Oil Painting Workshop
Carol Merrill is an enthusiastic and inspiring instructor who specializes in teaching the techniques of the old master's and the skills of impressionism. Artists have the ability to choose between an indoor studio setting or a outdoor garden environment under protective tents. Classes and workshops are a multifaceted learning opportunity focused on meeting the individual needs and interests of each student.
Merrill Fine Arts Studio offers evening classes, Saturday workshops and three-day workshops for artists of all levels.
Classes and workshops will include demonstrations, lectures, and one-on-one instructions based on the artist's skill level and motivation to learn. Ongoing critiques are also a vital part of the learning process.
Step-by-step instruction manuals are available for students and additional instructional pages are available for individuals who would like to custom make their own manuals.
What can artists expect to learn?
- How to create a composition
- Color Theory and Color Mixing
- Painting from photographs
- Painting from life
- Drawing
- Impressionism and/or Old Master's Techniques
- Direction
- Texture
- Line
- Shape
- Value
- Light and Shadows
OLD MASTER'S SUPPLY LIST #1 (Graphing and Drawing)
For the first few weeks the only supplies you will need to bring to class are:
- A copy of the picture you want to paint (enlarged to the size of your canvas) Have a color copy made. Then have a second enlarged copy made on a color printer, but printed in black and white. IMPORTANT . . . do not use a black and white copier, because the values will be incorrect!
- 20 x 24 clear acetate .005
- Fine Black permanent felt tip pen
- Extra- Fine Black permanent felt tip pen
- Extra- Fine Red permanent felt tip pen
- Extra- Fine Blue permanent felt tip pen
- 1 - Red pencil
- 1 - Blue Pencil
- 1 - #2 HB charcoal pencils (the brand "General" is the best)
- 1 - #2 B charcoal pencils (the brand "General" is the best)
- 2 - #6 B charcoal pencils (the brand "General" is the best)
- Kneaded eraser
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Cotton Balls and q-tips in a small ziplock bag
- One shamy (yes, the same kind that are used to dry cars) cut into 6" squares
OLD MASTER'S SUPPLY LIST #2: - (Underpainting - Verdaccio)
- A canvas no larger than 16" x 20" or 20" x 24" unless you are a very experience artist
- 2 tubes mars black oil paint
- 4 tubes chromium oxide green oil paint
- 1 large tube flake white oil paint
- Palette or palette paper
- A large 11x16 value scale under a glass palette (can be purchased for $22.00 at Merrill Fine Arts Studio). Similar palettes with value scale are $30.00 - $40.00.
- Palette knife - Choose the one that feels comfortable to you. Buy a metal one, not plastic
- Paper towels
- Odorless Turpentine
- Brushes - there are four basic types of brushes: Flat, Filbert, Fan, and Round
- Flat--# 4, 6, 8, & 10 - buy only oil/acrylic brushes - one set of bristle brushes and one set of sable brushes (If you cannot purchase all of them, then start with a #4 and a #10.
- Small Round brush - size 0
Old Master's Supply List #3 - (Paints and Colors)
Once you beginning the color glazing process, you will need the following paints:
- Alizarin Crimson
- Burnt Umber
- Burnt Sienna
- Raw Umber
- Cadmium Yellow Medium
- Cadmium Red Light
- Cerulean Blue
- Dioxazine Purple
- French Ultra Marine
- Indian Yellow
- Lemon Yellow
- Cadmium Yellow
- Yellow Ochre
- Permanent Rose (optional)
- Sap Green
- Titanium White - large
Brushes can be very expensive, so base the size of the brushes you buy with the size of your canvas. The bigger the canvas the bigger the brush you'll want. You may want to start with a large and small brush of each type: flat, filbert, round, fan.