New painters as well as seasoned artists will receive a complete overview of acrylics, from mixing colors to the use of mediums and final varnishes. The class will cover the following foundation skills; brush types & care, paint & palette storage and painting surfaces & gesso. The following painting techniques will be taught with demonstrations in a studio atmosphere: Alla Prima, Impasto, Imprimatura, Glazing, Blocking In/Underpainting, Scumbing and Collage. Works of master artists will provide examples of each of the painting techniques as well as reference for artistic styles. Learners will share assignments with the Instructor, and class discussions/critiques will be in a group setting with students producing a final Acrylic painting.
Goal: Build core acrylic skills through hands-on technique studies and one small final painting that will integrate each students’ favorite painting technique.
The class will start with a review of the supplies, basic handling of the material, brush control, and working wet-into-wet (Alla Prima). There will be a discussion on how acrylics behave vs. other paints, different brush types & brush marks/strokes. There will be a demonstration with color mixing using a limited palette and completing an Alla Prima study of a white still life. Each session will end with a class share/critique, questions & clean-up and a preview of the next session.
The class will review various mark making techniques using a palette knife and review Master Artists who utilize Impasto in their production. Impasto is building thick paint layers, making expressive marks while showcasing the texture of the paint. Students will produce an Impasto painting of a vegetable still-life. In addition, sculptural surfaces additives like sand, pumice, modeling paste will be explained. Each session will end with a class share/critique, questions & clean-up and a preview of the next session.
Students will learn underpainting and overpainting using transparent layers of color to achieve the technique of Glazing. The use of gloss medium, creating multiple color layers will be demonstrated. Students will complete an abstraction study based on the art of Kandinsky. Each session will end with a class share/critique, questions & clean-up and a preview of the next session.
There will be a class presentation outlining the processes of: repetition, rhythm, balance and pattern. Students using exacto knives & oaktag will create two different stencils; creating a pattern in one and defining an object in the other. Using stencil brushes as well as sponges, students will produce two stencil studies. Each session will end with a class share/critique, questions & clean-up and a preview of the next session.
Students will be given a historical overview of the first collaged materials introduced into paint with Picasso & Braque. There will be a demonstration of the collage method using paper, magazine cutouts and other various materials with gloss medium. Students will integrate acrylics with paper, texture, and selected materials into a small artwork. Students will create a final painting using one of the five techniques. There will be a final group share/critique.
* TAG invites all people to participate in classes, and we never want price to be a barrier. If you can’t afford to attend a class, send an email to info@tapparts.org or call 804-925-1011. We have scholarship funding available for high school students, seniors on a fixed income, or people in a tough spot financially. No shame!
