“dramatic skies- the impressionistic west coast landscape in acrylic"

Join impressionistic painter Dale Byhre for two days of acrylic fun exploring the drama and complexity of the west coast landscape

If your goal is to loosen your style and create dramatic skies and idyllic west coast landscapes , then this is the workshop for you.

10 am until 4pm both days

Saturday April 12th and SundayApril 13th

Please call the studio at 6042505562 to book, or register by email using the contact feature on the home page.

$280 including taxes for the weekend

" The whimsical landscape" - using colour translation and creative license to create dynamic landscapes

Saturday, August 23rd and Sunday August 24th . . . 10am until 4pm - both days.

. . .  bring a photo of your favourite house, cottage, cityscape etc. and we'll spend the weekend exploring colour and composition and create something extraordinary from the everyday and ordinary; bending lines and distorting perspective to create a whimsical interpretation of your favourite urban scene. 

During this two day workshop we will also be covering a little art history (just the juicy stuff), basic principles of drawing and perspective, which products to use and which to leave on the shelf, tips and techniques used in building a professional quality painting  using traditional master techniques - how those techniques can be successfully employed by you to build your contemporary masterpiece! . . .lastly -  galleries and marketing and pricing your art (for those who are interested).

This workshop will be open to all levels however it is more suited to intermediate and advanced painters. If you consider yourself a beginner, you will do  fine but some painting experience is necessary. During the workshop I will be doing lots of demos and as always, there will be plenty of hand-holding should you need it . . . nobody gets left behind! Refreshments will be provided . . . just bring your paints (acrylic or oil), a canvas formatted to fit your subject ( no larger than 24 x 30 please) and a good quality subject photo (a few choices would be good), your lunch and an open mind.) 

The class will be limited to 10 participants, so if you would like to reserve a space please do so a.s.a.p as these workshops generally fill within a few days. Please call the studio or use the register link register . . .(604) 250-5562 and send payment of $280 by the 20th of August by e transfer to denecroft@gmail.com, or in person in the studio

Dene Croft studios and gallery

118 Pemberton avenue

North Vancouver, BC

V7P2R5

Light, form and structure - Developing your drawing skills to level up your painting

Four evenings commencing Wednesday the 16th of July - 6.30pm until 9pm each evening.
$280 for the 4 sessions

Whether you’re a beginner or professional artist, mastery of the fundamentals is a lifelong pursuit. In this course, you will learn to create convincing realism in your artwork.

You will practice essential skills for drawing with graphite pencils - perhaps the most important tool artists use to turn their ideas into powerful images.

Working from simple objects, still life arrangements or photo references,

emphasis will be placed on solidifying structure and proportion,

achieving a likeness and using shading techniques to create

convincing 3-dimensional art.

Topics will include:

•  How to draw basic 3-dimensional shapes

•  Key principles of light falling on form and shadows

•  The role of values in creating believable forms and depth of space

•  How shapes, values and edges contribute to compositions that express mood

• and atmosphere

•  How to see colour in terms of shapes and values

•  Bringing it all together

The instructor will demonstrate techniques throughout each class, and spend plenty of time with each student one-on-one. Attendees of this course will be able to confidently take on any subject matter with their new set of skills!

Call the studio at 604-250-5562 to book, or use this link to register register

The impressionistic floral . . . with Shirley-Claire Williams

Painting flowers needn’t be overwhelming! Join me as we search for the flower’s essence and find ways to calm the inherent complexities through smart design choices and personal styling. I will be demonstrating and guiding you as we each develop our own individual paintings FROM LIFE using in-season cut and/or potted flowers. A full materials list will be sent to you closer to the workshop date. Max class size is set at 10, so you’ll get lots of ‘me’ time! I paint in oils, but if you are proficient in acrylic, you are welcome to work in that medium as well. 

This will be fun!

To reserve a space in this workshop, please call the studio at 604-250-5562, or use the contact link book a space

$280 including taxes for the two days

GAYE ADAMS “Waves and water - the west coast seascape

I have had so much interest in this particular subject over the years - Gaye recently ran a very successful waves workshop in my studio - and as a follow up we decided to run a similar workshop - but this time including beaches and headlands. This workshop is ideal for anyone wanting to deal with the subject of waves, beaches and headlands - pretty much all things seascape related, and provides a terrific follow-up workshop for those that took part in the first Waves workshop earlier this year

The workshop will be open to both mediums, but Gaye is an oil painter and she will be demonstrating in oils.

