Introduction to classical painting

Skill level: Intro/intermediate

Oil painting combines the foundational principles of drawing with the exciting challenges of working with color and the unique properties of oil paint.

In this workshop, we’ll break down the essential elements involved in creating a successful oil painting. Whether you're brand new to the medium or looking to strengthen your fundamentals, this class will provide a thorough and approachable introduction to classical oil painting techniques.

Topics we’ll cover include:

• Achieving accurate linear drawing

• Understanding and organizing values to create a convincing light effect and sense of space

• Mixing color with confidence and accuracy

• Organizing and using your palette effectively

• Identifying and arranging warm and cool colors, both in your painting and on your palette

• The step-by-step process of building a painting—from drawing, to block-in, to finishing touches

• Fundamentals of composition and how to guide the viewer’s eye toward a focal point

Throughout the course, we’ll work on a series of small projects and targeted exercises that explore drawing accuracy, value relationships, temperature, and color mixing, all with an eye toward representational painting. As the workshop progresses, students will apply what they’ve learned to create their own still life compositions and will be introduced to portraiture and the human figure.

You’ll learn practical tools and techniques for taking accurate measurements and achieving proper proportions when working from life. We’ll explore a structured approach to blocking in values to help you build a convincing light effect and solid form—skills at the heart of successful representational art.

We'll also take a deep dive into color. Topics include how to use the color wheel, how to mix primary and secondary hues, and how to adjust mixtures to match what we see in nature. You'll gain an understanding of color-value and how it functions in a painting.

We’ll look at several useful palette strategies to help you mix more efficiently and stay organized. After all, it’s often said that 90% of painting happens on the palette—only the final 10% is applying it to the canvas!

We’ll also discuss how to work with warm and cool temperatures in both your mixtures and your paintings to achieve a more natural, lifelike result.

Each project in this course emphasizes process. You’ll learn how to approach a painting systematically: beginning with proportion and drawing, moving into the block-in stage, and finally developing the painting with clarity and finish.

We’ll also explore what makes a strong composition, how to balance an image visually, and how to create a compelling focal point that draws the viewer in.

In the final section of the class, we’ll focus on painting the human form. You’ll learn how to approach flesh tones and gain an introduction to the principles of portrait and figure painting.

This workshop includes live demonstrations, handouts, and personalized one-on-one critiques each day. It’s open to students of all skill levels. The format is designed to support both beginners and more experienced painters—everyone can work side by side, without feeling held back or left behind.

We hope you’ll join us for this comprehensive and inspiring introduction to classical oil painting!

Details

10, 3-hour classes

November 1st to November 30th

Saturdays and Sundays from 9AM-12

This Workshop is $380

Art classes are more fun when shared with a friend. Bring a friend who has not taken one of our courses before and you will both receive a %10 discount off of the listed workshop price. 

To sign up for this workshop, please fill out and submit the form below. 

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