Botanical Painting in Oil: An Introduction to Materials and Methods

Curious to try painting botanical portraits in oil? The class offers an introduction to this challenging yet richly rewarding traditional medium with Ingrid Finnan. The class will cover an overview of the methods and materials Ingrid uses in her artwork, including how to prepare gessoed paper and how to mix paints and apply glazes. Ingrid will guide you through the steps of creating a small study in oil during the class so that you will have the confidence to continue to explore the medium on your own.

Included in the cost of the class are a selection of oil paints, a quick drying medium for thinning the paint, a solvent and a paper palette to use during the class. You will also receive a 10” x 12” piece of gessoed paper and a #2 “Round” brush for you to keep. Additional materials for you to bring to class are included in the Materials List.

Class Schedule:

10:00AM - 5:00PM Thursday, November 13th

Each day will include a 45-minute lunch break. (Lunch not provided)

Materials List:

• A pear or an apple or a simple piece of fruit or vegetable
• A piece of tracing paper
• A sketching pencil
• Kneaded eraser
• A piece of soft white cotton (from an old T shirt would be great!)
• "The Masters" Brush Cleaner or any good brush cleaner
• Tape
• To protect the damp art work for traveling, 4 wooden pencils to tape to painted surface edges
• Piece of cardboard 10" x 12" to tape over pencils
• Double edged razor blade
• Paper towels
• Wear old clothes or bring an old shirt to protect clothing

About Ingrid Finnan:

Ingrid Finnan’s love of painting flowers stems from over thirty years of working in the decorative textile design field. Since 2006 she has been represented in ASBA’s Annual International Exhibitions (Best in Show, 2013); as well as The New York Botanical Garden Triennial Exhibitions (2011, Bronze Medal); Filoli Annual Botanical Art Exhibitions (Bourn Award, 2013); Bartrams’ Footsteps; Newhouse Galleries Illuminations - Botanicals and Birds at Planting Fields Arboretum and Illuminations II Botanicals and Birds in East Hampton; Botanical Art into the Third Millennium, Pisa, Italy; Botanical Art of the 21st Century, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; and most recently Work from Botanical Artists in the Collection of Dr. Shirley Sherwood OBE. at the Jonathan Cooper Park Walk Gallery in London and Tropical Splendour, Plant Portraits from the Shirley Sherwood Contemporary Collection at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Her work is in the Shirley Sherwood Collection and a number of other private collections.