Intro to Painting: Alla Prima and Impressionism

Have you ever wondered how and why the impressionist painted the way they did? Would you like to learn to paint like an impressionist yourself? Around the turn of the 20th century, there were dramatic changes in the art world. Where previous generations of artists once favored rigid techniques and spending thousands of hours in studios glazing hundreds of layers of paint, now artists aspired to create more immediate paintings and tried to more directly capture the world they saw. This class, meant for students at all skill levels, will start from the ground up teaching students how to mix colors like the impressionists and introduce students to various techniques that evolved in the late 1800s and early 1900s. All supplies are included with the class as students will be encouraged to try out different paints, brushes, and other painting materials throughout the class.

Week 1: Still life- Drawing with paint

Week 2: Still life – Color theory

Week 3: Still life- Alla prima painting

Week 4: Landscape- TREESS!!!!

Week 5: Landscape- composition

Week 6: Landscape – tonalism

Week 7: Independent Projects

Week 8: Independent Projects

(Photo courtesy of Washington Printmakers Gallery)