This 8-week class with artist and arts educator Kaitlyn Stubbs will be a foundational introduction to the medium of oil paint. Creating still lives from observation, we will explore composition, color theory, rendering, materials, processes, application techniques, and art history. Starting first with charcoal sketches & limited palettes, we will work our way up to full chromatic palettes. For our final two sessions, students are free to create any painting they like using oils.

This is a great class for first-time painters, anybody who works in another medium and wants to paint with oil, or painters who want to improve the fundamentals.

Proposed Outline

• Session 1: Drawing, Composition, Proportion, Value

  • Activity: Charcoal Still Life Drawing

• Session 2: Value & Volume

  • Activity: Monochromatic Still Life Oil Painting

• Session 3: Warms & Cools w/ Limited Palette 1 (Dead Palette)

  • Activity: Dead Palette Still Life Oil Painting

• Session 4: Color Theory w/ Limited Palette 2 (Complementary Colors)

  • Activity: Complementary Colors Still Life Oil Painting

• Session 5: Full Palette 1

  • Activity: Students will have 2 sessions to work on a final Still Life using a full chromatic palette

• Session 6: Full Palette 2

  • Activity: Students will continue & finish their final Still Life using a full chromatic palette

• Session 7: Final Painting, Artist’s Choice

  • Activity: Students will create any painting they like using oils. This can be from imagination, photo reference, or from observation

• Session 8: Final Painting, Artist’s Choice

  • Students will finish their final painting and we will have a share-out/discussion to celebrate the final session

When: Thursday nights, 7-9:00

Dates: April 16, April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14, (Skip May 21), May 28, June 4, June 11

Cost: $450 includes the cost of art supplies

About the instructor:

KaitlynStubbs is an artist and educator. Originally from Atlanta, she has called Brooklyn home for 15 years. She earned her BFA from the University of Georgia (2010) and her MFA from the New York Academy of Art (2012). She has exhibited her paintings locally and internationally. 

Beyond her artistic practice, Kaitlyn is deeply engaged in art education. She has taught diverse audiences of all ages and abilities at places including MoMA, MoMA PS1, MFA Boston, Center for Architecture, Smithsonian Institute, and SUNY Purchase. She has an approachable teaching style and believes in fostering community and empowerment through hands-on art making and exploration.

Currently, Kaitlyn paints in her Brooklyn studio and teaches workshops at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.