Featherstone Center for the Arts
2024 Class Workshop Description:

BASICS OF OIL PAINTING
Getting you comfortable . . .
August 20, 2024
9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

New exciting workshop in oil! This really fun and informative workshop will cover the basic principles of oil painting and get you painting simple and easy to understand objects in a short time. The idea of this incredible one-day workshop is to get you comfortable with the process of painting while teaching you how to paint dynamic and exciting paintings. The class includes interesting and memorable discussions on all the basic elements of painting including, composition, massing, building form, light and shadow – and depending on your own style, knowing when a work is finished (learning how to not overwork your painting). Douglas delivers sound principles of painting that are an incredible foundation for your painting, and whether a person who has never ever picked up a brush, a relatively new painter or a more accomplished painter looking for some strong points to review, it will make sense.

After the brief morning intro, a very hands-on approach to the class, gets students organized and preparing to paint. Students will learn how to set up their palette with the basic colors and understand why this is helpful. Douglas will overview his palette and concepts that his work entails and do a subsequent demonstration painting for each subject that the class paints. There is nothing to be afraid of or self conscious of and Douglas will get you through all the tricky parts and you will have fun.

Students will work in their own style/technique so that the finished work is their own. Students will paint simple still lifes from photos that Douglas supplies which usually includes items like apples, eggs and really common and fun things like a watermelon slice! You will paint from a photo to help you get the idea of what painting ‘en plein air/out of doors’ is like, usually we paint a beach and sometimes a small sailboat if time allows. Covering this much in a day is great fun and you will be amazed at the paintings that you complete in this short amount of time. Depending on the skill level of each student, students are able to grow and develop at a rate that is to their comfort. Plan to produce a few small paintings and possibly one larger painting. Plan to bring notebook/sketchbook and enjoy all the demos along with some great stories to help you remember these principles that are the foundation of Douglas’ teaching.

Douglas’ Biography
Douglas David has painted his way across the country, capturing the beauty and spirit of the things he loves - tranquil country landscapes, sunrises and sunsets on his favorite beaches, a simple pitcher of spring lilacs or peonies, a slice of watermelon on a checkered tablecloth. His paintings are beautiful, simple and timeless. After graduating with honors from Herron School of Art, Indiana University, Douglas went on to study for a number of years with Frank Mason, famed instructor from the Art Students League of New York and student of Frank Vincent DuMond. A recipient of numerous regional and national awards and honors, Douglas is a member of many art associations and clubs including Hoosier Salon, Naples Art Association, Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Salmagundi Club and Southern Vermont Arts Center. Douglas’s teaching is a way of giving back and sharing some of his journey with those who choose to study with him. He loves to share insights into the DuMond Palette with his students and bases all of his teachings on classic principles. Douglas’s work has been chosen for many private and public collections, including the Vice President’s residence, the United States Embassy to Sierra Leone, and most recently, by request of Ambassador Donnelly, the United States Embassy to the Holy See (Vatican City). For more detailed information, visit www.douglasdavid.com.

Class supply list:

Great News! Oil Painting Supply Kits are now available through the link below. Douglas used to offer kits in class, but demand was too great to keep up with, so this is the better way to get all the correct materials for the workshop!

https://www.dickblick.com/lists/wishlist/rt6f8fpbl8i5v/

You can click on the Blick link and order a kit in part or in its entirety, or assemble the supplies below.

(these are not absolute, just my way of getting to a good result)

01557-4043 Blick oil Yellow Ochre 40 ml
01557-3543 Blick oil Cad Red Hue 40 ml
01557-3063 Blick oil Crimson Alizarin 40 ml
01557-7133 Blick oil Terre Verte 40 ml
01557-7093 Blick oil Sap Green 40 ml
01557-2253 Blick oil Ivory Black 40 ml
01557-4753 Blick oil Yellow Green 40 ml
01557-4063 Blick oil Lemon Yellow 40 ml
01557-5163 Blick oil Phalo Blue 40 ml
01557-7803 Blick oil Phalo Green 40 ml
01557-5133 Blick oil Ultramarine Blue 40 ml
02121-7583 Utrecht oil Prussian Green 37 ml
00452-1004 Permalba oil White 150ml
01654-3322 Utrecht acrylic Cad Red Hue 59 ml
01654-1012 Utrecht acrylic Titanium White 59 ml
03117-1132 Palette Knife 132
03017-1002 Palette Cup
00445-2104 W&N Liquin 75ml
03092-2523 Richeson Palette Paper 9X12
06223-9118 Princeton Brush Set 9118
05160-1001 White Gesso Brush 1" Quantity 2
05160-1002 White Gesso Brush 2" Quantity 2
07412-1057 Canvas 5x7/Quantity 2
07135-2002 Canvas 8x10/Quantity 2
07135-2007 Canvas 10x20/Quantity 1
07135-2006 Canvas 12x16/Quantity 1
04724-1004 Disposable Gloves Large
00442-1005 Turpenoid 8 oz
03333-1006 Plastic Jar with lid 16 oz

And anything else student needs to help them paint well and feel comfortable.

Please prime all canvas with a thin coat of thinned down Cad Red light and Titanium White Acrylic to make a pink or light red salmon tone on canvas. (You can paint oil over acrylic but can’t paint acrylic over oil.)

Douglas has a “suitcase of supplies” he brings along, it includes some recommended books, and some supplies in case a few students need a few items that are forgotten.

Class/Tentative Outline:

1st hour: Welcome/Overview of Class & Terms.
2nd hour: Review Supplies and how to set up and get organized to paint, setting up the palette, and how to get started.
Lunch: Brown bag.
Last hour: Select and display various paintings accomplished / a small class show with discussions and summary by Douglas ends workshop on a very high note.

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