Painting Animals In Oils

Painting Animals In Oils

Class | Available (Membership Required)

87 Mountain Road West Hartford, CT 06107 United States
Upstairs
1/6/2025-3/10/2025
1:00 PM-4:00 PM EST on Mon
$265.00
$245.00

Painting Animals In Oils

Class | Available (Membership Required)

In this class, you will learn how to capture the soul of any animal in oil paint. Using a fusion of traditional and non-traditional techniques, we will learn how to paint everything from their expressive eyes to the soft pads of their feet. Painting animals is more than just covering the canvas with copious amounts of fur, and this class will teach you the methods needed to paint a successful animal portrait.


  • Source:
    Please bring either a tablet with source images (and tablet mount if you have one) or several 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 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 11x14
    and 16x20 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.
    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)

    Contact:
    Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this course. My email is
    mlaiuppafineart@gmail.com

Mike Laiuppa

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.