Painting for all!
This class covers foundational painting skills through a progression from observational still life to increasingly abstract approaches. Students explore value, color, composition, and gesture through hands-on studio exercises that emphasize seeing, perception, and material experimentation.
Working from direct observation and lived experience, students learn to simplify, translate, and transform visual information into expressive painted forms.
Students may work in acrylic or oil paint. Most demonstrations will be using oil paint.
Tuition for this class includes a fee of $10 for basic materials (such as newsprint and/or charcoal) provided by CAW.
School Policies
Students who withdraw 48 hours prior to the first class are eligible for a refund or credit toward another class, less a $25 registration fee.
Please click here for more details.
Term: Spring 2026
Suggested Ages: 18+
6 sessions: $334.00; Capacity: 12
Registration closed
Painting Supplies: Brushes: bring a variety based on your medium: Creative Mark Professional, Langnickel, and Princeton tend to have decent student-grade sets. For oil paint, concentrate on China-bristle brushes over nylon. Colors: titanium white, yellow ocher, yellow cad light, ultramarine blue, napthol or cadmium red med, and a black: ivory (cool) or mars (warm). (raw umber, viridian, and permanent alizarin are also nice addition. Better paints have more pigment and make a huge difference. Beginners should look for “student grade” paint from reputable brands, as listed below Oil Paint: Winton from Windsor and Newton, or 1980 from Gambin, or Utrecht are suggested. Gamblin oil medium gel, and Odorless turps- Gamsol or turpenoid (and two small empty glass jars with tight lids), and a couple of containers for cleaning. We recycle the turps, so please do not throw out. Murphy’s oil soap and vegetable oil (cheap cooking oil) to clean brushes Acrylic Paint: Golden, Liquitex, Windsor & Newton, Amsterdam, Utrecht are all good choices. Most starter sets will also need yellow ocher. Raw umber and Viridian are optional. Avoid High flow and soft body for now. Retarder (slow-dry blending medium) and acrylic gloss painting medium Small spray bottle & cup for rinsing brushes Other items needed •Canvas pad or Canvas paper: 9 x 12 - 10 sheets. (or larger) You can also gesso heavy artists paper •Gesso white (small jar) (Optional) 9x12 stretched canvas for the last 2 weeks of class. (or larger) •Palette knives-metal is best- find a set of 5 (most cheaper sets are fine) •Palette Paper: Disposable palette pad 9x12 or larger, or Freezer paper. And a solid surface like plexiglass or 1/4 in glass. •Roll of paper towels or rags •Painters tape •Pencil and Sketch pad •Latex gloves and apron (optional)