Description
This 3-day workshop will provide instruction on creating dynamic paintings based on vintage photographs. Bring your memories to life and infuse them with new color, emotion and narrative! Students will learn various strategies for creating photo-based paintings that have a balance of realism and personal expression. This course will provide the basics to a beginner or build on an experienced artist’s knowledge. It will benefit anyone who wants to explore the special qualities that result from painting from a photo.
Participants will be guided through the full painting process from start to finish. We’ll begin with a discussion of approach and materials, followed by color-mixing exercises to warm up and identify cohesive color families. Grounds will be prepared, and each participant will start 3–4 paintings.
Images will then be transferred and developed through the first layers, with an emphasis on establishing strong light and dark values. As the paintings progress, washes and additional layers will be added to build depth and complexity. Particular attention will be given to navigating the more challenging middle stages of a painting as each piece moves toward resolution. Demonstrations and individualized, one-on-one feedback will be offered throughout the class.
Materials List
You will need to bring:
Set of Acrylic Paints
Mixed Brushes
Palette
3-5 family photos
Set of Paints $23+: A basic set of ACRYLIC paints is needed for this course. Acrylic is recommended due to our quick dry layering processes. If you have a set of colors you love to use you can bring that. Nicole will bring some basic colors and some fun ones to try out. If you are starting from scratch the following colors are recommended: Alizarin Crimson/Quinacridone, Napthol Red/Cadmium Hue, Hansa Yellow/Primary Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White. Brands Nicole likes are Golden, Utretch, Liquitex. The main difference you will find between cheaper and more expensive paints are the intensity of the pigment and the texture of the paint.
Set of Brushes $12+: Any brushes you like you use are great to bring. Nicole likes having a mix of old, rough brushes and new, sharp ones. A mix of shapes is ideal – some bright, round, filbert, etc. She personally use spretty cheap, synthetic brushes. We will be working at a fairly small scale so a mix of 5-7 smaller, synthetic brushes is best – the biggest brush being around 1″. 1-2 Bristle brushes are fine but look for smooth Synthetic as these will help us get some good detail in. Princeton has some good sets.
Palette $8+: Whatever your typical painting palette looks like works. I like disposable ones, trays, or sta-wet palettes. Some people love paper plates or tupperware, whatever you prefer!
Photos: Please email Nicole(or Sitka admin) your photos a few days in advance. Nicole shares she has a personal preference for images of people but can easily support you if you want to paint landscape, still life or architectural images. If you bring in photos of people, select more candid and not super posed options. Painting really precious people like our children or parents can also be extra challenging so if you are a beginner, it is recommended to pick a few photos which excite you but are not so precious that you are stressed about messing them up.
Provided by instructors:
Palette Paper
Some unique paint(neon, special colors)
Paper(painting surface, three sheets per person)