Oil Painting

-Grace Waldman-

Outline of the Course Aims

The oil painting course is in three parts. First, analysis of the subject matter, including 'seeing' as opposed to 'looking'. Then the paint itself is studied and various technical considerations, which include colour theory, form the main part of colour mixing. Finally, analysis of composition, tone values and surface treatments, along with the choice of surfaces to paint on are all reviewed in as much detail as demand requires. Part of the class includes a demonstration of the rarely used technique of egg tempera - the favourite technique of Andrew Wyeth. This gives a luminosity to glazes of colour but has the plasticity of oil paint. We will meet John Verling, an exponent of this technique. Other well-known Irish painters will also be available for demonstrations.