How to Oil Paint Basics: Oil Painting Skills & Techniques Studio
This 15-week studio oil painting course is the second installment of my oil painting series intending to help young artists develop skills by introducing exercises and allowing artists to complete them at their own pace.
Adria W.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(323)
What's included
15 live meetings
26 hrs 15 mins in-class hoursMastery Evaluation
1-2 hours per week. To remove the stress of what is sometimes a very daunting course of study, your learners will not have tests, quizzes, or formal grades in the class. Instead, I utilize positive verbal critiques to provide feedback and encourage improvement. However, if grades are requested I will provide them via rubrics that will suggest a grade. Learners progress will be gauged by the completion of their assignments, execution of techniques, contributions in critique sessions, and their class presence (being on-time, listening when I am speaking, and how they communicate with peers).Certificate of Completion
Young artists can earn a certificate of completion in any of my multi-week courses. Certificates of completion are a great way to document mastery of skills and can be useful for school applications or resumes. Qualifying students will receive a certificate as a PDF document through the learner conversations tab on Outschool within a week after submission of their final project. To earn a certificate of completion students must: • Attend all classes (or otherwise make up the lesson) • Submit all completed in-class exercises, assignments, and final projects via the learner tab by one week after the course endsClass Experience
Oil painting is an ancient and endearing medium that has allured artists with unparalleled color, flexibility in painting process, and versatility to capture incredible detail. Artists have been painting with oil since the 7th century and from that long tradition emerged master artists who manipulated the medium to create windows into other worlds, like Caravaggio, or stir-up controversy, like Picasso. Some of your favorite artists, van Gogh, Monet, da Vinci, Sargent, Kahlo, and many others, are well-known for their oil paintings. So, it’s no surprise that young artists show interest in this classical medium! But… oil painting is one of the most expensive, time-consuming, and difficult paintings to do. From the vast number of materials and tools to technique, color, brushstroke, and more, oil painters have a lot to contend with. This semester long oil painting course aims to help young painters with a basic understanding of oil painting skills and techniques develop mastery of their abilities through ample practice, various exercises, and engagement with a wide range of subject matter. In this course, we will review important concepts from How to Oil Paint Basics: Still Life Painting, learn about how to apply paint with intention, analyze brushstroke, copy masterworks, learn more about value and color mixing, and learn different ways to simplify a painting. At the end of course, young artists will produce a final oil painting on canvas using a subject of their choice. How to Paint Basics: Oil Painting Skills & Techniques Studio is the second installment of my oil painting series. The 15-week course is intended to expand upon the information and develop the skills presented in How to Paint Basics: Oil Painting. This course is presented in a studio format, which means that after explaining lesson goals, demonstrating the exercises, and answering any potential questions, young artists will complete tasks at their own pace. They will also have creative freedom on what they would like to paint for most exercises, as long as they accomplish the lesson goals. I will be present throughout every class, painting alongside students while making myself available for conversations or questions. This course will cover several topics in depth, including brushstrokes, values, simplification, color, and composition.
Learning Goals
o Understand course goals and objectives
o Outline lesson plans for the course
o Introduce ourselves to the class
o Review materials
o Review how to read a paint tube
o Review material care
o Review brushstrokes
o Create brushstroke reference guideo Learn why brushstroke is important to painting
o Know how brushes can vary (size, shape, bristle composition)
o Understand the evolution of a brushstroke
o Know & practice different ways to hold a paint brush
o Paint a picture using the entire arm
Syllabus
15 Lessons
over 15 WeeksLesson 1:
Week 1: Course Overview, Materials Review, Basic Brushstrokes
Our first lesson will be dedicated to the boring stuff, including outlining course content and expectations, reviewing painting materials as presented in the previous course, and warming up our painting skills by practicing creating different marks with different brushes, paint media ratios, and so on. 105 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Week 2: Brushstrokes: Using Motion with Intention
In our second lesson, we will prioritize the brush and creation of brushstrokes. We will start by considering the different parts of a brush, different sizes and shapes of a brush, as well as different bristle compositions. We will discuss how brush capacity, wetness, and the evolution of a brushstroke as the paint and medium within it changes. Finally, we will cover different ways to hold the brush and how to use the entire arm to paint. 105 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Week 3: Brushstrokes: Analyzing & Copying Masterworks
In our third lesson, we will take what we have learned about brushes, brushstroke, and using the entire arm to paint to expand upon it by examining how different oil painters use their brushes. Once we have examined the various works, young artists will take their favorites and re-create them how they see fit. Young artists may choose to copy a work entirely or use aspects of the work, such as a specific brushstroke or subject, to mimic. 105 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Week 4: Value: Value Scale & Painting a Simple Sphere
Our fourth lesson will ask young artists to paint value scales in intervals, create tools to help them identify values, and paint a simple sphere to review the parts of a shadow. 105 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Pre-Requisites
This course is recommended for young artists who have basic oil painting knowledge including: what materials are appropriate for oil painting, painting brushstrokes, how to paint forms, basic color mixing rules, etc.