Please call the studio to register 604-250-5562 or email denecroft@gmail.com

Sat the 3rd and Sun the 4th, 10 am until 4pm both days

Cost: $280 incl. taxes for the weekend

Paints:

Titanium White

Ultramarine Blue

Prussian Blue (for acrylicists only)

Cadmium Red, light

Cadmium Red medium (for acrylicists only)

Cadmium Yellow light

Pthalo Blue

Transparent Earth Red or Transparent Red Iron Oxide

Yellow Ochre

Alizarin Crimson

Brushes:

Bring an assortment of flat or bright bristle brushes for oil painters, or synthetics for acrylicists.

Sizes: 2,4,6,8,10.  It will go easier for you if the brushes are well shaped, springy and good quality.

Medium:  Just Gamsol for oil painters;  Glazing liquid and water for acrylicists

Disposable palette, 11X14 or 12X16

Photo references:  provided by instructor

Good quality bendable metal palette knife

Paper towels for cleaning brushes

Canvases:  Please bring only small canvases 2-3 8X10 or 9X12 - please NO LARGER

PLEASE NOTE:  ALL DEMOS WILL BE IN OILS, SO IF YOU HAVE OILS YOU SHOULD USE THEM INSTEAD OF ACRYLICS.

ANN WILLSIE “HOW TO DESIGN A GREAT LANDSCAPE”

  Saturday, April 5th and Sunday, April 6th
     10am until 4pm both days . . . $280 (incl. taxes)

                    

This two day workshop is designed for advanced beginners and intermediate students - all mediums welcome.
Ann works in oils. but you are welcome to bring acrylics, watercolours, pastels etc.
 

This workshop will focus on composition, structure and design of your landscape. Before a painting is even begun, decisions have to be made about the overall design. Some of these decisions include:

1.     Focal Points

2.     Design Principles

3.     Space

4.     Orientation

5.     Use of values

6.     Colour harmony

Each morning will start with a brief discussion of the above subject matters, followed by  exercises designed to help you think about the composition before starting. Ann will be doing short demos throughout the day, as well as helping each individual with their painting on a one-on-one basis.

You will be asked to bring your own reference photos and we will spend some time going over them prior to painting.

                          

There will be a maximum of 10 registrants for this workshop, so if you would like to register for one of the available easels, please call the studio at (604)250-5562, or or email denecroft@gmail.com

Payment can be made by electronic transfer to denecroft@gmail.com, or cash/cheque/credit in person, cheque by mail to the address below. Registration will be closed off April 1st. Payments will need to be made by April 1st to secure your registration.

The contemporary portrait . . . “grisaille and master technique in 21st century portraiture . . .

The only portrait workshop that I will be teaching this year . . . this is going to be a gooder

The contemporary portrait - Master techniques in 21st century portraiture. A two day workshop with Dene Croft exploring the methods and master techniques employed in building  portraits and figure studies in oil and acrylic.

This workshop deals principally with grisaille and underpainting - building the tonal values before building the palette and mixing flesh tones, the importance of under-paint - full instruction and demonstrations on building your portrait from the underpaint or Grisaille, to the finished piece  (. . . lots of hand holding - nobody gets left behind!) adding elements of abstraction to create mood and ambiance.

Cost . . . $280 including taxes

Bring your lunch (some refreshments supplied), your prepared canvas (gessoed and lightly sanded)  your brushes and palette and most importantly, a very clear 8x10 colour photo of your subject. We will provide the paint, mediums etc.

We will be covering topics from lighting and shooting your subjects, the importance of pre-studies, composition and preparing your canvas, incorporating other mediums into your portrait, mixing colour, setting up palette, Grisaille and other master techniques. We will also cover a little art history and discuss  the "rogues gallery" of history's portrait painters  . . .a bit of a whos-who;  an in-depth look at what they really got up to in their studios; their relationships with apprentices and popes, and the many and varied cheats, tricks and techniques that they employed in their painting.

Space will be limited to 10 artists so if you would like to book a place, phone the studio at 604-250-5562 and send an etransfer to denecroft@gmail.com, or forward a cheque made out to Dene Croft in the amount of $280 and send to the studio no later than March 20th

N.B . . . as we generally maintain a waiting list for this event, we must insist on early registration as we are no longer able to accept payments on the day of the workshop.

