Seeing Our Light ~ Acrylic on canvas
Have you struggled believing your are good enough?
I have, but I thought once I reached my 60s, I would know everything. I would be confident and brave and yet I still have fears. But I am learning that it is okay to have doubts, and it is important to believe I can be all that I can be if I at least try.
In our class, Seeing Our Light, we will create a bold portrait to remind us to we can step out of the darkness of doubt and see the light of all we can be. We will explore how to play with paints and mark making, while becoming looser with acrylic paints. Our focus will be on developing our confidence by creating whimsical drama that draws the viewer into our artwork.
Who is this class for:
Do you need a confidence bust? It’s okay to have doubts when creating art, but painting outside our comfort zone helps to build our confidence.
If you’re ready to push your color palette, mark making, and light shading to create a dramatic visual story.
Both the beginner and the advanced artist can benefit from the techniques of layering and texture building in this class.
What you will learn:
How to transfer facial proportions from your reference photo to your painting surface.
How to apply thick under-layers to establish a textured foundation for your painting.
The benefits of mark making and the simple tools that can be used to catch the viewer’s interest as well as creating high and low areas for texture.
Brush strokes and brush handling to add a freer and loose style of painting to your artwork.
Blending of acrylic sprays and inks to bring a rich vibrant visual to your artwork.
How to focus on details that will capture the viewer and make them want to understand the story of your artwork.
How the drama of light and dark in your paintings can create a more realistic image without taking away from the whimsical fun of your artwork.
Class Preview
Class previews and intros
Supply List:
Watercolor paper 8x12, 80-120lb, cold or hot pressed.
Artist tape or painter’s tape.
Sturdy board: wood or foam board.
Sheet of white paper (optional) for face drawing practice.
Charcoal pencil or vine charcoal.
Palette knife, scraper, or used gift card.
Sponge.
Chopstick with pointy edge or another pointy tool for mark making.
Baby wipes and paper towels.
Water bowl
Brushes of choice: Flat and Fine liner worked best.
Wax Paper •Gesso –white
Acrylic Art Spray –Raspberry and Lemon: Marabu (If using water-soluble inks, see note below**)
High Flow Acrylic –Sepia: Golden
Fluid Acrylic -Teal, Cobalt Turquoise, Turquoise Phthalo - Golden
Acrylic Paint:
o Olive Green –M. Graham
o Unbleached Titanium –Liquitex Basic
o Med. Magenta –Liquitex Basic
o Light Blue (Pool Blue –Craftsman)
**It is okay to use the supplies you have. The only item needed to get a similar affect would be some type of acrylic art spray. Spray-able acrylic will allow better blending and dries permanently. Water-soluble ink may blend more than you want if you paint over it.