for more information or to register contact Art Lab
email - click here telephone - 902-254-2972
instructor - susan paterson
course cost - $325
class size - 9
experience level - Novice to Experienced - a working knowledge of oil paint is necessary.
course description
This three day intensive course is a unique opportunity to work with acclaimed realist Susan Paterson. Her course will focus on the oil painting techniques and approaches that she uses to achieve her stunning results in still life. Students will be encouraged to discover new processes including black box setup, lighting, composition, accurate drawing and transferring techniques, tonal block-in, palette choices, edges, brushwork, and finishing. The object of this intensive is to give you the inspiration and skills that will be a positive influence on your own work in realism.
course details
Day one:
The first day we will discuss how to set up a still life, thinking about the center of interest, composition, colour schemes and light and shadow. I'll set up one myself and demonstrate how I approach each step. Each student will set up their own and do the drawing.
Day two:
The second day they will transfer the drawing to a board or canvas and do the monochromatic underpainting.
Day three:
The third day we'll start adding colour. Separating these three steps helps the students deal with accurate drawing, values, and colours, one at a time. I do a lot of one-on-one, sitting in the student’s chair to get the same perspective and helping with problems that come up.
supplies to bring
Each student should bring three to five still life objects that they would like to paint. Try to choose things that bring you joy, that you want to spend three days studying intently. Try not to bring complicated pieces, you won't have time to finish painting them. Also the pieces shouldn't be too big, they'll have to fit into your box. Pick a main piece and a few others that relate to it, that maybe tell a story, such as a teacup and sugar cubes and a spoon. I'll bring a few objects students can use too. Have fun choosing!
Students should bring a small box in which to set up their still life. Perhaps a boot size box, not too small. Or you could build a box, which is what I do, from black foam core. The size should be around 12" high x 18" wide x 10" deep. I'll have a few extra boxes students can use if you can't find one.
Most of you will already have your favorite supplies and colour palette but if not here are my suggestions.
Oil Paints: I prefer Gamblin, but any good quality paint will do. (Don’t buy the cheapest or water-based oils.)
French Ultramarine
Cerulean Blue
Naples Yellow
Yellow Ochre
Burnt Sienna
Quinacridone Red
Cadmium Lemon
Ivory Black
Titanium White
Supports: You can use Masonite boards, cut to size and primed 2 coats of GAC 100, then with 4 coats of acrylic gesso, letting it dry between coats, and one coat of GAC 100 on the back with 2 coats of gesso. (For better longevity I use the GAC 100, but it is not necessary for student work). I recommend sizes such as 9” x 12”, 9” x 9” or thereabouts. If you have a square and a rectangular board, you can choose the one that fits your setup better. You can also use canvas or wooden panels that have been primed.
Brushes: I use bristle and natural hair, round, flat and filbert. Have a 1” or so bristle, (filbert or flat) and then several different sizes in whatever style you choose, plus a small round or two for detail work and a medium soft brush for blending.
Miscellaneous Items: Palette, easel, palette knife, odorless mineral spirits (for clean-up only, I don't use it for painting), rags or paper towel, pencil, kneaded eraser (these are the best erasers to use), small ruler.
about the instructor
Susan has exhibited extensively across canada since the early eighties, presenting more than thirty solo exhibits and many more group shows including the 15th International Art Renewal Salon Live Exhibition,
Sotheby’s, New York and MEAM, Barcelona, Spain, 2021; the 14th International Art Renewal Center
Salon Live Exhibition, MEAM, Barcelona, Spain, 2019 - 2020; ‘Capture 2014, Nova Scotia Realism’ juried
by Tom Smart and Peter Dykuis which travelled throughout Nova Scotia and ‘Terrior, a Nova Scotia
Survey’ in 2016 at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
In 2019, Susan received second place Still Life for her painting ‘Artist’s Collection’ in the 14th ARC International Salon and in 2021 received a Purchase Award and the FWSD award for ‘Studio Reflections’ in the 15th ARC International Salon. Susan’s work was awarded third place and finalist four times in the online BoldBrush painting competition, four finalist awards in the Still Life category of Art Renewal Center’s International Salon, three finalist awards in International Artist Magazine competitions and finalist in the Boynes Emerging Artist Award, 4th Edition. Her work is in collections all over the world including Art Renewal Center, Nova Scotia Art Bank, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Bell Canada, Husky Oil, Magna International, Oshawa Foods, Citibank, Bank of Detroit, Dofasco Ltd, Olympia and York Developments, and K.K. Sakai, Tokyo, Japan.
Publications featuring Susan’s work include ‘From Land and Sea: Nova Scotia’s Contemporary Landscape
Artists’; ‘Take your Time with Each Step’, International Artist magazine, and ‘Master Painters’,
International Artist magazine.
contact the artist: email - susanpaterson14@gmail.com Website: https://www.susanpaterson.ca/
Cancellation Policy
If for any reason the participant wishes to cancel prior to two weeks before the commencement of the course, the full fee minus a 10% service fee will be refunded. Please note that there will be no refunds if the participant cancels within two weeks of the commencement of the course.