January 13 – March 3, 2027
Time: 12:30 PM-3:30 PM EST on Wednesdays
Enjoy the luxury of painting in oil without the drawbacks of toxic solvents. Water mixable oils are real oil paint, but clean up with water and use non-toxic thinners and mediums. We will explore working with this versatile medium with variety of subjects, and learn to mix a wide range of colors from a simplified palette.
Oil paint is the painting medium of the masters, the majority of paintings you see in museums and galleries were painted in oil. This workshop and class will introduce you to this flexible, sensual and versatile medium without the drawbacks of the traditional use of solvent based thinners and mediums.
For those experienced with water mixable oils, we will continue to explore techniques in this versatile and beautiful medium.
We will work with a variety of subjects. Topics will include: working with water mixable oil paint, thinners and mediums; choosing a subject and arranging a composition for landscape; transferring a composition from a photograph to a canvas or panel; starting a painting; developing a painting in stages; value, color and the importance of edges; creating textures to suggest foliage, tree trunks, grasses, water and other surfaces; adjusting the thickness of oil paint as you paint; brush handling; and mixing a wide range of colors from a simple, limited palette.
The class will include demonstrations by the instructor and individual instruction at each student’s level of experience.
Suggested materials:
Surface
Canvas panels, gessoed hardboard panels, stretched canvas, or “oil paper” (for example: “Arches Oil Paper”)
2 at either 8×10 or 9×12 (larger if you like)
Brushes
Stiff, long handled synthetic brushes. There are many good brands; two I happen to like are the Princeton 6300 or 6500 lines of synthetic oil painting brushes.
Sizes
#4 (1/2”) flat (ideally 2 of these)
#2 (1/4”) flat
#3 fan
#2 round
Palette
Melamine, wood or tempered glass palette, or a pad of disposable palette paper.
Painting/palette knife
Recommended: round tip elongated diamond shape, roughly 1 1/2” long
Containers
Thinner & medium cups, one for each, or a dual cup — alternately, small eyedropper type bottles. Water jar for cleaning brushes
Wet painting carrier, cardboard box or plastic bin for carrying wet panels, canvas or oil paper
Shop or studio apron, smock (optional) or suitable clothing
Paints, thinners & mediums
I don’t recommend W&N Artisan paints because they are student grade. You can use them if you have them.
Colors
We will be using a limited palette of five colors.
If using Royal Talens Cobra water mixable oil
(Note: not labeled “Study”, which is their student grade version)
Ultramarine Blue
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Rose Madder
Burnt Sienna
Titanium White
Plus:
Royal Talens Cobra or W&N Artisan Water Mixable Thinner
Cobra or W&N Water Mixable Oil Painting Medium (NOT fast dry)
If using Holbein Duo Aqua water mixable oil
Ultramarine Blue
Cadmium Yellow
Rose Madder
Burnt Sienna
Titanium White
Plus:
Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Paint Thinner
Holbein Duo Aqua or W&N Water Mixable Oil Painting Medium (NOT fast dry)
INFORMATION & REGISTRATION HERE
Presented by the Wallingford Community Arts Center
14 Plush Mill Road Wallingford, PA 19086
Tuition: $370.00 (Member Discount Available)
