Alla Prima Animals with Suzanne Sheran
Workshop | Available
This workshop will cover the fundamentals of alla prima dog/animal portraits from drawing to completed painting.
You will learn how to:
- choose and crop your reference photo to create the most interesting composition
- create a simple, accurate drawing on your canvas (a great painting starts with a great drawing!)
- how to layer paints to create form and texture
- how to push the values of lights and darks to create a painting with depth and interest
- how to create a portrait that is a convincing likeness that has personality and soul
- I can provide you with photo references or you may bring your own. If you are bringing your own please bring several possible options and make sure they are taken in good light with obvious shadows and highlights. Also make sure they accurately show the animal's color and ideally are taken at eye level, not looking down on the animal from above.
Canvas: A couple of small stretched canvases or gessoboards, both square and rectangle, in any of these sizes: 10 x10, 9 x 12, 11 x 14 or 12 x 12. We will be working in small, manageable sizes using the alla prima (wet- on- wet) method.
Oil Paints: (I suggest oil rather than acrylic for alla prima)
I use mostly Winsor & Newton and Gamblin unless otherwise specified:
-
- Titanium White
- Cadmium Yellow Light (Gamblin)
- Yellow Ochre
- Burnt Sienna
- Alizarin Crimson
- Sap Green
- French Ultramarine
- Ivory Black
- Violet Pastel (Blick)
- Kings Blue (Williamsburg)
- Naples Yellow Deep
- Portland Cool Grey (Gamblin)
Brushes: Just a few will do! I use the Princeton Dakota series- #2 Filbert, #4 Bright, #6 Bright, #8 Bright
Odorless Turnpenoid or Gamsol and container for it
A palette at least 12" x 16". Ideally glass or wood, but disposable palette sheets are OK for class purposes.
Small palette knife for mixing
Paper Towels
Suzanne Sheran
I love animals and I love to paint. Works of Arf is the merging of my two passions- the perfect crossbreed! I trained as a fine artist at the University of Michigan, NYU and the School of Visual Arts and my obsession with dogs is a lifelong one. As a child I donated my weekly allowance to the Humane Society and dreamed of having a dog of my own. That dream was finally fulfilled when I got my Wheaten Terrier, Lucy in 2015. I fully credit her with starting Works of Arf! A portrait I did of her on a whim was the impetus behind starting a joyous business that celebrates the special love people have for their dogs. My painting style is realistic, but painterly and informal and I have an innate ability to capture a dog’s personality along with her likeness.
My commissions have traveled the globe-Tasmania being the furthest place you can find my work! In addition to my private commission work, I am a dedicated animal rights advocate and donate my art and time to help rescues and sanctuaries including the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, The North Shore Animal League, PRoud Rescuers of Puerto Rico, Ollie’s Angels, Best Friends Animal Society, Wheatens in Need and Elephant Nature Park in Chang Mai, Thailand.
Suzanne Sheran, Works of Arf
www.worksofarfportraits.com
Instagram @worksofarfportraits