board or even triple gauge cardboard, any surface that will support the canvas well enough for you to mount it on the easel.
- Masking tape for taping canvas to the panels. (if you are using stretched canvas or previously mounted canvas boards, you won’t need #2 and #3)
- Students must use either Mona Lisa brand odorless paint thinner or Gamblin, gamsol. You will need at least a quart. Expect to change often. This is important and will be enforced.
- A container of your choice for previous item.
- Brushes: Bristle: 1 #2 filbert; 1 #6 filbert; 1 #8 filbert; 1 #12 filbert; 1 # 6 flat. 1 fan # 8 (it is important to have a bristle fan brush. I like Robert Simmons Signet #8). Synthetic: 1 # 6 synthetic flat; 1 #8 synthetic flat. Sable: 1 #8 or #10 filbert; Langnickel Royal sable #5590 series 1 each: #4, #8, #12; Langnickel Royal sable #5520 or #5525 series 1 each: #8, #10
- More information on brushes: We may not use each of these brushes but this is a good variety to have. The fan brush is very important. I also do a lot of work with the Langnickel Royal sables so if possible, get a couple so you’ll be able to try them. If you have other bristle and synthetic brushes that are close to the sizes listed, they will be fine but make sure they are in good condition! Robert Simmons Signets are good reasonably priced bristle brushes.
- Palette Knife: A diamond shaped about 2-1/2” long and ½” wide blade ( Be sure to have a palette knife this size or similar)
- A palette of your choice
- Paper towels
- Important paint to have: Rembrandt: Transparent Oxide Red, Transparent Oxide Yellow, viridian, Ivory black. Winsor & Newton: Permanent Alizarin Crimson or Alizarin Crimson Winsor & Newton or Rembrandt: Cadmium Orange and Cobalt Blue Deep
- Other colors that I use, brand not important: Cadmium Yellow, cadmium Yellow pale, Cadmium red, Yellow ochre or yellow ochre pale. Lefranc titanium white.