SESSION III | Monochromatic Oil Painting & Value

Jan 3 – Feb 7 Sundays | 1 – 4:30 pm

Media: Oil Paint (Raw Umber, Flake/Titanium White) on Panels

Tuition: $500 (All supplies included)

Instructors: TBA

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Course Description

Jumping directly into full color can overwhelm a developing artist. Session 3 isolates the mechanics of oil painting by focusing entirely on value, paint application, and edge control using a single earth color and white (Grisaille/Tonal painting).

Students master brush control, solvent mixing, paint density, and "wipe-out" techniques before introducing hue. This module builds the crucial bridge from drawing into oil painting with confidence and precision.

Weekly Curriculum Breakdown

  • Week 1: Intro to Oil Mediums & The "Wipe-Out" Technique

    Understanding paint viscosity, solvents, mediums, and creating a value drawing by erasing paint off a toned panel.

  • Week 2: The Monochromatic Block-In

    Establishing layout and major shadow masses using Raw Umber and medium on a high-contrast still life setup.

  • Week 3: Opaque vs. Transparent Paint Application

    Learning to keep shadow areas thin and transparent while building up opaque lights.

  • Week 4: Edge Control in Paint

    Managing wet-on-wet paint edges: blending soft form transitions vs. maintaining crisp structural edges.

  • Week 5: Form Modeling in Value

    Building smooth, continuous value transitions and modeling complex surfaces in oil paint.

  • Week 6: Highlights, Glazes, & Care of Oil Paintings

    Applying thick impasto highlights, understanding varnish basics, and brush maintenance.

Portfolio Deliverables

  1. One Monochromatic Tonal Oil Study: A high-finish grisaille oil painting demonstrating form and paint handling.

  2. Value Scale Paint Study: A reference swatch sheet showcasing value transitions and edge control in oil.