Christian Dore  ~  Cliff Austin  ~ Jennifer Ghormley
Christian Dore  - "Abstract Colorado- Painting for Beginners"  
Saturday, October 15, 2022 -- 11am - 3pm
First Presbyterian Church of Littleton 
1609 W. Littleton Blvd.
Littleton, CO 80120
In this acrylic painting workshop we'll go through each stage of the painting from start to finish. 
Create your own memorable abstract portrait of Colorado, meshing nature into your own distinctive style. 
Supply List: 
  • Canvas - no bigger than 18x24 (to start with)
  • Half inch sable angled brushes 
  • Two inch cheap house painting brush
  • Fine tipped brush optional
  • Water container / cloth for drying water (prefer this than paper towel as it lasts longer)
  • Palette 
  • Sketch book & HB pencil
  • Easel set up optional can work on a flat surface if you prefer.
  • Paints: Acrylic - soft body or heavy body
  • Unbleached Titanium (very important color)
  • Any Black (very important color)
  • Only two or three additional colors of your choice. Think of the color you wish the painting to  be.
  • Painting clothes

>> Download Christian's Bio
>> Download Workshop Supply List
Cliff Austin - "Landscape Painting in Oils from Photographs"
Saturday, November 5, 2022 -- 9am - 3pm
First Presbyterian Church of Littleton 
1609 W. Littleton Blvd.
Littleton, CO 80120
Picture
Learn how to paint landscapes with oil paint in the Alla Prima style. Techniques for approaching landscape painting will be explored. Workshops will be structured around the drawing, painting and development of expressive techniques of landscape art.

Advance your skills in painting the Landscape with expressive, and loose styles. Gain ideas on color and composition to express your vision.

This class is for all levels, previous drawing experience required.

The class will consider:
  1. The elements and principles of painting.
  2. Drawing - accurately
  3. Demo - quick
  4. Lets Paint
The elements of painting are:
  • Line
  • Direction
  • Shape
  • Size
  • Color
  • Value
  • Texture
The principles of painting:
  • Balance
  • Unity
  • Symmetry
  • Harmony
  • Emphasis
  • Contrast
  • Rhythm 
Focus on just a few elements will help establish a base line to build from.Focus on 3 elements:
  • Shape
  • Value
  • ​Edges
and 3 principles:
  • Contrast
  • Emphasis
  • Rhythm
​>> Download Cliff's Bio
Picture
"Colorful Colorado" 14x18 Oil - $1100
Picture
"Smokey Sky" 16x12 Oil - $850
Picture
"Morning Spilling Over" 16x20 Oil $1350
Process:
  • Paint from darks shapes to establish the first shape (vertical shapes) thin and transparent, then
  • Paint the medium value (flat ground) then the lightest value with the thickest light value paint.
 
This is the starting point. From here you can add to the design / composition / story.
  • Shape – large against small   |
  • Value – light against dark       >   contrast
  • Edge – soft verses hard          |
 
Emphasize the center of interest and add rhythm to make it interesting.
 
To make things go back in the distance shapes become -
lighter, softer and cooler vs. darker harder warmer
  1. Is the shape interesting  compared to other shapes?
  2. Is there enough value change to make it interesting?
  3. Is there a soft edge to make the hard edge look hard?  

It takes 3 values to show volume.
 
Go paint.  -  
Homework :
  • Draw – draw – draw
  • look up linear perspective and make some drawings.
  • Look up atmospheric perspective and make some drawings.
  • Look at your favorite artists
  • Draw everyday.
  • Learn to see basic shapes – square, circle, triangle
 Exercises:
  1. black and white sketch or painting -   small
  2. 10 stroke apple in a design  - consider placement on the page
  3. 20 stroke landscape
  4. limited color painting
  5. abstract the landscape or apple
  6. tiny mark painting - pointelest
Materials:
  • Oil paints, paints and palette.
  • Supply List:
  • French easel or pochade box
  • 2-3, Canvas or panels 8x10 or 9x12
  • Odorless mineral spirits Gamsol + portable container
  • Paper towels - Viva paper towels
  • Brushes – professional preferred fine liner 2,4, 6, 8,  1" chip brush
  • Palette knife
  • Paints Oils     Titanium White, Cad yellow, Cad orange, Yellow Ochre, Cad red med, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt umber, Ultramarine Blue, Sap Green, Dioxazine Purple, Ivory black.
  • Medium sized notebook 9x12 or 5x8 - black marker and a med. gray maker
  • and waste bag to transport used towels and waste. 
  • Optional , a pizza box to transport your wet painting.
Jennifer Ghormley  - "Mixed Media Printmaking"  
Saturday, January 21, 2023 -- 9am - 12Noon
First Presbyterian Church of Littleton 
1609 W. Littleton Blvd.
Littleton, CO 80120
​Participants will create linoleum cut prints and combine with mixed media elements (such as watercolor, colored pencil, and/or collage). We will learn how to carve a linoleum block, ink up and print a series of images onto paper. Following, we will add mixed media elements to modify and enhance the artwork. Participants can expect to go home with a few pieces of finished artwork, as well as fresh inspiration and creative energy to continue making more artwork at home.
Suggested supply list for participants to bring:
  • Apron or smock to protect clothes
  • Sketches, drawings or ideas of what imagery they want to work with – blocks will be 4x6”.
  • Other desired mixed media elements aside from what instructor will bring
>> Download Jennifer's Bio
​After you attend a workshop we'd appreciate it if you would fill out and submit the Workshop Evaluation form.
>> Past Workshops