Expressive watercolours with watercolour master Reha Sakar

Two full days Saturday and Sunday

Overview

Art is all about interpretation. By playing with contrast and effects, you can create pieces that tell a story and immerse the viewer in the mood of a scene.

As Leonard Misonne said, the subject is nothing, light is everything. That's why we are going to explore the basics of values, light, and composition to create stories in our paintings.

In this course we will study and learn about the basic techniques and fundamentals of watercolors. Many people are intimidated by watercolors, they believe it is very hard. It is really not, you have to understand how they work and learn to go with the flow to be a good watercolor artist. We will study different subjects and learn how to capture mood and light. You will be working with a limited palette and stop worrying about colors.

This workshop is suitable for beginner and intermediate artists. Even if you are an advanced painter you will find useful things to improve your watercolors.

$280.00 incl. tax for the weekend Please call the studio at 604-250-5562 to book, or e-mail denecroft@gmail.com

                          Old masters class in oil with
                        Paul Chizik

       

                  Saturday, March 1st and Sunday March 2nd
           - 10am until 4pm both days

Join master painter Paul Chizik for a two day exploration in mastercopy and traditional portrait/figure painting. Students will select a master painting to copy, and Paul will spend the weekend with you deconstructing the image that you have selected, and rebuilding your masterpiece using traditional old master techniques.


For hundreds of years, old masters copied old masters. It was a great way for painters to hone in on their skills and learn vital techniques by replicating great masters from the past. By choosing a master of your choice, the student can learn various techniques as well as get a better understanding of a system that was employed during that era. Comparative and site size measurement will be demonstrated and learned as well as understanding morphology (The shape of things) and rheology( plastic flow of material) eg. paint. A demo will be included along with the tonal method of approach

                         

$280 for the weekend. A supply list will be provided upon registration.

To register, please phone the studio (604) 250-5562, or email the studio denecroft@gmail.com

Cut off for this workshop will be Feb 25th. Numbers will be limited to 10 only.

Course Description :

This class will focus on techniques for rendering the classic elements of the coastal landscape- water, rocks, trees and skies.

We will start with underpainting and proceed to design, blocking in, setting up values, direct painting, glazes and brushwork.

There will be a group critique on day one- bring up to 2 pieces for that- any subject or medium.

Each day will have a demo and lots of one to one coaching.

Supplies:

Suggested basic colours- benzimidazolone yellow, ultramarine or cobalt blue,

pthalo blue [green shade], quinacridone red, transparent red iron oxide & titanium

white. If you have lots of colours, just bring what you have.

small sketchbook and soft pencil

palette

brushes [ synthetic]

water bucket

spray bottle

apron

paper towels and tissues

3 canvases- 11 x 14” or bigger

medium- I use Golden acrylic glazing liquid- gloss or satin

Janice’s additional colours - optional

Cad yellow dark, cad red light, green gold, dioxazine purple, mars black

To reserve a space in this workshop, please call the studio (604) 250-5562, or use the contact feature on the home page, or click this link reserve

$280.00 including taxes

Colour for the plein air painter with MARIA JOSENHANS

COLOR FOR THE PLEIN AIR PAINTER

Painting outdoors requires massive decision making on the spot. The good news is, that if approached in a methodical way, these decisions don't have to be overwhelming!

In this workshop Maria will focus on color and introduce you to color tools that will bring harmony, a sense of place, and a unique feel to your plein air painting.

You will be working with limited palettes and taking a hard look at how it is the relationships of colors (warm/cool, dark/light, pure/desaturated) that ultimately determines the painting's success. 

Participants will be working from their own photographs and can expect to work on a minimum of three paintings throughout the course of the weekend.

This workshop is for Intermediate to Advanced painters working in oil or acrylic.

Class limited to 12

Please call the studio to book 6042505562, or use the contact feature in the link book now

$280 including taxes

Tiffany Reid . “ ABSTRACT ACRYLIC FLORALS”

Join Tiffany for a really fun weekend of exploration in texture and abstract composition - The theme for this workshop will be the abstract floral - created using a variety of acrylic mediums, texturing gels and crackle paste.

This will be a "follow along" style workshop - the painting that you will complete during the course of the weekend is the image at the bottom of this page.

