Join us as we discover best practices for figurative and scenic painting while having fun and connecting with other artists. Each session we will be examining two or more fundamental techniques, and we will each have a hand picked subject to work on: either figurative or scenic. Students will learn the Frank Reilly Palette for portrait painting; examine artists like George Bridgman. The first class we will do introductions and the instructor will do a portrait in real time along with the class week to week. Artists are encouraged to paint what they like and to ask questions of each other as well as the instructor as we paint as a group together and dig deeper into what goes into making a fantastic oil painting. This is an upper intermediate class so prior experience with oils is required.
Session 1 - Go over tools, materials. Go over Reilly pallet Students will paint on canvas and we will gesso and sand our canvases. We will start our underdrawings.
Session 2 - We will continue our underdrawings and finish ideally halfway through the session We will then “ ink ‘ our faces or scenes in a sepia tone raw umber. George Bridgman will be covered during the drawing component of the class.
Session 3- We will do a first pass on our faces mixing our paint with Gambol which is a drying medium which also allows the paint to be applied in washes. We will go for an average color that we can see throughout the reference image.
Session 4 - We will do the Form Pass in which we paint over our first coat using oil paint with no additives. Fat over lean will be covered and why we adhere to the Fat over Lean rule. Students are encouraged to view the room!
Session 5 - We will continue to work on our faces, or scenes. Students are encouraged to continue to network and share ideas and approaches.
Students, please bring your own painting materials together with photos, objects, or ideas of what you want to explore in paint. Table top easels are available for use during class.
(Note: Only odorless solvents are allowed in the CVU building such as Terpenoid or Gamsol)
Recommended age: 18+
James Beihl is a Commercial Science Fiction / Fantasy Artist and Art Educator based in Burlington, Vermont. In addition to producing Science Fiction and Fantasy book covers, James also produces Holiday Art, Cards, and is an accomplished Pumpkin Sculptor. James graduated from Pratt Institute in 2011 and worked as a graphic designer for Limited Brands before transitioning into Comic Book work. From 2013-2017 James worked exclusively in Comics. In 2015 through 2017, James worked for the Glasshouse Graphics Talent Agency doing comics work and getting pitches greenlit for companies like Markosia Comics. From 2017 to the present James has been doing Pumpkin Sculpting for Rise of the Jackolanterns out of their studio in Westchester NY every fall season as well as having produced various sci-fi, and fantasy artworks. James currently teaches art classes both virtually and in-person with various institutions including Burlington City Arts, and the Atelier At Flowerfield. James’ clients include Make-A-Wish, The Rise of the Jackolanterns, and Marquette Books.
James has a YouTube channel, GenreArtWithJb, where he discusses artistic best practices, sci-fi/fantasy art and the franchises and stories that inspire him to come up with his images. Feel free to follow James on Instagram @Jimmybeihlart for real time updates on his latest projects and work. You can also find James on ArtStationand Hireillo.
James Beihl
No Class Dec 23 & Dec 30
