Wednesday Evening Painting and Drawing - places available contact for pro rata rate.

• How to set up a palette, about brushes, mediums and clean up for both oil and acrylic

• Learn about composition and drawing compositional sketches

• Learn to mix tone and colour in paint 

• Fundamental colour theory

• Learn how to create depth through both linear and arial perspective

• Learn different approaches to paint application and brush mark (wet in wet, building thicker paint layers (impasto), glazing with transparent colours and more)

• Take inspiration from a range of historical and contemporary artists and their approach to painting

• Explore different subject including Still life, Portraits, Interiors, en plein air painting – natural and urban landscape and many others.

Art materials are not included in the course fee. Students will need to bring the following items:

• Canvas, canvas paper, wooden boards or canvas wrapped over cardboard as a ‘support’ to paint on. Through the term you will need around 3-4 supports. Bring an art journal (a5/4) and one support, minimum 14” x18″ for the first class. These may be cheap canvas from a $2 shop or Office Works.

• An A4/5 art journal, 2B pencil, willow charcoal and rubber for sketching out ideas

• A selection of 3-4 filbert brushes small, medium and large size. A large glue brush for painting grounds is also useful.

• A flat plastic or wooden palette (no wells – these are for watercolour)- An A3 size or bigger rectangular shape is best

• Palette knife, diamond shape medium size – metal is best

• Rags, bull dog clips, apron, masking tape

• Paints: Students may use Oils or acrylics depending on preference.

A good basic colour palette includes:

• Cadmium light hue, or primary yellow

• Ultramarine Blue and phthalo blue

• Cadmium Red Hue (warm) or primary red or Vermillion red and Alizarin Red (cool)

• Burnt Umber or Burnt Sienna

• Titanium White

• Extras – ochre yellow, viridian green.

You can buy student quality paints (Matisse Derivan Acrylics or Langridge/Art Spectrum oils are good, reasonably priced brands). Very cheap paints are a waste of money! At least buy a good quality white.

Cadmium colours are more expensive, and it is perfectly ok to bring ‘hue’ from this range eg Cadmium yellow light (hue) or a warm yellow or warm red instead of the cadmiums.

If using Oil Paints:

You will need odourless solvent for cleanup and mixing mediums. A 250ml bottle is a good size for starters. We recommend ‘Gamsol’ by Gamblin. This is the least toxic solvent on the market and the same price as other odourless solvents. Solvents MUST be odourless. Oil painting solvents and mediums must not be tipped down the sinks. You will need 2 small jars with lids to take away spent solvents/mediums. Spent solvents/mediums must be taken with you and not left in the hall. Your tutor will give you information on reusing and disposing of spent solvents and mediums.

Do not bring turpentine based solvents to class – they are extremely toxic

Mediums – You can mix your own medium with 1/3 refined linseed oil, 1/3 stand oil (heated linseed that drys faster) and 1/3 solvent. You do not need medium for your first few classes. Premixed mediums often have toxic dryers in them unless you buy from the Gamblin range.

If using Acrylic Paints:

Medium – Bring a general purpose flow medium.

Art supply stores

• Art on King in Newtown (good discount card)

• Parkers in the Rocks

• The Art Scene in Ryde (good online shopping)

• The Sydney Art Store in Botany (good online shopping)

Ochre Lawson is a professional artist with over 15 years experience as a painting and drawing tutor. Ochre works with students at their own level and pace and encourages them to discover their own interests and style in a relaxing and supportive atmosphere.

• Toilets with disabled access, hall also has disabled access

• Easels and backing boards

• Tables, drop sheets

• Some source material

• Kitchen facilities with fridge, microwave, coffee/tea, milk, mugs