Please call the studio to register (604)250-5562\

$280.00 for the weekend

PET PORTRAITS

Once a year we offer a workshop specifically designed to honour our fur babies and further the student artists skill set.
Usually I have someone else teach this course, but this year I am teaching this one personally

We are going to be using a combination of 16th century and contemporary techniques - a little bit of literal interpretation with  a bit of whimsy thrown in.

Have some fun with your pets. Take a photo of them in unusual, playful situations. Shots from above are fun (lots of foreshortening). Straight out of the bath and feeling sorry for themselves always makes an interesting pic. Capture the personality of your pup (or puss - ducks, owls, rabbits - all are welcome).

Below are a few examples of the kinds of shots that make ideal subjects. Feel free to use the attached if you wish.

Saturday August 31st and Sunday September 1st
10am until 4pm both days

$280 including taxes for the weekend
light refreshments will be provided

To register please call the studio at 604-250-5562 or use the following link https://www.denecroft.com/contact-dene-croft

“CREATIVE SKILL BUILDING IN ACRYLIC”

Your painting skills are built by practicing and training and by challenging yourself with new techniques and ideas. This intermediate level acrylic workshop will help you do just that.

We will spend two full days on fun and challenging drills and exercises involving speed, limited palette, limited and expressive brush strokes, tool use, different grounds and more.

Saturday June 1st and Sunday June 2nd, 10am until 4pm both days

$280 including taxes. Please reserve your easel by calling the studio at 604-250-5562, or by using the register link register

Reservation is confirmed by payment. Payments can be made by e-transfer to denecroft@gmail.com or in person in the studio. All payments must be received prior to May 25th 2024

“CREATIVE SKILL BUILDING IN ACRYLIC” - PART 2

Your painting skills are built by practicing and training and by

challenging yourself with new techniques and ideas. This

intermediate level acrylic workshop will help you do just that.

If you have taken PART 1 of this workshop that is great but not a

prerequisite doing PART 2. Expect new and challenging exercises in

this workshop.

We will spend 2 days on fun and challenging drills and exercises

involving speed, limited palette, shape making, limited and expressive

brush strokes, tool use, different grounds and more.

Materials List:

** Please arrive prepared with all of the following supplies **

Acrylic Paint – bring what you have but be sure to include:

titanium white

iron oxide black (or any black)

cad yellow light

cad red light

yellow ochre

dioxazine purple

pthalo green

ultramarine blue

pthalo blue (red shade)

alizarine OR quin magenta.

Quin gold OR trans yellow oxide OR trans red oxide for glazing. Bring

two out of three, or all 3 if you already have them.

Double check your paint tubes to confirm that you are not bringing

any oil, water mixable oil or open acrylics to this workshop.

Sketch book and pencil, spray bottle, ruler, water bucket, paper

towels or rags.

Gloss medium (you will only need a small bottle)

1/2 of a big sheet of water colour paper – 140 lb, cold pressed

(rough).

1/2 of a big sheet of water colour paper – 140 lb, hot pressed

(smooth).

One roll painters tape (green or blue, not white).

2 - 8x10 and 1 - 9x12 canvases.

1 - 8x10 wood panel.

I will be supplying other surfaces like yupo and pastel paper.

Hard-board, foam-core or cardboard - 18x24” is a good size, or

bigger, something to tape your WC paper to.

A good brush selection, you will also need a 1” and 2” flat or bright

(NOT a home depot brush). No soft watercolour brushes.

A few acrylic markers and ink pens. If you don’t have any we will

share.

A varied image/photo selection – landscape, figure, animals,

buildings etc… whatever interests you. Bring a variety of subject

matter to work with.

Palette knife.

Easel, if not provided by the facility. I am not a fan of table easels and

prefer to stand when painting. If you prefer to stand you will have to

bring a tall easel.

Any questions? Feel free to email me.

GAYE ADAMS “Waves and water - the west coast seascape

I have had so much interest in this particular subject over the years - however, I don’t think that we have ever run a workshop dealing specifically with this subject.

. . . well here it is - and you are getting the very best - Gaye Adams will be guiding you through the process of painting waves and water in oil and acrylics. The workshop will be open to both mediums, but Gaye is an oil painter and she will be demonstrating in oils.

