TERRY MIURA STUDIO
FIGURE PAINTING
Figure Painting Workshop Thursdays, 1:30 - 4:30pm $30
Learn the principles involved in painting the human figure! Working from a single long pose, we address issues in composition, color, form, techniques and processes. Painting the figure is a complex endeavor at any level, but if you learn to simplify the process and gain knowledge of how to make a painting work, you will eliminate unnecessary frustration and be that much closer to achieving your goal. The class emphasizes the tonalist approach to painting (Velasquez, Sargent, Chase, Wyeth, etc) starting with a very limited palette, and gradually expanding your color vocabulary to include fully saturated colors at your disposal. $30 per session, Drop-ins welcome. Scroll down for a list of suggested materials.
Open Session III (Long Pose) Thursdays, 6 to 9pm $10
A single pose for the entire session allows you to take time to develop and complete a larger painting or a drawing. We try to alternate costume and nude sessions. The cost is $10 per session. We provide the model, easels and taborets. You bring your own tools and materials.
Suggested Materials for Figure Painting Workshop
The following is a suggestion only. We have easels and taborets at the studio for you to use, but if you'd rather use your own plein air set-up, you are certainly welcome to.
Paints: Oil paints. Any brand will do, but avoid student grade paints such as Winton, as they have no oomph and you'll end up struggling to mix decent color. Here are the basic colors we'll use. You may add others as you become more comfortable with trying out new color strategies, but for starters, we'll work with a limited tonal palette.
Titanium White
Cadmium Yellow (not Cadmium Yellow Hue)
Cadmium Red (not Cadmium Red Hue)
Alizarin Crimson
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue
Yellow Ochre
Transparent Earth Brown or Transparent Oxide Red (different names depending on brand)
Supports: Stretched canvas, canvas boards, canvas panels are all acceptable. If you just plan to work on the head of the model, 8 x 10, 9 x 12, 11 x14 are all good sizes. If you want to work on the entire figure, something larger ( 17 x 20, 18 x 24, etc) is advisable. You don't have to get these exact sizes.
You may also get masonite or hardboard at a hardware store, cut to size, and prime them with a few coats of artist's gesso. Cheap and works very well for color studies and exercises, but don't plan on doing anything that requires longevity on these!
If you want the best, look for oil-primed linen. They can be stretched on stretchers, mounted on panels, or simply taped on a board. Your best bet for finding this stuff is online.
Solvents and Mediums: Turpenoid natural (comes in a green can) or mineral spirits for cleaning brushes. Turpenoid (in the blue can) for oil washes in the beginning stages of painting, and Liquin (a fast drying alkyd medium) or Linseed Oil for later stages of painting. Please don't use paint thinner, lacquer thinner, or other solvents with strong odors.
Brushes: Bristle oil painting brushes in various sizes. Filberts, flats or rounds.
Other:
Brush cleaning tank (the glass jar with the metal coil inside is great. So are aluminum plein air tanks.
Cups for solvents and mediums; (baby food jars work well. Just remember to put them in a ziploc bag in case of leakage)
Palette; Glass is best. Have a piece of glass cut to size and mount it onto a drawing board (having a handle is handy) by taping the edges down with duct tape. Wooden palettes are good too, but remember to season it with liquin or linseed oil and let dry before first use. Never let paint dry on a wooden palette.
Palette knife; an ordinary trowel shaped one. 2 to 3 inch blade size.
Paper towel. Bring the whole roll.
Sketchbook and pen or pencil.
