This studio course is an exploration of the basic techniques of oil painting from observation. We will push paint in color and form to wildly varying ends, drawing upon subjects that range from microscopic objects in the Nature Lab to the depth of the sky. Each student will be encouraged to develop a personal relationship to the materials that guides their process of translation from life to painting. We begin with color theory: students will learn to identify, feel, and modulate value, chroma, and temperature to describe an observed environment in oils. Students will hone their skills in drawing, color mixing, and oil paint application. They will build painterly range through explorations of scale, mark, and composition. Our guiding force will be close looking–the emotional and conceptual core of observational painting, as we discuss and experience its possibilities and implications. We will also cover the basics of stretching canvas, priming surfaces, and using mediums.

The class will move from up close objects painted in the controlled studio environment towards plein-air painting in the landscape. Throughout the term, there will be presentations and readings that introduce students to the breadth of modern and contemporary observational painting, and stimulate discussions on observational painting’s potential narratives and hierarchies. In group critiques, students will challenge their conceptual understanding of the subjects they paint and the spaces they witness. The course will culminate in an ambitious, observational painting project of the student’s choosing. Students will have many opportunities to choose subjects that relate to their current practice and interests; the primary focus will be on the translation of in-class studio time into a thriving personal studio practice. This course is open to all levels of painting experience and beginning students will be encouraged.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $200.00

Elective