Titus Castanza's "Anything in Oils"
January 19th – February 9th
Course Description:
Intermediate-Advanced.
Minimum____4________
Maximum____10________
Class Description
This class is all about, “paint anything you’d like” in oils! Meaning, you have complete freedom to paint whatever subject matter you prefer. Whether it is a photographed portrait or landscape, a still life, or a self-portrait with a mirror, or whatever! Learn how it really doesn’t matter what you paint, but how you paint it. Utilize what you’ve learned in my other classes and strengthen the 3-step fundamental approach. The class will deal with: color mixing, value, paint application, composition, achieving depth, color harmony and simplifying your approach while making sense of the art making process. The instructor will give brief painting demonstrations. Limit 10 students.
Materials List:
1. Assorted brushes
2. Oil paints
3. Medium (non-scented turpentine, in addition to linseed oil)
4. Canvas (canvas board, canvas pad, stretched canvas or primed paper)
5. Rags (paper towels or cut-up t-shirts)
6. Palette knife
7. Palette (or palette paper)
8. Photograph or prop of what you are to paint
Please bring to class all the materials YOU normally use to paint with.
1. Assorted brushes of your preference. I suggest bristle brushes: filberts and flats of assorted sizes 2 through 10.
2. Oil paints - Please bring colors you are already familiar with (the colors you already use on your current palette). Make sure you have the primary colors and a white: cadmium red, cadmium yellow, ultramarine and titanium white. I like to use a warm and cool of each color. Here's my palette: windsor lemon, cad. Yellow light, cad. Red, alzarin crimson, veridian, manganese blue, ultramarine blue, magenta, and titanium white. I also like indian yellow and cobalt blue.
3. Medium - Bring an odorless medium. I like to use linseed oil and an odorless thinner (Grumbacher's - "Pre-tested Odorless Thinner".)
4. Canvas - Bring multiple primed canvas (2-3) and no bigger than you can handle (time wise). I suggest something in the range of 16”-20" on the longest side. This includes: canvas (stretched or loose), canvas board, primed panel, Masonite, illustration board,primed paper, or other.
5. Rags - I suggest paper towels or cut-up old t-shirts if you have them.
6. Palette knife - for mixing paint on your palette (I use a smaller triangular shaped one). Yes, you need this.
7. Palette - Don't forget your palette. You can use a wooden one, glass, or disposable tear-off sheets.
8. Photograph or still life object- Bring a photo or prop of what you want to paint. Just keep it simple. Don't bring in a picture of the entire Grand Canyon unless you are advanced. This may include clippings from magazines, printouts, or other. Print them out larger so you can see detail without squinting... nothing small.
Paints:
This is an oil painting class and I suggest using linseed oil as your liquid medium. However, it is fine with me if you prefer to use acrylics, alkyds or water based paints. This will not affect my philosophies or my ability to teach.
I like to use the following colors (mostly, a warm and a cool version of each primary):
Winsor and Newton:
- Winsor Yellow (any cool yellow, such as lemon yellow)
- Cadmium Yellow light (warmer)
- Indian Yellow (warm like cadmium yellow, but without white in it)
- Cadmium Red (warm)
- Alizarin Crimson (cool red)
- Viridian (cool green, dark)
- Manganese Blue or Cerulean Blue (cool)
- Cobalt Blue (warm)
- French Ultramarine (warm, dark)
- If you’d like: Burnt Umber (warmer brown) and Raw Umber (cooler brown)
- Titanium White