Painting for Everyone in Oils or Acrylics with Ash Frost
This painting course is open to anyone, from beginners to those with prior experience who are seeking a painting studio experience and to learn from an experienced art tutor. Over the 8 weeks, the course will explore some fundamentals including tone and colour, perspective and proportions and finding structure in the painting. We will also look at drawing exercises to help discover gestures and movement in the work. Students can work on their own subject or seek direction from their tutor.
Note: Tutor Michael Simms will be guiding students in weeks 5 and 6 of term 4 2024.
What to expect
Each week the class will start with a short demonstration and tutorial and then, students will be given the option to proceed with their own work or create a work based on the week's program.
Over the course, students will learn compositional techniques to help establish ideas for new paintings from a wide range of genres including still life, interiors, landscape, portrait and figure studies.
While this is an 8 week term, students are welcome to attend class on a casual basis and pay per class. When you book for 3 or more sessions in one transaction you will get a 10% discount. (No other discounts apply.)
What you will achieve
Students will:
Learn to bring colour, light and energy into paintings
Learn about composition, colour harmony and more
Learn approaches to applying paint and mark-making
Learn about classical and modern master painters
Understand the methods that can move a painting from representation to abstraction
Learn to work from a range of sources including drawings, oil sketches and black and white photographs
Material List
Note: While this is a comprehensive list for artists who have built up their materials kit, for students new to this course please bring what you have to the first class and you can discuss the list with your tutor depending on your personal learning goals.
Pencil/charcoal and some paper or an A4 sketchbook
Palette – A4 or A3 size clear perspex, traditional timber palette or disposable. (Avoid using plates as a palette)
Rags (lots!), Masking tape, about 4 jumbo bulldog clips
Brushes (variety of sizes with a few bigger ones as well as small/thin ones for details)
Palette knives, at least two.
For supports: it's a good idea to have a range of boards or canvases from as small as 20cm up to 60cm.
3-4 sheets of white or off-white Stonehenge paper 56x76cm
Reference material: Bring a variety of pictures/photos/drawings of landscapes and interiors that inspire you – plus any sketches you may have done.
Paints: Students may use acrylic or oil paints only. Please use student quality or better paints.
If using oils and you're sensitive, please bring a box of disposable gloves.
Clean up: Use soap and some heavy-duty scourers.
Optional: A colour wheel and Greyscale chart
The following list will provide you with the essential colours in oil or acrylic
Warm red (In order of preference 1. Cadmium Red, or, Vermillion or Spectrum Red );
Cool Red (1. Quixonachrome Magenta or 2.Alizarin Crimson);
Cool Blue (1. Cobalt Teal or 2. Cerulean Blue or 3. Tasman Blue)
Warm Blue (1. Ultramarine Blue or 2. Cobalt Blue);
Cool Yellow (1. Lemon Yellow or Cadmium Yellow Light);
Warm Yellow (1. Yellow Ochre, 2. Cadmium Yellow Deep or 3. Spectrum Yellow,)
Titanium White
Raw Umber or Burnt Umber, either one is fine. We mix this with your blue to make a black.
The following list will provide you with some extra colours that are worth buying
An additional white - Zinc White
Some additional earth colours including Transparent Red Oxide, Burnt Sienna
Some additional secondary colours include Phthalo Green or Viridian green, Quixonachrome Violet or Spectrum Violet, Cadmium Orange or spectrum orange
If working in acrylics
Acrylic mediums: Glaze painting medium, impasto medium, crackle medium
If working in oils
Oil mediums: Gamsol solvent, linseed oil and liquin. Do not bring any other mediums as these may release airborne toxins
Oil painters should wear disposable gloves, and have some paper towels and a couple of lidded jars to recycle solvent.
About studio classes
Our class sizes are small, ensuring you receive the individual tuition you need. We have a maximum of 12 students per class.
Enrol here for casual attendance in this course. Price *excludes* materials | Suitable for enthusiastic beginners and those with prior experience | Suitable for new and continuing students
Art Est Art School is located at 10 Hill Street Leichhardt, on the corner of Hill Street and John Street on the Annandale side of Leichhardt in Sydney's inner west.
Parking
There is no on-site parking. Please allow time to find parking in the surrounding streets which is free and untimed. Please respect our neighbours and do not park outside our premises as this section of Hill Street is a narrow, dead-end street with resident and commercial business parking only. Thank you.
Public Transport
If taking Public Transport, take the 470 Bus to Moore Street Leichhardt and alight at John Street.
If travelling by train, it is a good 20 minute walk from Stanmore Station via Young Street.
The closest Light Rail stop is Lilyfield. Cross the City West Link and walk along Catherine Street and turn left at Hill Street. Allow 15-20 minutes walk time depending on your pace.