Painting II: 19th Century Styles and Masters

Instructor: Robin Adair
Mondays 5:30-8:30pm
10 weeks: January 19 to March 30 (no class February 16)
Location: In-person Williams Building room 306
$395 (supplies not included)
Prerequisite: Any Painting level I course 

The 19th Century is a period when some of the most innovational styles and movements in art were born, including Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, and Social Realism. This course will survey a sampling of these stylistic approaches to painting that still influence contemporary painters to this day. We will discuss and practice techniques by celebrated artists, including Vincent Van Gogh, John Singer Sargent, George Seurat, Mary Cassat, and Edward Degas. Students will be lead in exercises that explore the colour palettes, brush handling techniques, compositional strategies of these artists. This course is for those who would like some familiarity with art history while practicing techniques that will enhance and expand upon their own personal style. It is also for artists who have some familiarity with the acrylic medium but just need more inspiration for techniques and process.

Syllabus

John Constable: the master of clouds
• Edward Degas: rendering the world of light and movement
• Vincent Van Gogh: expressing beyond the surface of sight
• Georges Seurat: seeing in coloured dots
• John Singer-Sargent: the consummate portrait artist
• Mary Cassat: painter of the everyday
• Claude Monet: father of impressionism
• Helene Schjerfbeck: seeing behind the societal veil
• Paul Cêzanne: the bridge to modernism
• Käthe Kollwitz: expressionism and the working class

Supplies

  • Acrylic Heavy body paint. Recommended Brands: Golden; Holbein; Tri-Art
  •  Pigments:
    • Titanium White
    • Bone Black
    • Ultramarine Blue
    • Cobalt Blue
    • Primary Cyan
    • Cadmium Red Light
    • Cadmium Red Medium
    • Alizarin Crimson
    • Quinacridone Magenta
    • Cadmium Yellow Light
    • Cadmium Yellow Medium
    • Yellow Ochre
    • Burnt Sienna
    • Raw Umber
  • Acrylic Brushes: square, round, fan, and flat angle in assorted sizes. Also, one larger square brush (1.5-inch width).
  • Acrylic gel medium: small container of regular or soft gel.
  • 3 palette knives, either plastic or metal, I recommend finding different sizes of the trowel (diamond shaped) blade
  • Wet palette (12" x 16") You may buy one from a store or I will also teach you how to make your own wet palette. For this you will need a regular tray palette, paper towel, parchment paper, and bulldog clips
  • Cotton rags
  • Masking Tape
  • Supports: Pad of 9x12 or 11x14 Bristol board (vellum). You may use canvas or board if you prefer.

For a brief list of frequently used suppliers, please see Where can I purchase supplies? on our FAQ page.