Animal Portraits

Animal Portraits

Adult Class | Registration opens 5/14/2025 8:00 PM EDT

Adult all levels
6/25/2025-8/13/2025
10:00 AM-12:00 PM EDT on Wed
$224.00
$201.60

Animal Portraits

Adult Class | Registration opens 5/14/2025 8:00 PM EDT

Whether it’s fur or feathers, it’s fun to draw and paint animals. Learn the tricks of how to draw or paint a realistic pet portrait, including how to convey the expression in the eyes, the softness of fur or the lightness of the feathers. Student can choose pencil, acrylic or oil paint to render their portrait. Instructor will provide photos and handouts. Student provided photos are acceptable but require instructor approval. Beginners and intermediates welcome. Teens/Adults. Demonstrations, one-on-one attention and class critiques. A materials list will be provided prior to class.

  • Please refer to the required material list below.
  • Painting Materials List
    Supplies can be ordered online, or purchased in store at Jerry’s Artarama, Dick Blick, or Hull’s.
    Michael’s has some of the items.
    Drawing Materials (Mandatory)
    Twelve inch or larger sketch pad with pencil, eraser, ruler and vine charcoal for drawing
    thumbnails, doing studies, and transferring the design to canvas.
    Canvas or Panels
    Purchase a canvas or panel. You can purchase canvas in different grades. For smaller sizes, I
    would use Ampersand Gesso Board panels, but you can use canvas. If painting for the first time,
    keep the size small, under 11x14.
    Paint brands for Oil
    I recommend Professional or Artist Grade Oil Colors, if you can afford it. They have less filler
    and cover better. However, student grade is acceptable.
    Examples of student grade are Winton, Grumbacher Academy, Bob Ross, Daler Rowney
    Georgian, Gamblin 1980, Van Gogh, Blick Studio.
    Windsor Newton Artist’s Oil Color (Pro/Student)
    Examples of Professional/Artist grade are: Rembrandt, Da Vinci, Schmincke, Holbein,
    Blockx, Old Holland, Williamsburg, Daniel Smith, Michael Harding, Charvin, Vasari, Utrecht.
    Paint brands for Acrylics
    Use professional artist quality acrylics, if at all possible. Bring a jar for washing your brush.
    Brands include: Amsterdam, Liquitex Professional series, Pebeo, Sennelier or Golden. Do not
    get the thin type.
    Colors:
    Required:

    ? Titanium White
    ? Ultramarine Blue
    ? Burnt Umber or Transparent Oxide Brown
    ? Cadmium Yellow Light
    ? Cadmium Red
    ? Viridian (green)
    ? Alizarin Crimson

    Optional colors

    ? Prussian or Thalo Blue or Cerulean Blue
    ? Cobalt Blue
    ? Cadmium Yellow medium
    ? Yellow Ochre
    ? Burnt Sienna or Transparent Oxide Red
    Brushes and Knives (required)
    ? A combination of bristle brushes. I suggest small medium and large in sizes 4, 8, 10. Buy
    a combination of Filberts, Rounds and Flats.
    ? One or two synthetic flats/filberts in medium and large sizes for blending and softening
    edges.
    ? Synthetic rounds in small sizes for detail. I suggest Winsor and Newton Septre Gold or
    Silver Ruby Satin.
    ? Medium-sized palette knife. Get the one that has a rounded, off-set blade for mixing
    paint.
    Solvent (Mandatory) for Oils only
    Bring Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits for thinning paint (do not substitute). Please bring a
    leak proof container. You can use a jar with a tight lid, but it’s best to purchase an air-tight brush
    washer that you can get at an art supply store.
    Easels and Palettes (Mandatory)
    ? Portable table top easel or Julian or French Easel. The center has standing easels.
    ? A wooden palette and/or palette paper for mixing paint.
    Other
    ? Carry box: a pizza box is excellent for carrying small paintings.
    ? Linseed Oil (for oil painting only)
    ? Paper towels for clean up or soft cotton rag.
    ? Good photo reference. I have many to choose from but you can bring your own. Very
    Important! Size photo to at least 8” x 10” NO Tablet or Phone Reference, please!

    Drawing Materials List
    You can buy sets of pencils and other items on this list and save some money. Some even
    come with a carrying case. Pencils and vine charcoal are required.
    Pencils
    ? 4B, 6B, and 8B pencils
    ? Woodless pencil (optional)
    ? Pencil sharpener
    Charcoal
    ? Charcoal pencils – black and white, for toned paper
    ? Graphite powder (optional)
    Pens (any fine line pen)
    ? The Sakura Pigma Micron or something comparable
    ? Uni Pin Fine liner pen (optional)
    Paper
    ? Sketch Pad: 11” x 14” or 14” x 17”
    ? Toned Sketch Pad in gray or tan (optional)
    ? Bristol pad, Smooth surface: 11” x 14”
    Erasers
    ? Kneaded
    ? White vinyl
    ? Pen style eraser (optional)
    Other
    ? Xacto Knife
    ? Sanding Block (optional)
    ? Small and medium tortillon and blending stumps for shading
    ? Ruler – Metal one that is 18” is preferred, but a 12” is okay
Patricia Meglio

Patty began taking drawing and painting lessons in the late 90s, and starting in 2003, she began studying painting with local artists, including Marc Antony Massaro in Branford, CT, Terry Oakes-Bourret in Durham, CT, and Hagop Keledjian in Putney, Vermont. She paints mostly in oil on canvas or linen or on panels. Patty’s work is modern impressionist style, mostly depicting country landscapes, seascapes, and still life. Her inspiration stems from twentieth century impressionist art, including works by Sargent, Sorolla, de Lazlo, and Boldini, and modern artists including Schmid, Hanson, Guzik, Demers, and Liberace. She draws her inspirations, as they did, from early twentieth-century architecture, the art deco and Greek classical styles of urban buildings, weather worn barns and open pastures of the country farms, and rocky and sandy beaches lined with classic New England cottages. Patty is a past participant in juried competitions for the Clinton Art Society, Madison Art Society, Artwalk for the West Hartford Art League, and the Mavis Fenner Memorial for the Rowayton Arts Center, and is a winner of the Merchant’s Prize at the Madison Art Show in 2007. She has exhibited in numerous venues throughout the state of Connecticut and New Hampshire. Her work is held in private collections throughout the country. She is a member of the Hamden Art League and the Madison Art Society.