Workshops
2024 Schedule
April 29-May 2 — Scottsdale, AZ
Painting the Head from Life -- Canceled due to low enrollment. Rescheduled for 2025.
Scottsdale Artists’ School
3720 North Marshall Way
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Contact:
(480) 990-1422
(800) 333-5707
Or click this LINK
June 3-7 -- Florence, Italy
Painting the Classical Portrait -- Canceled due to low enrollment.
The Florence Studio
Borgo Santi Apostoli 18
50123 Firenze Florence
Italy
Contact:
https://theflorencestudio.com/contact
Or click this LINK
September 12-15 — Saratoga, CA
Portrait Painting from Life
Gabriel Coke Studio
14443 B Big Basin Way
Saratoga, CA 95070
Contact:
gabrielcokestudio@gmail.com
831-345-1845
Or click this LINK
October 9-12 — Lowell, Michigan
Painting the Head from Life
Franciscan Life Process Center
11650 Downes Street
Lowell, Michigan 49331-9489
Contact:
Kathleen Betchel
kbetchel@lifeprocesscenter.org
616-897-7842
Or click this LINK
November 11-15 — Agen, France
The Portrait in Oil with David Gray
Traducteur français / anglais sur le site.
Atelier Nadaï8
rue François Arago
47000 Agen
France
Contact:
Tel: +33(0)5 53 67 90 75 (landline)
+33(0)6 09 93 09 13 (cell phone)
Email: michel.nadai@wanadoo.fr
Or click this LINK
Materials List Downloads:
Note: There may be additional materials needed depending upon the class. Please check with the hosting studio for a finalized list.
In my workshops I teach the application of the painting medium as I apply it in my own professional work. Though I strive to keep the class fun and upbeat, we move fast and cover a LOT of material in a short amount of time. Note taking is highly recommended. If you are totally new to oil painting this probably isn’t the class for you. It’s really going to benefit the student who has a fairly firm grasp of drawing and oil painting basics. If you are really new you will learn a lot, to be sure, but a lot of it will be over your head, too. I will teach principles as I demonstrate on my own piece. You will also have the opportunity (and be expected) to apply the lessons on your own painting. Regardless of subject matter the schedule generally follows this sequence:
Day 1 — Underdrawing. I teach methods and thought processes of how to construct the underlying drawing of your subject on your painting support (your canvas or panel).
Day 2 -- Color Study and Underpainting. We will discuss some basic color theory and mixing. We will create a color poster study to help us work out our major color concerns before launching into our portrait. We will also apply a thin layer of oil color onto the drawing in preparation for day three.
Day 3 — Overpainting — This is the real business of painting where I show you how to paint your subject region by region; bringing each area to a finish before moving on. Among other things we will discuss paint handling, basic color mixing and turning form.
Day 4 — Glazing and Continuing the Overpainting. On this day I will show you how to glaze and make minor adjustments as necessary. We will also continue to work on the overpainting.
In addition students are encouraged to ask any other questions applicable to the art making process. In past workshops we have discussed other items such as: composition, how to take good photo reference material, the importance of drawing/painting from life, personal art making philosophy, and many other related topics.
Workshops that are longer than 4 days will cover the same material as well as additional studies and exercises.
If you are interested in a particular class and have questions regarding costs or other logistics, please contact the hosting studio. Thank you.