Please call the studio to register 604-250-5562 or email denecroft@gmail.com

Sat 13th and Sun 14th, 10 am until 4pm both days

Cost: $280 incl. taxes for the weekend

Paints:

Titanium White

Ultramarine Blue

Prussian Blue (for acrylicists only)

Cadmium Red, light

Cadmium Red medium (for acrylicists only)

Cadmium Yellow light

Pthalo Blue

Transparent Earth Red or Transparent Red Iron Oxide

Yellow Ochre

Alizarin Crimson

Brushes:

Bring an assortment of flat or bright bristle brushes for oil painters, or synthetics for acrylicists.

Sizes: 2,4,6,8,10.  It will go easier for you if the brushes are well shaped, springy and good quality.

Medium:  Just Gamsol for oil painters;  Glazing liquid and water for acrylicists

Disposable palette, 11X14 or 12X16

Photo references:  provided by instructor

Good quality bendable metal palette knife

Paper towels for cleaning brushes

Canvases:  Please bring only small canvases 2-3 8X10 or 9X12 - please NO LARGER

PLEASE NOTE:  ALL DEMOS WILL BE IN OILS, SO IF YOU HAVE OILS YOU SHOULD USE THEM INSTEAD OF ACRYLICS.

Jay Senetchko . . .January 6th and 7th 2024

Jay Senetchko is a storyteller, who uses his representational narrative art as a vehicle for social commentary and criticism. He is most easily defined as a painter, although he situates his practice in a broader material context and process, which includes photography, digital media, sculptures, performance and installations. His spectacle-based exhibitions are an effort to insert fine art back into the social fabric by engaging the public at large, not only the academic and invested.

Course Description: Painting from Life in Oil

Figurative artist Jay Senetchko has been teaching and exhibiting figurative artwork for

over two decades. His upcoming course shares the knowledge and experience

he has accrued over that time. Senetchko will demonstrate palette set-up for skin tones,

mixing colour and colour theory, a variety of painting techniques, the methodology of

paint application, as well as the necessary drawing and anatomical knowledge to make

the painting process easier. This information will be delivered through the development

of two paintings: one portrait, and one full-figure. Both will have 2 full classes dedicated

to their development and completion. This course has great information for the novice

and experienced painter alike, in their pursuit of painting the figure and painting from life

In Senetchko’s primary medium of oil on canvas he operates as a figurative realist creating narrative-based paintings and metaphorical still-life. His subject matter, featuring elements of his personal history, contemporary life, topical subject matter, and historical references exposes his interests in theory, history, politics, and contemporary concerns. Through these vehicles it is his intention to comment on and critique the present, reveal historical parallels, provoke thoughtful approaches to the future, and to integrate art and life.

COMPOSITION AND VALUES IN THE LANDSCAPE 

This workshop is designed for beginners and intermediate students - all mediums welcome. Ann will be working in oils 

This workshop will focus on composition and values in landscape painting. Making sure you have a great composition before you start your painting is the key to success in your work. We will be talking about different aspects of design , lineal and atmospheric perspective, as well as values in your painting..  

We will be doing some composition exercises in the morning, then working on a painting together for the first day. I will be bringing a reference photo for everyone to work on. The second day will be your choice of subject matter – please bring photo references. 

Saturday November the 4th and Sunday November the 5th - 10am until 4pm

Cost . . .$280.00 including gst.

Please call the studio to register 604-2505562 - or use the contact feature on the main page to register or simply email Denecroft@gmail.com

West Coast Scenes in Watercolour

Saturday July 8th and Sunday July 9th 10am until 4pm both days

Join master watercolorist James Koll for two days of immersive instruction in the fundamentals of the west coast landscape in watercolour

Watercolour is an ideal medium to capture the light and atmosphere of the BC West Coast. This workshop will  focus on developing and strengthening the fundamental skills of watercolour painting while exploring strategies to bring marine landscapes to life. It will include demonstrations and plenty of one-on-one instruction as students complete at least one finished painting.

$280 including taxes .

Please call the studio at 604-2505562 to register, or use the contact feature on the main page

An eight week course in watercolour painting with renowned master watercolourist Javid Tabatabataei

Two consecutive four week blocks, every Wednesday evening between 7 and 9.30. Wednesday June 7th through Wednesday August 9th.

