A Portrait Painting in a Weekend (Oils) with Natalie Voelker

Paint an oil portrait in a weekend!

Paint a colorful oil portrait in this fun weekend workshop. Even if you've never painted a face before, this step by step, direct painting approach will get you off to a great start. Learn 2 ways to start an oil painting: the oil transfer method and a direct paint method. You'll learn to draw a face with paint and to think in values (lights and darks), as well as colors. By pre-mixing a variety of vibrant skin tones, you'll use both warm and cool tones to enhance dimension in the face. Come ready to learn, experiment with new approaches, and wield the brush boldly!

Schedule:

Saturday November 16th: 10am-5pm

Sunday November 17th: 10am-5pm

*There will be a scheduled break in halfway through the session

Materials(What to Bring):

There is a compiled a list of materials for this class at dickblick.com: https://www.dickblick.com/lists/blicku/0X8H8XGB8IVD4.

2 copies of your photo reference – self-portrait photo recommended but not required. Printed in color, at the same size as the surface you're painting on. Bring multiple options if you're not sure what you'd like to paint.

oil paints:

1. burnt umber

2. cadmium red(or similar color)

3. cadmium yellow(or similar color)

4. naples yellow(hue)

5. yellow ochre

6. french ultramarine, or cobalt blue, or prussian blue(or similar color)

7. permanent alizarin crimson or permanent rose or magenta

8. titanium white

optional:

1. viridian green or sap green

2. cerulean blue

3. any other colors you love

linseed oil or any other oil medium you like.

surface to paint on – 8x10 or 9x12ish, Arches Oil Paper or stretched canvas or flat panel

board to adhere your painting surface to – if you are using paper. A drawing board or Ampersand Hardboard Panel or masonite or similar. Make sure it is larger than your painting surface.

palette Paper Pad or glass palette or roll of wax paper

painter's tape – 1 or 2 inches wide.

palette knife – Blick Painting Knife style 132 or similar (for mixing paint colors).

brushes – at least 1 small filbert bristle brush (such as Princeton 6600FB or Silver Grand Prix extra long flibert 2, or similar) and variety of soft or bristle brushes (such as Princeton Real Value Brush Set 9130 from Blick or similar).

2 jars with lids – One holds solvent while you're painting; one serves as a “dump jar” to hold used solvent.

Gamsol – at least 8 oz of Gamsol or other odorless mineral spirits Gamsol strongly recommended for safety.

cotton rags and/or paper towels – rags recommended, old cut up tshirt works great. Optional

Saf flower oil – handy for cleaning and protecting brushes. grocery store version is ok.

About the Teaching Artist:

A Helene Wurlitzer Foundation fellow and international BP Portrait Award exhibitor, Natalie Voelker creates paintings that investigate complexity and transcendence in seemingly ordinary people. Her painting, “Davetta,” has been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Her work has been featured in multiple publications including the anthology, BARED, and the French-English magazine, VolUp. Voelker has produced commissioned works for the Harwood Art Center, 508 Mural Festival, the City of Albuquerque, and various private collections – both nationally and abroad. She has a BFA from the University of Wisconsin.

Artist Website: natalievoelker.com

Host or Publisher The Harwood Art Center