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Alla Prima Art Clinic

Coming Soon: Figure and Light

By April 9, 2021April 13th, 2023No Comments

Coming Fall 2023

Thursdays, September 7 – November 2, 2023

1:30 – 4:00pm

8-week Art Clinic with J. Jordan Bruns


This fascinating Art Clinic class explores the dynamic interplay between light, color, and emotion in your figure paintings. Using a variety of light bulbs with different kelvin outputs and filters we will manipulate color temperature and light intensity to evoke powerful emotional responses. Discover how to choose limited palettes and use color symbolism to unlock your full creative potential. Enjoy immersive two-week model sessions to keep your figure painting fresh and dynamic. Class Level: intermediate to advanced. Please note there is a $60 model fee paid in class.

Schedule of Classes:

Class 1) September 12- Demonstration Day: Alla Prima vs Color Spot- working at Glen Echo Park

We’ll setup for a two-week painting to be continued for September 19, bring a sketchbook for planning

Location: Meet at Stone Tower Studio, Glen Echo Park

Class 2) September 19 – Continue working on the Plein Air Painting from September 12

Location: Meet at Stone Tower Studio, Glen Echo Park

Class 3 September 26 – Lecture: “Mixing Greens”  

Location: Meet at Stone Tower Studio, Glen Echo Park

Class 4) October 3 – Plein Air Painting

Location: Meet at Stone Tower Studio, Glen Echo Park


Class 5) October 10  Lecture: “Taking References, Stopping Time with the Camera”- Plein Air Painting

Location: Meet at Brookside Gardens

Class 6) October 17 – Plein Air Painting

Location: Meet at Brookside Gardens

Class 7) October 24 – Lecture: “Sky Blue and Atmospheric Perspective, Pink Skys?” – Plein Air Painting

Location: Meet at Brookside Gardens

Class 8) October 31 – Plein Air Painting

Location: Meet at Brookside Gardens

Suggested Material List for Oil Paint

This is predominantly an oil painting class but if you would like to use a different medium, that’s totally fine with me!  I have an extensive background in most 2D mediums and am happy to work with you one on one.

Palette

Oil painters- I recommend a BIG wood pallet for studio work or one attached to plein air box.  If you are in the market for a new setup, let me know and I can talk to you in more detail

 

Surface

*4-6 canvas boards/panels/canvases 

I only paint on panel now, but you are welcome to use canvas if you prefer the light weight properties. I make my own, but panels made by “Ampersand” with a ¾” cradle are very comparable.  One day paintings can be small sizes (between 10×10 and 16×16).   Format and orientation are up to you and your subject matter.

 

Brushes- (suggested)- Natural Hair Brushes or Synthetic Brushes 

Typically, I use expensive sable brushes but great options are “Winsor Newton Monarch Synthetic” or Jack Richardson “Grey Matter” brushes, you can use any brand you like as long as they are “oil or acrylic” brushes and have a long handle.  For alla prima, I prefer synthetic or nature sable hair.  I like a variety of brushes like filbert, round, and flat brushes.

 

Cleaners

“Master’s Brush Cleaner and Preserver” soap disk

“Gamsol” mineral spirits

Brush cleaning tank – to put Gamsol in, OR you can make this with an old salsa jar and chicken wire

 Mediums (what you add to increase the paint “flow”)

“Alkyd” Walnut oil (made by M.Graham)  or just Walnut Oil (artist grade, not from grocery store)

Medium cup (Or small baby food jar to hold medium)

 

Other

Metal Pallet knife/painting knife (Liquitex brand, #12, #13 or #14) no plastic knives

Something to carry everything, (art box, French easel, portfolio, back back, etc)

Paper Towel (I like to Scott, blue paper towel, you can buy at Costco or hardware store)


Suggested Oil Paint Colors (small tubes, 37-40ml)  My favorite brand is “M. Graham Paint” especially the earth tones.  I also like Holbein and Gamblin brands to fill in the gaps of paint colors not covered my M. Graham.  Williamsburg paint is also really nice and has a tone of great colors. 


Cadmium Lemon Yellow (optional), Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Orange (optional), Cadmium Red, Quinacridone Magenta, (Permanent) Alizarin Crimson (optional), Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Viridian Green, Sap Green (optional), Naples Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Siena, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black, Titanium White (Big tube)


Other (fantastic) colors – Bohemian Earth Green (Williamsburg brand), Juane Brilliant (as a substitute for Naples Yellow), Flake White (as a substitute for Titanium White), Cobalt Teal (Gamblin), Cadmium Green Pale or Cinnabar Green (Williamsburg), Radiant Blue (Gamblin)