In this class, you’ll create one oil painting based on a photo reference of your choice.

Before you get started, you will:

Pick a photo of a subject you’re comfortable painting and something you’ll have fun with
Learn all about the properties of oil paints and how to choose the right ones for your project
Gather the right tools (brushes, canvas, etc) without buying more than you need

Then you'll go through these main steps to complete your painting:

Learn how to tap into your color intuition and mix your own custom hues from basic primary colors
Fine tune your colors by blending right on your canvas and troubleshoot color adjustments on the fly
Use different types of brushes to play with edges and create depth
Use that depth to create a "mood" and atmospheric effects to take your painting to the next level

I’ll go into material recommendations for the project in more depth in the class, but here is a preview of what you’ll need to paint along:

Photo reference to paint from
Pre-stretched primed canvas
Assorted brushes + palette knife
Oil paints (minimum of red, yellow, blue, and white)
Palette + old rag
Brush cleaner (I recommend “The Masters” brand)

Oil paintings often require multiple sessions to complete, so don’t feel the need to rush to finish. In fact, often the “unfinished” oil paintings are the ones that feel complete! What matters more is your process, what techniques you explore, and what you discover along the way. I encourage you to upload progress photos (and your reference photo!) to the project gallery along different stages of your journey. Take a look at what other students have posted and pick out moments that grab your attention. These “moments” are the magic that makes for a great oil painting!

P.S. It’s okay if you’re new to painting and color mixing! I’ve provided a cheat sheet you can refer to that will jump start your color knowledge and guide you with choosing paint colors. It's available in the Resources section to your right.

Can't wait to see your class projects!

Gretchen McLain

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