Exploring Color Relationships

Exploring Color Relationships

Workshop | Available

87 Mountain Road West Hartford, CT 06107 United States
Upstairs
All
11/1/2025-11/2/2025
10:00 AM-4:00 PM EDT on Sun Sat
$345.00
$325.00

Exploring Color Relationships

Workshop | Available

Join us for a colorful exploration into how to paint this popular season like a pro. Autumn attracts both painter and collector alike, but how do we make a statement on our canvas that is appealing to the viewer and not overrun with color. The old saying that “if everything is painted bright, nothing is bright” is a great example of the crucial role that contrast of values and color play in the painting process. Neutrals help balance a painting and effectively explain the brighter color notes, while simultaneously the bright color notes help explain the more neutral color notes. 

Questions that we hear frequently from students are “how do I make this bright orange and yellow foliage go back into the distance instead of overpowering the foreground?”, (hint: it’s NOT just a matter of mixing grey into it.) There is color everywhere, how do I make one area the focal point when everything is calling for attention?” 

With a demonstration and discussion by David each morning, we will  show you how to capture this season effectively, and have fun doing it. Painting autumn is one of the greatest balancing acts of all time. and by breaking the thought process down into understandable steps, we have a good chance of success. After each demo, participants will be given numerous choices of reference photos to work from our vast collection of material and will get individual help from both David & Pam.

  • Meeting Times:

    Saturday, November 1 10am - 4pm
    Sunday, November 2  10am - 3pm
  • Suggested Supply List

    OIL PAINT

    We use Rembrandt Oil paint except where noted. 

    Rembrandt Titanium White in Linseed Oil, 150 ml tubes or 40 ml tubes.
    Winsor & Newton Griffin Alkyd Titanium White, 200 ml tube
    Winsor & Newton Liquin Impasto, 200 ml tube
    Rembrandt Permanent Madder Deep
    Rembrandt Permanent Red Light
    Rembrandt Cadmium Yellow Light
    Rembrandt Viridian Green
    Rembrandt Ultramarine Blue Deep
    Optional colors: Rembrandt Cad Red Deep, Rembrandt Venetian Red and Rembrandt Burnt Umber

    Brushes

    Basic: Robert Simmons
    Robert Simmons Signet Series 42 Filberts in even sizes 2, 4, 6, 8
    Robert Simmons Signet Series 40 Brights, Sizes 4 & 6
    Robert Simmons Sienna SNSO Script, Size 6 or any script or rigger type brush.

    Top of the Line: Rosemary Brushes
    Ultimate Bristle Filberts 2, 4, 6, 8
    Evergreen Egberts 0, 2
    Evergreen Pointed Rounds 2, 4, 6
    Evergreen Riggers 2, 4

    Miscellaneous

    Palette Knife-Creative Mark Painters Edge, Style 3T or any 2 1/2 inch palette knife for mixing paint.
    Palette
    Paper Towels-Bounty
    Gamsol or other Odorless Mineral Spirits OMS. No pure turpentine. Turpenoid is another option.
    Painting Medium - Made with 2 parts Gamsol to 1 part each of Stand Oil & Damar Varnish. 
    Brush Washer
    Medium Cup
    Trash Bags
    Canvas - 9x12 and 11x14 inch panels are good travel sizes. 
    Masterpiece ‘Ventura’ and ‘Malibu’ panels are excellent. Guerrilla Painter’s Extra Fine Oil Primed Linen Panels are less expensive and take paint well.

Lussier, David
David Lussier

David Lussier is an award winning contemporary impressionist and nationally recognized plein air painter and workshop instructor. He is a painter in the purist sense of the word. In his poetic and intimate oil landscapes he strives to capture the essence and sense of place of his subject matter. His use of bold broad brushwork brings the surfaces to life and begs the viewer to return for a second look. David started his career as a commercially trained illustrator, but he quickly realized that his passion was in the fine arts. He has been painting professionally for more than twenty five years, has garnered more than 75 prizes for his work and is in numerous private and corporate collections throughout the United States. His work has been featured in many art journals and he is a professional member of some of the finest art associations and groups in the country. David is also an official U.S. Open artist for the United States Golf Association. Four of his paintings hang in the permanent collection of the USGA Museum in Far Hills New Jersey.