Subject Matter and Composition: Introduction to Palette Knife Painting. -Online

How can simple subjects be more powerful, interesting, contemporary, and attain professional standards? What turns a painting into a contemporary work of art, and something that accomplished artists have taken years to discover? This water soluble oil painting workshop emphasizes composition and abstraction for how to see the world as a palette knife painter. Rather than focusing on palette knife technique alone, composition is taught from a modernist perspective of the 20th C. and includes simplified shapes and color theory. The fundamentals in this workshop are all about simplifying painting, and make a huge difference in the process.

Benjamin Anderson is a painter and printmaker from Monterey, California. His Bay Area plein air paintings and Ohio-based urban scapes have been a large part of his work. He holds a BFA from Ohio Wesleyan University, and an MFA from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Anderson's approach in teaching is based on strengthening the skills students already have. He helps establish a solid approach to painting and art-making in general, with the intent that students be satisfied with the way they create with a fun approach in a laid back atmosphere. Anderson's open-minded philosophy is based on lifelong learning.

***Important Notice: This is a water soluble oil painting workshop. All beginners should only use the required supplies below that are water soluble. For the purpose of working from home, we are avoiding traditional painting and solvents. If you are an experienced painter and would like to use traditional oils, that’s your decision.

• Wear clothing appropriate for getting paint on. Water soluble oil paint can stain clothing.

• Painting Knife (palette knife) Recommended: Liquitex painting knife small #12

https://www.dickblick.com/items/03126-1012/

• Brushes: Recommended Suproot Paint set (link below) - this set is of good value. If you prefer to get single brushes rather than a set, get: 5/8 Flat, 5 or 6 Round, and 1 or 2 Round.

https://www.amazon.com/Paint-Brushes-Set-Paintbrushes-Watercolor/dp/B087KYTXHZ/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=single+paint+brush&qid=1604279430&sr=8-4

• Palette Paper: I recommend Jack Richeson Grey Maters Disposable palette paper (link below) OR, you may use a block of wood or piece of masonite (approximately 6"x9" or around that size roughly).

https://www.amazon.com/Jack-Richeson-Matters-Palette-Sheets/dp/B0069F2K2G/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=palette+paper&qid=1604283289&refinements=p_36%3A-700&rnid=2638325011&sr=8-2

• Solvent: Water (from a house sink is fine).Two Jars or two plastic yogurt cups (anything that can hold around a cup of water)

• Paints: Water mixable oil paint, (20ML or larger) tube set. Dayler Rowney Georgian Paints (see link below) recommended but if you prefer a different brand, that is fine, just as long as the colors are matching or similar (for example, cadmium yellow vs cadmium yellow light - either is fine). There are other exceptions shown below. Email me with questions: fineart.ben@gmail.com

Essential:

o Titanium White (Required)

o Cadmium Yellow Hue (Cad Yellow Light may substitute for the purposes of this class)

o Crimson Alizarin Hue (Crimson may substitute for the purposes of this class)

o French Ultramarine (Pthalo Blue, which is totally different, may substitute for the purposes of this class)

o Yellow Ochre (Required)

Viridian Hue (Not required, but comes in the paint set bellow)

o Link for the recommended set of paint:

https://www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/daler-rowney-georgian-water-mixable-oil-paint-starter-set-20ml-set-of-6?___store=jacksonsart_us&utm_source=google&utm_medium=surfaces&gclid=Cj0KCQjwufn8BRCwARIsAKzP694jvA55m_tI-EidnoGLu_ouL8Zr0xqZp74ypgaVAMPBn-gVJyPm-ZEaAgISEALw_wcB

• Canvas: 12"x16" Canvas pads will be used: individual sheets of canvas from these pads will be taped to boards (similar to taping watercolor paper). This will allow for custom cropping of each composition. https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-studio-canvas-pad-12-x-16-10-sheets/

• Board: Boards for stretching canvas may be drawing boards, masonite cut to size, or chipboards (particle board). Make sure the board is larger than the canvas size (above), so that the canvas can be taped to it. Having a board is required for stretching canvas. 18"x24" is a great board size.

Recommended: https://www.dickblick.com/items/hardboard-panel-18-x-24-18/

• Table Easel: Here is an easel that sits on top of a table (any tabletop easel will work, or regular tripod easel). Propping your canvas and board up against a pile of books works just as well, as long as there is some way of keeping it there. Any Easel that supports the board (above) works. https://www.amazon.com/CONDA-Aluminum-Tri-Pod-Display-Rubber/dp/B01K1TUAGS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=table+easel&qid=1604342521&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFFWkxBWExUQTk1R08mZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzNTgyMTIxS0hCUVZXNlhBUkJGJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxODU4MzUzRUg1Ukw0Q0FYVk02JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

• Paper Towels or Blue Shop Cloths (either is fine, as they serve as wiping tools for the palette knife and brushes)

• Dish Soap - any household dish soap is great for washing hands, brushes, and palette knifes

optional supplies:

• If working on a table you wish to protect, consider using newspaper to lay out. This will help avoid getting oil paint on the table. Water soluble oil paint should wash off a wood surface, however, staining can occur, especially between wood boards where paint gets stuck.

• Additional boards for stretching canvas are welcome. We will be working on four pieces minimum, and if you wish to leave the canvas stretched on the boards rather than replacing each canvas on a single board, that is fine.

• Images will be provided for all workshop endeavors. This includes reference images for the paintings to be created. Images will be emailed at the start of the workshop on day 1.