Creating Great Oil Paintings from Your Photos
w/ Kyle Paliotto

Date/Time: Sat-Sun / Feb 10-11 / 10:30-4:30pm

Cost: $250

Registration: Call in, come in, or register online. 425.697.2787

Location: Cole Art Studio, located downstairs on the lower level of Cole Gallery. 107 5th Ave S, Edmonds WA 98020

Description:
The age-old dilemma for artists: Shall we paint from life? Or paint from photos? And how do we choose? And how to take a beautiful photograph and turn it into a fantastic painting? Have you ever struggled with these ideas? Well, you are in luck! Kyle Paliotto is coming all the way from Idaho to teach his techniques and shed light on how to create exciting paintings from your photos!

In this workshop, Kyle will share his approach of creating art from living life. Taking the experiences, the photos, plein air pieces and sketches back to the studio to create paintings. This process has its pitfalls and its rewards. Kyle hopes to save you time on your adventure to better communicate your experience through paint. His teaching approach is to meet students where they are and help them along in the direction they want their art to go. The class will consist of one on one teaching as well as a demo each day.

Kyle will teach the concepts of what makes a strong composition. This will lead to taking better photos and creating plein air paintings which in turn will lead to a higher rate of success in your paintings. In this workshop, you will need to bring 3-5 photos you want to paint from. (You may also paint from an iPad or similar device instead of a photo.) If you have a sketch from life that backs up your photo bring that as well, but it’s not necessary.  You’ll learn how to take these raw materials and make exciting paintings!

Bring 2-4 canvases to paint on:  ideally they would be somewhat in the format of your photo or how you would like to paint it (i.e., vertical or horizontal, and similar proportions). You may only paint one painting, but if you decide to start another, having varied sizes gives you more options.  The number of canvases is totally up to you. Bring your sketch book along with gray markers in 3 or 4 values, which can be in a set or purchased singly. 

Kyle says, “If you have questions and uncertainty have no fear - that is why you are coming to this workshop!  We will work it out!”

Supply List:

You can purchase your quality art supplies at ARTspot! Registered students receive a 10% discount on all their art supplies from the time of paid registration until the last day of class. Most items on this list are available at ARTspot. Please let their staff advise you about appropriate art materials to fulfill  requirements for your class.  Artspot's Web Site

Questions about these supplies? ARTspot staff are happy to help you. Call 425-640-6408 or email at ARTspotEdmonds@gmail.com.

Oil Paint: Gamblin or a similar high quality artist grade paint

• Cadmium Lemon
• Cadmium Yellow Deep
• Cadmium Orange
• Gold Ochre
• Cadmium Red Medium
• Transparent Earth Red
• Alizarin Crimson Permanent
• Viridian
• Cobalt Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Titanium/Zinc White (This is a blend by Gamblin)

Kyle notes: "This is the basic full palette I use, the colors are laid out in this order on my palette as well.  The consistency of the layout is important to muscle memory in mixing. 
If you do not have these colors the concept is more important than the particulars.  You need the primaries - yellow, red, and blue. Preferably a warm and cool of each.  White is a must in oil painting."

Odorless mineral spirits.  Please note: no stinky mediums are allowed at Cole Art Studio.

Palette:
Wood, plexiglass or plastic. (Kyle says, “Glass palettes are great for the studio but horrible for traveling.”)

Brushes:

• 3-5 flat natural bristle brushes ranging from 2-10 in size (some can be filberts if that is what you have)
• One large angled flat 1 ½” natural bristle brush

Brush washer:
Portable metal, glass or plastic washer with lid

Palette knife: 
Small, long diamond with rounded end offset palette knife – Connoisseur brand 6810-10 or similar

Canvases:

• 2-4, depending on how fast you paint. (You may just do one painting - that's fine. If you decide to start a second one, having more sizes gives you more options - it's totally up to you.)
• Medium texture landscape linen or cotton canvas panel or stretched canvas – 11x14 and 12x16.  (As noted, 1-2 of each size for more options.)
• Kyle says, “Use the best quality canvas or canvas panel you can afford, the cheaper canvases gets greasy and are difficult to work on.” For example, a good quality such as Source Tek (Available online) or Fredrix Pro 12oz cotton canvas panels (Available at ARTspot)

IMPORTANT: No matter what brand you choose, make sure your canvases have a good priming - Source Tek or Fredrix Pro canvas panels are recommended because they are highly pre-primed (see canvaspanels.com).  If you select a different brand, make sure they have an additional coat of gesso for the priming. (Priming allows the paint to adhere to the surface.)

Other:

• Paper towels
• Portable easel. Kyle shares, “There are a ton of these on the market.  Finding one that fits your needs is important and easily done by observing other artist’s pochades before buying.  A basic french easel will get you along until you need something better.  This piece of equipment doesn’t make great paintings - it only aids in the comfort and efficiency of making master pieces.” Cole has several standing and table easels- call to reserve one.
• Carrying Case (Kyle states, “No one likes the yard sale setup next to them while they try to paint!  Space is important and an organized workspace aids in energy spent creating.”)
• Drawing pad
• Gray markers, in 3-4 values  (can be in a set or open stock), for value study.  

Check this out! ARTspot Concierge Service. ARTspot will personally do your shopping for you! They can set aside the materials you need, ready for pickup - they can even deliver your supplies to Cole Art Studio before your class. Call ARTspot at 425.640.6408 for this great service. (To ensure your order is filled, please order as early as possible.)