$280 per registrant for one month, and $480 for both both months

Please call the studio to register 604-2505562 or use the contact feature on the main page, or simply email denecroft@gmail.com

7 until 9.30 pm every Wednesday commencing Wednesday June 7th and ending August 9th

“The elements of landscape in acrylics” - with Janice Robertson

Saturday May 6th and Sunday May 7th, 2023

This workshop will present techniques for painting the basics of a landscape- tree, rocks

and water. There will be a prepared demo and lots of one on one coaching.

Students have the option to follow the demo image, or paint from their own reference.

Techniques covered will include blocking in, layering, glazing, brushwork and positive

and negative painting.

There will be a group critique on the first day where students can bring work from home

for feedback. Any subjects or mediums are welcome for this.

call the studio at 6042505562 to book, or follow this link to email your registration https://www.denecroft.com/contact-dene-croft

$280 including taxes

Gaye Adams “Catching the light”

This course will explore how to capture the ineffable quality of light in painting. In getting all color, value, and temperature relationships correct we, as painters, can create the wonderful illusion of light with mere pigments on canvas.

We will be working from photo references.  I will provide some but students are also welcome to bring a few of their own.   We will be working small, no larger than 8x10 in order to get several paintings completed during the workshop. If you have challenges getting the light to "read" in your paintings, this is the workshop for you.

Open to acrylic and oil painters - suitable for advanced beginners and intermediate painters

Saturday July 29th and Sunday July 30th, 10am until 4pm both days

$280 including tax for the weekend. Please contact the studio at 6042505562 to book, or use the contact feature on the main page

" Taking your work to the next level - tricks and techniques of composition and colour""

This workshop will focus on developing compositional tricks and techniques, brush stroke technique, colour translation and palette building and colour mixing in acrylic and water soluble oil.

Using grey scale under paint and high chroma over paint, you will learn to create your frame ready masterpiece from a simple image.

Saturday and Sunday 10 am until 4pm . $280 including taxes for both days

Please call the studio at 604-250-5562 to book, use the contact feature on the main page, or email denecroft@gmail.com to make you reservation

Charlie Easton . . . The plein air method

In meeting current recommended covid protocol, numbers will be strictly limited for this workshop. please read the covid page on the website before reserving a space in this workshop

https://www.denecroft.com/covid-19-and-the-studio

The plein air method inside. Using photographs to make the best possible paintings in the studio. Charlie will show you what he looks for in a good photograph, how to plan for a painting in the studio, and how to bring a scene to life. Charlie will demo each day and then help you work at your own pace, with insightful tips that are relevant to your unique level and vision.

SaturdayNovember 12th, and Sunday November 13th, 10am until 4pm both days

$280 inclusive. Please call the studio at 604-250-5562 to book. A supply list will be provided upon registration

Dates: Saturday, October 1st & Sunday October 2nd 2022

Fee: $280

Location: Dene Croft Studios, 118 Pemberton Ave, North Van

To register: 604-250-5562

Times:  10am – 4pm (with ½ hour lunch)

Instructor: Lalita Hamill www.lalitahamill.com 

Course description:

“Eloquent” means to be able to express oneself clearly and well. Whether you want your paintings to have a soft, blended feel, or be full of energetic strokes and texture, or anything in between, there are key techniques to master. The way you move and use a brush contributes substantially to your artistic ‘style’ or ‘voice’. If your marks are heavy-handed, tentative, sloppy, unintentional, uninteresting, and/or overworked, you are not living up to your full artistic potential.

Those of you ready to take your brushwork and mark-making to the next level of expressiveness, Lalita will guide participants through a series of step by step demos and exercises, to be applied to small studies.

Main topics will include the following:

⦁ Choosing the right tool and grip for the look you want

⦁ Ensuring your paint is the appropriate consistency, and what to do when it isn’t

⦁ The benefits of using a light ‘touch’ and variety of strokes

⦁ Creating effective edges, including hard, soft, and lost

⦁ Mixing colour on the palette vs on the canvas

⦁ When to leave strokes alone

⦁ How to move the viewer’s eye with mark-making

⦁ Techniques such as dry brushing, blending and glazing

⦁ What to do when things go ‘sideways’

Supplies:

Regular oil or acrylic supplies (water soluble oils and open acrylics too)

Substrate: Canvas is preferable, and enough canvas to complete two small (8” x 10” or 11”x14”) studies, and a few exercises, which could be in the form of:

⦁ Loose gessoed canvas (cut into roughly 12”x16” pieces), or

⦁ Stretched canvas

⦁ Canvas boards (please add another 2 coats of gesso to be dry before class)

Colours: please have available 1 white, 3 yellow, 2 red, 2 blue, 1 umber (raw or burnt) & 1 black

Palette: if your palette is smaller than 12”x16”, you may need two – one for laying out paints and the other for mixing colour.