Supply List
Oil painting is an expensive pursuit. While each of the materials purchased will likely last well beyond the scope of this course, the upfront cost may be intimidating. You can expect to spend between $60.00 - $100.00 USD on art supplies depending on what your young artist already has available, the quality and quantity of the items you purchase, and where you purchase them at. I strongly recommend looking for student grade materials, store brand materials, small or sample sizes, and investigating prices across stores to get the best prices. MATERIALS: Oil Paints - Traditional or Water-Mixable/Soluble (~$35.00 - $50.00 USD) o Lemon Yellow Hue, PY3 o Cadmium Yellow, PY35 o Cadmium Red, PR108 o Alizarin Crimson, PR83 o Ultramarine Blue, PB29 o Phthalo Blue, PB15 o Phthalo Green, PG7 o Yellow Ochre, PY43 o Burnt Sienna, PR101 o Burnt Umber, PBr7 o Raw Sienna, PBr7 o Titanium White, PW6 o Optional other colors (purples, oranges, and warm greens make nice additions!) Suggested Synthetic or hogs hair/boars Bristle Brushes (~$8.00 -$15.00 USD) o Round 4 o Round 6 o Flat 6 o Filbert 4 o Mottler 8+ o Optional other shapes /sizes Mediums, if using traditional oil paint (~$10.00 USD) o Gamsol or other odorless mineral spirit AND o Refined linseed oil AND/OR o Solvent-Free Gel Mediums, if using water-mixable oils (~$5.00 USD) o Water o Solvent-Free Gel Surfaces o Pack of Oil Painting Paper (at least 7” x 10”) (~$10.00- $15.00 USD) o 2x Primed Canvas board (at least 8” x 8”) (~$5.00- $15.00 USD) Other Supplies o Graphite Pencils o Erasers o Drawing paper o Paint Palette (~$7.00 USD) o Palette Knives (~$5.00 USD) o Brush tank (~$10.00 USD) o Old fabric cloths and /or Paper towels o Surface Cleaner Optional Supplies o Paint Saver Keys o Jars for storing mediums o Palette Scraper/Razor o Gesso + Sandpaper (Only necessary if buying unprimed canvas) o Easel o Painter’s Tape Learners will receive several PDF's upon enrollment, including a syllabus with full lesson plans, an oil painting materials guide, worksheets, and a policy packet. How to Oil Paint Basics.pdf (263 KB) OilPaintingMaterialsGuide.pdf (211 KB) OilPaintingWksts.pdf (3 MB) PoliciesandRequirements2023.pdf (110 KB) Glossary2024.pdf (110 KB) Throughout the course, young artists will be asked to use photo references to complete their paintings. When photo references are required, they will be uploaded in the comments of the classroom post in both the previous weeks' post AND the weeks' post in which the references will be necessary. Learners will be reminded when photo references are needed verbally in class and also through the classroom posts.
5 files available upon enrollment
Language of Instruction
English
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am delighted to be able to offer classes that emphasize fine art techniques through the lens of observational drawing. Observational art is a method of learning to draw with three principles in mind: understanding of the subject, building looking skills, and practice of artistic technique. Through this method and practice, learners can draw anything. Completion of my courses will result in a learner who is engaged with art and understands basic art technique. Even students who are not aspiring artists have much to gain from drawing, including improvement of hand-eye coordination and hand dexterity skills.
Along with my bachelor’s degree in art history and studio art from a premier liberal arts institution in Ohio, I also have been teaching since 2016. My online teaching career began on Outschool in 2017. I have taught homeschoolers, unschoolers, and undergraduate students of all ages. My background in art history means that my classes are created with an understanding of historical precedence- I’m teaching what I know works! Many of my classes include examples of important artworks from masters for students to examine and learn skills from. In addition, my many years of teaching art have helped me curate concise and logical drawing curriculum that young artists can easily pick up and apply to their work. Every art class I teach hopes to provide learners with all the knowledge and support they need to grow as an artist.Reviews
Live Group Course
$30
weekly or $450 for 15 classes1x per week, 15 weeks
105 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-17
2-6 learners per class
