CLASS NO. 1
October 2, 2021
ERIC HOTZ: ART CLASSES AT LANGLEY ARTS COUNCIL
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NOTE: COVID protocols are in place. LAC requires masks to be wore. Hand sanitizer is provided.
Painting with acrylic paints is both fun and rewarding. To start, you really just need a few brushes, a little paint (five colours gets you started), and a surface like a stretched canvas. It is not expensive. With a little practice, you will discover that it isn't difficult to paint. I will teach you the basics, a few standard techniques, and a few lesser known techniques and tricks. I will also teach a bit of the history behind painting and of the past painting masters. This is an intro to paint and, therefore, it is designed to be a fun three hours. Painting should always be fun.
With my first class, I taught an interesting painting that wasn't too complex to render. I felt it was a good introduction to acrylic painting as there were a few interesting concepts to explore. This was a fun exercise that easily fit comfortably into the 3-hour class.
Teaching acrylic painting and techniques to my students. The target painting is on the right, while the demonstration painting is on the left.
I teach colour mixing. This is how I was taught as an art student. Learning to mix colours on the fly rather than relying on premixed paints from a tube is both economical and faster. You may, of course, use any number of paint colours for your paintings.
Explaining a technique and the theory behind it. I will often point out how previous painting masters tackled their art problems and will explain their solutions.
We try to social distance as much as we can while in my classes during the COVID pandemic. This works very well in the classroom as the space is big enough to accommodate everyone. Masks are worn at all times, and hand sanitizer is provided at several locations.
Everyone's approach to a painting is different. This is not only expected but also appreciated as it shows everyone there are as many solutions to creating a painting as there are people.
Learning to use acrylic paint, to handle the brushes, and learning new techniques, helps build confidence. Confidence is the most important ingredient when painting and that comes from painting as much as you can. Soon you will learn that mistakes can be corrected quickly and easily when using acrylic paint.
How you paint and what colours you choose can vary from the target painting. Unique approaches are often rewarded with a better more unique painting. It is also fun to go off the path when creating!
My classes are three hours long. Halfway through we take a 15-minute break to allow paint to dry, get a drink, stretch our legs, etc. We have an outdoor area with a picnic table right outside our classroom, which is at our disposal. If it is a nice day, we can open the door to allow fresh air to come in.
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