Painting Animal Spirits, February 15 + 16, 2025
Join Us For The Creation Of A Magical Animal Spirit Painting!
In this workshop, Adrianne will guide us through the creation of a small magical portrait of an animal of our choosing. We will learn how to paint color, luminosity, and compositions that bring the magic of that animal to life.
We will work from well-chosen photo references of our animals, and learn how to use the reference as a base for our imaginations to add magic and spirit to our animal portraits. Over two days, we will bring our animal portraits from concept phase to finished design on our canvases.
Whether advanced or a beginner, you are all welcome!
Workshop will take place at The Boulder School Of Fine Art in Boulder, Colorado. 12 person capacity.
Participants Will Learn:
How to work imaginatively from photo reference
How to add elements of magic and storytelling to your portrait
Color theory, composition, and depth skills
How to realistically render whilst keeping creative expression alive
Materials list:
A small prepared surface such as a wood panel or canvas (suggested size 8.5"x11")
Preferred set of oil or acrylic paints. (Recommended medium: acrylic paint.)
Recommended colors: titanium white, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, cadmium orange, cadmium red, thio violet, alizirin crimson, manganese blue hue or Cerulean Blue, ultramarine blue, ultramarine violet, Paynes Gray, Cobalt Turquoise Light, Sap Green, Pthalo Blue, Pthalo Green, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna
(Note: If you don’t have every single one of these colors, or have colors that are similar hues yet aren’t the exact colors, that’s ok. Just bring colors that are as close as possible, and mostly covering the range of primary yellows, reds, and blues.)If painting in oil: odorless solvent such as Turpenoid Natural Or Natural Earth Paint Eco-Solve
If painting in oil: blending medium such as Winsor & Newton Blending & Glazing Medium, refined linseed oil, walnut oil, or blending oil of choice.
If painting in acrylic: water dish and/or cup.
Palette or Palette box (Recommended: https://a.co/d/gMCEviU), palette sponge if painting in acrylic
Palette knife (size 1 or 2 should be sufficient)
Preferred set of paint brushes. Recommended: Flats, set of 5-7, fine detail (-0-5) to reasonably large (12-14), but most used will be medium range (6-10). (Note: Sizes are not standard across manufacturers.)
Clip on painting light to light your workspace.
Paint rags
Other Prep:
Participants should choose a good photo reference for their animal ahead of time, and arrive to the workshop with that photo reference ready to go. A prep email will be sent to participants on the selection of their photo reference, and how to choose a reference that will set you up for success.
Please bring any materials that you may need for extra protection: aprons, nitrile gloves, etc.
Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to set up and settle in.