Color-Blocking in Acrylic

Color-Blocking in Acrylic

360 Online Class | This program is completed

All Levels
5/15/2023-6/12/2023
6:30 PM-9:30 PM PDT on Mon
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$256.00
$230.40
$10.00

Color-Blocking in Acrylic

360 Online Class | This program is completed

Color-blocking is a method of constructing an image through shapes of color, and could be considered a gateway from perceptual realism to abstraction. Acrylic paint is an ideal medium for quickly building a shape-based image out of paint, allowing us to layer shapes of color like pieces of colored paper in a collage. In the class, we will discuss how to begin and develop an image this way, and explore how to do this with a variety of palettes. Students will be challenged to expand their decision-making about color and shape, as well as receive a basic introduction to using acrylic paint. We will think critically about how simple elements of value, color, and shape work together to create a compelling image. This class is suitable for beginners and advanced students alike! Students are welcome to explore a variety of subject matter through this process of color-blocking. Class time will encompass slide lectures, demos, and individual guidance/Q&A. Demos will explore a variety of palette structures and subject matter including still life, figure, and master-copy. Students are encouraged to tune in to class prepared to paint along!


  • Acrylic Paint tubes- Students are encouraged to have some version of this basic Chromatic Palette on hand, and are welcome to bring any other colors if they have them. I recommend the Golden brand, but any artist-grade brand of acrylic paint or Acrylagouche will suffice.

    Titanium White (Golden OPEN acrylic brand highly recommended)
    Ivory Black
    Cadmium Yellow
    Cadmium Red Light
    Cadmium Orange
    Phthalo Green
    Ultramarine Blue
    Dioxazine Purple
    Indian Yellow
    Alizarin Crimson or Quinacridone Red

    Paper- Any watercolor or heavy vellum bristol paper at least 8”X10” in size

    Medium- Retarder Gel, Golden Brand recommended (for slowing the drying time of the paint). Optional: Acrylic Glazing medium or Matte Medium, any brand.

    Palette Knife/Brushes- Bring a medium sized, trowel shaped metal palette knife, such as the Liquitex 119901 Professional Freestyle Small Painting Knife No. 1

    This is a palette knife-heavy course, but you might wish to have a selection of brushes available to use in later stages of a painting. I use these brushes-

    #2 round synthetic
    #2 round bristle brush
    #6 round bristle brush
    #6 flat bristle brush
    #11 Filbert bristle brush
    1’2” flat synthetic brush
    1” flat synthetic brush

    1” wide masking tape in white
    A hard surface to which you attach your paintings.

    An approximately 16”x20” glass palette or Jack Richeson Grey Matters Paper Palette, 12 by 16-Inch, 50 Sheets or a Glass Palette. Any palette will work, please note that having more space to mix paint is better.

    Roll of Paper towels OR old clothes you can turn into paint rags.

    Easel or table. You may want to invest in an easel but you can also tape your painting to your backing board and lean the whole thing on the edge of a table.

    Disposable Gloves

    **OPTIONAL: It is very important to light your painting with bright, neutral-cool colored light to properly assess what colors you are mixing. I recommend using Sunco Lighting A15 LED Bulb Dimmable Refrigerator Appliance Bulbs, 8W Equivalent 60W, 6000K Deluxe, 800 LM, E26 Medium Base, Instant On, Super Bright, Indoor Outdoor Light - UL, Energy Star 6 Pack lightbulbs to use in your lamps. If you have access to natural light from a window or any other light source with those qualities it is also good. I also use the Vekkia brand “Royal Super Bright 29 LED Music Stand Light” to light my painting, but it is not necessary that you invest in that as well.


Amy Erickson