Acrylic Painting | Big Juicy Impasto Painting | Mellissa Read-Devine

Bright impasto acrylic painting, so thick and textural it is almost delicious! Join Mellissa Read-Devine for this acrylic painting class where you will learn about ‘impasto’ painting, a technique used in painting where paint is laid on the surface very thickly, usually thick enough that the brush or painting-knife strokes are visible. Learn how to use impasto medium with your acrylic paints, simplify shapes and keep your colours bold and bright. Mellissa is known for her impressionistic style of painting, has been the recipient of many award and prizes and is displayed in many galleries and private collections. She is a regular tutor all over Sydney and we’re pleased to have Mellissa at Art Est for several workshops throughout the year.

Image credits : details of paintings by Mellissa Read-Devine

Is this course right for me

Some prior experience with acrylics is assumed. Students should have attended at least an introductory workshop or class.

Materials

Please bring the following:

2-4 small to medium canvasses or cradled wooden boards – rectangular or square. Mellissa recommends sealing your canvas in advance with at least one coat of gesso to save time.

Acrylic Paint – I use mainly Matisse Structure, but you can bring what you have so long as it is artist quality. (Note: cheap paints from a discount store will not work as they do not have the pigment and don’t mix well.) This is my preferred colour palette:

• White
• Naples Yellow
• 2 different yellows (warm and a cool)
• Cadmium red or equivalent
• 1 of the following: Alizarin, Magenta, Red Violet or Rose Madder
• 1 of the following: Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Teal/aqua, Cobalt Blue
• Ultramarine or Pthalo Blue
• 2 of your favourite complementary colours – purple/orange/bright green

Brushes – synthetic preferred, not too soft – flat and fairly stiff is good in assorted sizes eg. 12/10/8/6 – larger ones if you are working big
Small brush for detail
Old round brush approx size 10/12
Larger brushes – eg cheap hake or small painters brushes for backgrounds
Water spray
Palette / painters knife
Plastic card eg. old Library card for scraping or scumbling.
Palette – the flatter the better, white plastic plates are good.
*Impasto Medium or Heavy Gel Medium
Rags
Apron
Image references/photos printed to at least A4 (note it’s usually better to work from printed photographs than from your iPad/iPhone or other mobile device)

Paper & soft pencil/charcoal for sketches

Our workshops are all delivered in studio at Art Est.

We have extra measures in place for your health and well-being.

Please read about our Covid-19 safe measures here.

Maximum of 8-12 students in all our classes depending which studio is used Our class sizes are small, ensuring you receive the individual tuition you need.

Unless otherwise noted, prices exclude art materials.
Click here for art packs and canvasses you can purchase from Art Est.
Click here to see a list of local art supply retailers.

Read FAQs Terms + Conditions