Tried learning through YouTube tutorials but still struggling? They lack personalized guidance.

Intended as the follow up to Foundations of Oil Painting and other subject-specific oil painting classes taught here at School of Realist Art, Advanced Painting Compositions will lead you through all the steps to create breathtaking compositions that leave viewers in awe.

Class Structure:

Each session begins with a short inspirational presentation coinciding with the stages of developing a composition. This is followed by work time with Lacey meeting individually with each student to provide feedback and guidance.

In-Studio Attendees:
All materials included except large or specifically-sized canvases
Access to a library of reference photos, still life props, and a printer
Online platform access for class recordings, notes, and to accommodate travel, illness, etc.

Virtual Attendees:
Attend live via the fully interactive online platform 
Ask questions directly via audio and email images for real-time illustrated feedback during class time
Access to class recordings, notes, and reference images
BONUS: Receive 2 months of access to the Realist Art Club for additional virtual studio and feedback time!

This class covers everything you need to create unique paintings including:

• Creative ways to gather and arrange reference material from various sources into a cohesive composition for a painting
• Use design, shapes, and colors to create an emotional impact and focal point
• Higher Level Light Logic: The nuances in value that bring a painting to life
• How to use real life observation in your paintings done from reference photos
• Knowing what details to add, which ones to change or leave out, and how to not ruin the painting when adding them!

Class content applicable to all subjects from simple to complex 

Since the focus is on how to use reference expressively (rather than how to copy a photo or imitate what you see literally) a variety of visual problems can be tackled in this course.

• Arrange shapes and light from landscape reference photos to create an atmosphere and lead your eye purposefully through the painting
• Add color and a background to an old black and white family photo
• Take or use existing photos of people and create a made-up environment using your imagination
• All of the above images are examples where colors, environments, and shapes have been invented or changed and multiple reference photos combined to create a unique painting!