Winter – Observational Oil Painting

Tuesdays, January 13 – March 17, 2026, 10:00 – 12:30pm

with J. Jordan Bruns

It’s said that one painting from life is worth ten from a photo. This class focuses on strengthening skills in composition, color mixing, and expressive brushwork while working from still life and the live figure. Students will expand their understanding of how to build a painting over multiple sittings, explore alla prima techniques, and learn the pros and cons of each approach.  Please note there is a $40 model fee paid in class.

This is an intermediate to advanced level Art Clinic.

Schedule of Classes:

Class 1) January 13 – Indirect Painting – Still Life

Lecture – “Order of Operations:  Alla Prima vs Imprimatura”

For our first meeting, we’ll go over how to start a multiple sitting still life painting.  We’ll start off working with indirect painting, which is largely sneaking up on the subject matter rather than going at the color directly.  I will also spend some time going over color palette, surfaces and brush type.  Bring your questions for today!

materials – sketchbook, painting surface, burnt umber, mineral spirits (gamsol), paper towel, brushes, palette

Class 2) January 20– Indirect Painting- Still Life

Optional Lecture – “Sighting and Measuring”- The painting is only as good as the drawing.  I will review some techniques for sighting and measuring to ensure that the painting does not struggle due to the foundation of the drawing.  For those more advanced painters, use this day as a work day moving from the burnt umber imprimatura to more naturalistic color.

Class 3 January 27 – Indirect Painting- Still Life

Lecture- “Premixing” I will spend some time talking about the importance of premixing color and how it can give you an edge on more accurate observational paintings.

Class 4) February 3 – Direct Painting/Color Spot Painting- Still Life

Lecture – Richard Schmid’s method – We’ll go over how the great alla prima painter Richard Schmid worked.  Laying down “color notes: from the focal point to the boundaries of the painting.

Class, 5) February 10 – Direct Painting/Color Spot Painting- Still Life

Painting Day – Finish up still life painting

–No Class Date Feb 17–

Class, 6) February 24 – Figure Painting Demo- Premixing Flesh Tones and Color Spot Painting

Bring sketching tools for this class if you plan on watching the demo.  I will eat up a lot of the class time working from the model but walking though my painting process in detail.  If you rather paint, you can skip the demo no questions asked.

Class, 7) March 3 – Figure Painting (Day 2 of 2)

Class, 8) March 10 – Figure Painting (Day 1 of 2)

Class, 9) March 17 – Figure Painting (Day 2 of 2)