Intro to Oil Painting and Drawing

“Welcome to intro to oil painting and gesture drawing. My name is Sydney and I will be your instructor for this class. I am so excited that you chose to potentially explore something new today. I think we will all learn something new today whether you have oil painted before or this is your first time painting ever! I will be demo-ing what it’s like to work from a still life.”

Learn simple tools to help you explore the world of oil paint.  Learn a fundamental skill called Gesture drawing that will help you start to really “see” what you are looking at.  This is a simple course designed for beginners in an easy-to-understand manner.  At the end of this class, you will have completed an oil painting and have enough paint to start your next one. Use this class as a launching point into your creative experience with painting. If you are looking for a space for self-care, painting can be that platform.  Explore a new medium while taking some time just for you.

Thank you for considering taking this course.  I love teaching and exploring new topics with students.  My students range from 5 to 89.  I personally believe we all have an inner artist waiting to come out and explore what that means to us.

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”

– Vincent Van Gogh

Supplies needed for this class:

Here is what you are going to need for this class:

• A canvas (of any size) I will be using a 9×12 canvas for demonstration
• Oil Paints (recommended colors: Cadmium red, Cadmium yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber, White)
• Turpentine or nontoxic turpenoid (recommended for non-ventilated areas or in a home)
• A Jar
• A variety of brushes (I recommend buying a cheap set of brushes)
• Sketchpad and pencil

We are going to be painting a very simple still life for this class. At this time pause the class and gather the following items:

• A Paper Towel
• A Plain Hard Cover Book
• A Plain white mug or cup (if you do not have a white mug or cup feel free to cover a cup with a piece of white paper)
• A lamp or light source (if you have a desk lamp that would be perfect for this exercise)
• A pallet (this can be something you purchase at a craft store or a simple piece of glass, or paper plate that is thrown away at the end of this session)