Rendering Forms: Oil Painting Techniques

Rendering Forms: Oil Painting Techniques

 This class focuses on developing strong representational oil painting skills through foundational and traditional techniques. Students will learn how to translate subject matter into convincing three-dimensional form using light, value, and color. 

 Throughout this 10-week session, you will: 

 Develop rendering skills in oil paint

• Understand how light and shadow create form 
• Work with tonal grounds and underpainting
• Explore glazing and scumbling techniques 
• Build awareness of color harmony
• Gain insight into the historical use of these methods in traditional painting

 Through demonstrations, structured exercises, and critique sessions, students progress from foundational process discussions, such as one-step versus two-step painting methods, to building layered paintings using classical techniques. By the end of the course, students will have a clearer understanding of traditional oil painting structure and greater control in rendering form with depth and dimensionality.

This class is ideal for beginners to oil painting and for those interested in representational methods and Old Master–inspired techniques. Some drawing ability is recommended, as drawing forms the foundation of representational painting. Prior experience in acrylic or oil is helpful but not required.