Expressive Painting

Expressive Painting

Class | Registration closed 3/29/2024

87 Mountain Road West Hartford, CT 06107 United States

Upstairs

4/1/2024-6/10/2024

1:00 PM-4:00 PM EDT on Mon

Download iCalendar

$260.00

$240.00

In this class, we will be painting in a more free-form manner (without a preliminary grid or drawing). We will also focus on many other aspects of "freedom" so that your paintings will be more expressive and your painting sessions more enjoyable. For instance, putting temperature before color and edges before detail. Even if you never grid or draw, this class will help you better balance the line between being accurate and painterly all while making your paintings look more convincing and interesting.

 

Many times, when we use a grid or a precise initial drawing, we become "married" to it and are afraid to paint outside the lines. Our painting experience becomes more of a coloring book activity. This limits us and makes us more timid in our brushwork which can show in the final product, even to the untrained eye. Being able to paint over edges--losing the drawing and finding it again--gives us more freedom and, consequently, more expressive paintings.

 

This isn't to say that drawing isn't important--it very much is! But we will be finding that drawing with the right angles and proportions as we paint, as opposed to setting it in stone from the offset. Neither way is more right or more wrong; both approaches are valid. But as with everything, there are advantages and disadvantages, and we will be highlighting and playing with the advantages in a way that will make your painting more confident without changing your individual style. Think of it as an upgrade to what you do now!

  • There will be no class Monday April 8th.

  • Recommended Materials

     

    Source:

    Please bring either a tablet with source images (and tablet mount if you have one) or two or more high quality prints where your subjects have good light and shadow dynamics. We will work on multiple paintings over the course of this class. Please also make sure each selection is either a still life, animal, or human portrait. No landscapes or seascapes (I'll explain why in class). Please don't use your phone to view your source as the screens are too small. If you need assistance picking subjects, I'll be happy to help at the beginning of class.

     

    Substrate:

    Three or four gesso or oil primed canvases or canvas panels (please have allowed oil ground to

    cure for at least a week prior to class if you are priming them yourself) anywhere between 8x10 and

    14x18 in size should be enough.

     

    Brushes:

    I use primarily Rosemary and Co. brushes but you can use whatever is comfortable for

    you. My preferred series from R&C are Bravura, Eclipse, Ivory, and Masters Choice. Generally,

    you'll want to have a collection of moderately stiff brushes and softer brushes in either

    flats or filberts, depending on which you usually prefer, in a variety of sizes from around

    2 up to about 8 or 10. A rigger or liner brush isn't necessary, but good to bring along if

    you have one. Here's a link to a list of my favorite brushes if you'd like to order any from

    R&C:

     

    https://www.rosemaryandco.com/wishlist/shared/index/code/Ks2z3r7761xsJL6j0EUVu3cYZlrzssvb/categoryId/all/?u=e32016

     

    Paint:

     

    As for paint colors, you have the freedom to bring what you are comfortable with for your palette. Generally, I tend to work with a relatively limited palette like the Zorn palette, and then add one or two "guest" colors depeding on that the piece requires. Other times, I'll use a split primary consisting of a warm and cool of the primary colors plus white and maybe an earth brown. Oil is preferred, but quality acrylic paints are acceptable.

     

    Mediums:

    Generally bring what you usually use in your studio to thin paint (like Gamsol) and

    thicken paint (like Liquin). But any thinner and “fattening” oil will be fine as long as

    they work with your paints. However, mediums aren't necessary if you usually don't use them.

     

    ***Please no turpentine or mediums with strong odors as some people are sensitive/allergic***

     

    Other:

    -Proportional divider (a basic plastic one is fine. They run about $10-12)

    -Gray or neutral color palette

    -Rags or paper towels

    -Brush cleaner/containers

    -Any other painting materials you usually use in your studio (easels are provided)

Mike is a Connecticut born and based artist who specializes in human and animal

portraiture as well as still life. While he has owned and operated NuMi Fitness, LLC since

2014, art has always been an integral part of his life. At an early age, Mike could be found

with a pencil and pad of paper in hand. In his teens, he played with oil paint, then moved

on to 2D and 3D digital art after college, dabbled in sculpting in his early forties, and finally

passed through acrylic paints only to settle back into oil painting once again. His work has

been juried into several exhibitions at The Lyme Art Association, Hudson Valley Art

Association, as well as sold at The Finer Line Gallery in Mystic, CT. Mike is also an active

member of the Portrait Society of America.