IRL: Painting from Direct Observation
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Saturdays 9:30am-12pm CT
January 11th - February 15th, 2025
Register Now6 Week Class Painting from Life
We will use individual still-lives to explore how the world looks to human eyes, as opposed to the camera's interpretations.
Photographs do not accurately depict reality
If you've ever seen a beautiful sunset and tried to snap a photo, or tried to capture the beauty of the moon with your cell phone, you know what I mean! Not only are proportions different through a camera lens, but colors, edges, and relationships don't convey the luminosity and depth that can be seen with the human eye.
This class is all about observing how we see in real life, so that our paintings look real instead of photographic.
Two Techniques
You will work alla prima ("all at once") for the first 2 weeks, learning the major steps of working from life in oil. A final 4 week project will allow you to work in layers and create more realism and a smoother finish.
Endless Subject Options
The studio is stocked with a number of props including glass, metal, and ceramic vessels, plaster casts, faux flowers and fruit, backdrop cloths, and more. You're also welcome to bring items you find interesting and meaningful.
Apply What You Learn
While still life will be the vehicle through which you learn how to replicate what the eye sees, these concepts can be applied to any subject matter. Practicing observation from life helps you create more realistic and lifelike paintings when you work from photographic references, because you will know how the eye might see things differently than a camera lens.