Studio Class
ABOUT THIS CLASS:
Demystify the oil painting process by learning to look at the world through the lens of structure, light, and value. Designed specifically to eliminate the fear of the blank canvas, this course breaks a painting down into logical, manageable stages. Working from live, carefully curated still-life setups under a single directional light source, students will explore the essential toolkit of painting: form, edge control, and value relationships. By limiting the variables and focusing on deliberate, steady practice, beginners will build immediate confidence, while intermediate painters will break through technical plateaus, correct stubborn structural habits, and master the sophisticated mechanics of atmospheric depth and edge control.
This course will cover the following skills for chiaroscuro still life painting. Each student will develop at their own pace, and with consistent practice, guidance, and repetition, the whole system can be a part of each student’s toolkit. The skills taught are as follows:
Drafting & Composition Skills
- Proportional Scaling: How to establish a stable, foundational unit of measurement using the largest or tallest object to anchor a composition.
- Spatial Balancing: The ability to accurately read and utilize negative space around the perimeter of a canvas to create balanced, intentional placement.
- Abstract Shape Mapping: Training the eye to look past the identity of an object and accurately plot the big, foundational geometry of a scene.
Value & Light Mastery
- Value Zone Separation: The discipline to isolate shadow zones from light zones, specifically maintaining a controlled value range of 7 and up for all shadow areas.
- Open Grisaille Execution: The technical ability to manipulate paint blocks and use a rag to “wipe away” light, establishing a clear value key early in the process.
- The Architecture of Highlights: The skill of layering cool, opaque lights over warm undertones to make focal points drop back or pop forward with convincing realism.
Color & Temperature Control
- Transparent-to-Opaque Layering: The mechanical understanding of keeping darks and shadows transparent and luminous while building dimension with opaque lights.
- Temperature Shifting: The ability to pre-mix warm temperatures and deliberately mute or cool them to handle form transitions realistically.
- Shadow Preservation: Learning how to safely rewet dry shadows and introduce warm-leaning reflected lights without muddying or losing the structural darks.
Edge & Finish Handling
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- Lost-and-Found Transitions: The sophisticated technique of losing an object’s edge completely into a dark background to create mystery and depth.
- Focal Point Direction: Knowing how and where to maintain a crisp, hard edge to explicitly guide the viewer’s eye to the area of convergence.
- Unified Finishes: The judgment needed to execute final touch-ups, details, and transitions that pull a painting together into a cohesive, strongly illuminated presence.
Suitable for beginner and intermediate artists, no experience necessary! Ages 16+
Tuesdays, September 15, 22, 29, and October 6, 2026
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Studio 2
$172 for four consecutive classes
SUPPLY LIST
INSTRUCTOR BIO & SCHEDULE
Next Session:
Tuesdays, October 13, 20, 27, and November 3, 2026
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Studio 2
Important Details for Students:
- To learn more about Registration, Cancellation Policy, Approved Solvents, and other important details CLICK HERE.
- A non-refundable Registration Fee is required for first-time enrolling students. CLICK HERE
- Visit your Student Dashboard for access to your account and materials such as supply lists & school map, CLICK HERE.
- Those with special needs and/or requests may email the Registrar at registrar@woodstockschoolofart.org.
