This three-day studio workshop will focus on painting "alla prima" (all at once) as well as developing greater skills of observation, simplification, and painting "wet on wet" to create strong "painterly" paintings. The workshop will also discuss techniques to quickly transfer the elements of your reference to the canvas with the goal of creating an artistic painting that accurately relates the important forms of a composition rather than simply copying everything in a photograph.
The first morning of the workshop begins with a discussion of painting basics (from materials to paint handling) and will also address the fundamentals of color, value, edges, perspective, and other "practical" elements that make a successful painting. Each day participants will work on a series of timed painting exercises incorporating the techniques discussed while developing their skills of observation, simplification, bold brushwork, and painting in a "decisive" and "intentional" manner.
Each morning of the workshop will include a short painting demo by Dan with an explanation of his process. Dan will provide plenty of one-on-one individual instruction throughout each day of the workshop.
This workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced painters in both oil and acrylic mediums; however, proficiency in basic drawing is required. Participants will be able to choose from a wide variety of reference photos supplied by the instructor for their painting exercises.
CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER SOON!! Suggested supply list is below.
Dan Graziano is an award winning, nationally exhibited artist whose paintings capture the hidden beauty found in the ordinary and unexpected fleeting moments of everyday life. Incorporating dramatic light, shadow, color and perspective, his compositions feature a diversity of subjects - from a simple still life to rugged coastlines, active urban life, lively cafes and bars, small rural towns and forgotten roadside relics. His work has been featured in numerous publications and is in the collections of private and corporate collectors throughout the world. He also keeps an active schedule teaching workshops at galleries and art organizations throughout the nation.
His artistic vision began taking shape in the 60's, during America's explosive political, cultural and artistic awakening. His first formal training focused on advertising and illustration, but a career opportunity in architecture and urban planning altered his original direction.
When he returned to painting, he was drawn to the rich complexity of the urban landscape inspired by Edward Hopper and other urbanist painters. As an accomplished blues guitarist (his other great passion), he found the city streets, time worn buildings and multiple layers of decay and repair a visual parallel to the spirit and culture of the music. He has received formal training in the traditional techniques and principles of classical realism painting from The Florence Academy of Art.
“In my paintings, I try to capture the hidden beauty found in the unexpected places and fleeting moments of everyday life. I continue to be intrigued by the urban landscapes of inner cities - their active streets, time worn buildings and multiple layers of decay, renewal and adaptation - that proudly display the effects of age and use, which I see as testaments to strength, character and authenticity in contrast with modern society’s demand for newness, imitation, disposability and easy duplication. My work is influenced by realists such as Caravaggio, Sargent, Hopper and the three generations of Wyeths along with California painters Wayne Thiebaud and Richard Diebenkorn.”
Suggested Supply List:
- Portable easel or tabletop easel with a paint mixing palette (Masterson plastic artist palette is a good option)
- Solvent container with a locking lid
- Cup or container for medium (if using a medium)
- Oil paint (any brand of good quality paint). Suggested colors:
Ultramarine blue
Manganese blue
Sap green
Burnt sienna
Burnt umber
Alizarin crimson
Cadmium orange
Cadmium red light
Cadmium yellow medium
Yellow ochre
Titanium white
- Brushes
I recommend hog bristle brushes or good quality synthetic brushes for oil or acrylic painting. Bring a mixture of filberts, flats, and rounds in various sizes (4, 6, 8, 10) with one sable rigger (liner). I use Robert Simmons Signet series (hog bristle) and Rosemary & Co. Ivory series (synthetic). Don't bring worn out brushes.
- Panels
You will use 3 to 4 panels per day. Your choice of panel sizes (6x8, 8x10, 9x12) - no larger than 9 x 12 for this workshop. Please bring panels rather than stretched canvas and avoid panels with too "slick" a surface.
Optional - I tone my panels with a thin wash of Liquitex Red Oxide acrylic paint wiped on with a moist paper towel.
- Medium (optional)
Graham's Walnut Alkyd Medium (a fast-drying and non-toxic product) or Gamblin Neo Megilp
- Solvent
Odorless mineral spirits (Gamsol or Turpenoid). Do not bring hardware store turpentine - it is not healthy for you or the people around you.
- Paper towels and plastic grocery bags for used paper towels
- Painting clothes (please wear clothing that you don't mind getting a little paint on)
- Optional
disposable gloves
wet panel carrier
bag lunch, bottled water
Online Art Stores for Supplies and Equipment:
- Cheap Joes www.cheapjoes.com
- Dick Blick www.dickblick.com
- Art Supply Warehouse www.artsupplywarehouse.com
- Jerry’s Artarama www.jerrysartarama.com
- Triangle Coatings (Classic Artist Oils) www.tricoatstore.com
- Artist and Craftsman Supply www.artistcraftsman.com
- RayMar Art www.raymarart.com
- SourceTek www.canvaspanels.com
-Rosemary & Co. www.rosemaryandco.com
