Introduction to Acrylic Painting

Greetings.
I look forward to introducing each of you to one of the most versatile and user friendly art media in use today. This blog is an outline for the first six weeks that you work with me, as an introduction to acrylic media.

As your become familiar with the tools and techniques necessary to express yourself with acrylic paint I hope to work with each of you individually to determine your creative goals. We'll consider the following questions: What subject matter will you choose to paint as you gain more experience and confidence with this media? What type of painting inspires you? Who is your favorite painter?

Below you will find the outline for the introductory six week session of acrylic painting. This course may be repeated and if you've taken it before I look forward to working with you one on one to consider the questions posed above and to coach you in the techniques you'll need to reach those goals. Please feel free to contact me or comment here if you have any questions about the materials, outline, etc.

Week 1:
Orientation / Tools and Materials
We will review and demonstrate all the materials included on the acrylic class materials list today as well as the curriculum for the course. If you haven't worked with color in many years be sure to bring a plastic color wheel. It will be very helpful for the first painting problem

Goals:
Learn to use a palette knife to mix acrylic color and medium.
Completion of the color exercises described below in your sketchbook

Week 2:
Introduction to painting a Still Life
Bring:
*Fruits or vegetables to class whose shape and color delight you. Organic but inedible forms such as
gourds or pumpkins are also acceptable
*Everything on your materials list, most essentially a stretched canvas

Goals:
*Learn to think about composition and use charcoal or pencil for thumbnail drawings to plan a
painting in your sketchbook
*Introduction to the stages of an acrylic painting, use of charcoal to compose on your canvas,
use of complimentary color as the underpainting.
*Completion of underpainting of still life

Week 3:
Work on Still Life / Introduction to Homage Painting
Bring:
*Still life canvas and subject matter as well as all painting materials

Goals
*Continue to paint Still Life, development of local color, light and shadow
*Research consider subject matter for Homage Painting

Week 4:
Complete Still Life / Complete underpainting on Homage Painting

Bring:

*Still life canvas, subject matter, painting materials, a minimum of 3 reproductions to consider for HOMAGE painting and a new canvas for sketching your homage composition

Goals

*Demonstration of glazing techniques

*Glaze and complete Still Life painting

*Introduction to grid technique

*Begin Homage Painting / Sketch composition of Homage subject matter onto canvas

*Show and Tell of Still Life Painting

Week 5:
Continue Homage Painting

Bring:

*Still life canvas if its not finished

*Homage Canvas

* All subject matter (reproduction you are working from) and painting materials

Goals

*Continue to paint Homage Painting

*Completion of underpainting and discussion/demo of the style and techniques used by the artist you've

chosen to study

Week 6:
Finished Paintings / Show and Tell

Bring:

*Homage Canvas

* All subject matter and painting materials

Goals

*Glazing and Completion of Homage Painting.

*Show and Tell of your Progress and discussion of your creative goals