Brushes: the more, the better. Please use what you have, and ensure some are new enough that they will leave a clear mark.

Several photo reference images, or you can opt to use photos provided by Lalita, which will be provided upon registration.

Small palette knife for mixing paint.

Recommended:

That participants have 2 line drawings prepared on canvas (around 8x10 or 11x14) in advance so we can focus on brushwork rather than drawing accuracy. Watch Lalita’s video on how to transfer an image at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyd0ejTCLuE and subscribe for more free videos. *Please do not paint anything onto the canvas (other than gesso) before class.  

Acrylic painters are recommended to have a small bottle of Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid (see image below - matte, satin or gloss) because it has retarder in it and enhances viscosity and the creation of soft edges and long gestures.

Some kind of a ‘blender’ brush is recommended, especially for oil painters. Lalita prefers the series 444 1” blender brush from Rosemary & Co in the UK. https://www.rosemaryandco.com/oil-brushes/blender-brushes

Paul Chizik “soft pastel atmospheric landscapes”

Working with Soft Pastel. Paul Chizik.

This course will explore the freshness and immediacy of Soft Pastel.

A medium used by Masters such as Degas and Monet amongst others.

We will explore many examples, discussions and demonstrations with the aid of

samples from Old Masters using this versatile medium.

Gain an in-depth understanding of the various techniques, applications, mark making,

layering and the use of materials associated with this rich and versatile medium, such

as the use of coloured grounds, various papers and the understanding of the different

consistencies and the different brands of pastels.

With a hands on approach and demonstrations throughout the course the artist will gain

a sound understanding and confidence of the use of this complex medium.

$280 for the two days. Please call the studio at 604-2505562 to book a place an easel for this workshop - or use the contact feature link register

Still Life in Oil or Acrylic

Dates: Sat/Sun May 28-29, 2022

Time: 10 am until 4pm both days

Description:

Improving your ability to paint still life from life will take your artistic practice to a new level. Rather than painting what a camera sees, or what you think you see, you will train your eye to render what you actually see. Those with still life experience will develop their ability to paint what they know.

Lalita will begin by demonstrating how to compose a still life, followed by participants practicing with a variety of objects, backgrounds, and lighting. Lalita will then show how to render the shapes, perspective, proportion and space accurately using comparative measurements and mass notans. After participants have done the same and received feedback, Lalita will proceed with colour stages one and two while focusing on attaining a balance between accuracy and expression. Participants can expect to walk away with at least one completed painting, a handful of handouts, and an understanding of the benefits of painting still life.

Benefits include:

Accuracy without tightness

Improved observation and interpretation skills

Expressive brushwork and edges

Freedom from the distortions found in photography

Feeling good while painting

Confidence in your ability to recover when things go ‘sideways’

Transfer of skills into composing & rendering landscapes, portraits, figures and abstracts

Supplies:

Regular oil or acrylic supplies you already own, including brushes, paint, palette, mediums, containers, etc.

The only colour you will definitely need is either burnt sienna, burnt umber, raw umber or asphultum (oil).

Bring all the paints you have; however, if this is a lot then just bring 3 yellows, 3 reds, 3 blues, an umber or burnt sienna, titanium white, a black, and 3 favourites.

Note: acrylic painters will benefit from using Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid (gloss, satin or matte), which, unlike the regular acrylic medium, has retarder in it.

Knitting needle or brush with thin handle.

At least 3 gessoed canvases a variety of shapes and sizes (will only use one or two). Minimum 8” x 10”, max 14” x 18”

Cotton cloths (cut up T-shirt works well)

Camera (on phone is fine)

Pen and paper

Small mirror, like the ones sold to go in a locker (optional)

Freestanding light for your still life (optional…only if you have one already)

Note:

Though the instructor will provide objects to paint, participants are encouraged to bring objects they like from home, such as vases, pottery, statues, fruits and veggies, flowers, etc

Please contact the instructor at lalitahamill@gmail.com if you have any questions about this workshop.

$280 for the two days. Please call the studio at 604-250-5562 to reserve an easel, or use the contact feature on the main page