Intro to Painting: Portraiture

Intro to Painting: Portraiture

In-Person: Adult | This program has been canceled

20 Academy Street Arlington, MA 02476 United States

Main Classroom

Beginners/Advanced Beginners

1/16/2020-3/19/2020

View Schedule

260.00 USD

Member Discount Available

8 Thursdays, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

This class will explore the basics of oil and acrylic painting techniques while playing with approaches for representing human likeness. This class will refine your ability to recognize and represent details in color and form. Students will be given the freedom to adhere to a specific technique and use the rest of their time working on one project, or to do a series of smaller works exploring different techniques throughout the course. This class will foster a supportive atmosphere for group techniques and teacher demos so you can get the most out of our time together. Some drawing experience helpful but not required. Bring in your own high-resolution pictures (8"x10" or larger usually works best) as reference photographs for your work.

  • Tools:

  • *pallet knife for mixing: a trowel shaped palette knife is a great option, metal is also better than plastic.


  • *variety of brushes: at least these three shapes: a flat, an angle, and a round, and #10 and up in size. There are different brushes for acrylic and oil, so if you want to try both be sure to get different sets


  • *Wax paper These will be your disposable palettes each week.


  • Latex, vinyl or rubber gloves that fit to your hand (mandatory if using oil paint)- I prefer something that I can reuse


  • *acrylic medium retarder (to slow down drying time for acrylics) — this is optional, but often helpful if you like to take your time with mixing)


  • *solvent free fluid (to speed drying time for oils) - optional but often helpful, especially if you choose not to do an acrylic underpainting


  • a small, resealable jar for solvent free fluid- optional


  • an apron of sorts- I just use an oversized button up shirt (goodwill has plenty!)


  • For cleaning:

  • ivory soap or blue Dawn (for washing brushes so they live long and happy — a small bottle or some poured into a travel container will do fine)


  • vegetable oil- a small bottle or some poured into a travel container will do fine


  • Rubber dishwashing gloves


  • rags or store bought paper towels (old cut up t-shirt strips or socks work great)


  • Paints and Canvases:


  • *Acrylic Paints: Basics or Dick Blick brand are the cheapest, and widely available. Most stores have a student starter kit with quite a few colors; you can also buy tubes separately. You’ll want: cadmium red, crimson red, cadimum yellow, french ultramine, pthalo blue, burnt sienna, burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white.


  • *Oil Paints: Windsor Newton is my personal favorite, Gamblin is also great. DO NOT GET WATER BASED OILS. The smaller tubes go a long way if you are trying for the first time. I would suggest sticking to one brand because each company has their own recipe and it keeps your mixed colors pure. Colors: titanium white, naples yellow, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, crimson red, quinacridone magenta, pthalo blue, french ultramarine, burnt sienna, burn umber


  • 1-3 thin primed (white and ready to paint) boards: these are often sold for students in packs, and are very affordable and a good choice for practicing some basics.


  • *2-4 primed wooden boards or primed stretched canvas. You may choose your sizes depending on how you like to work; bigger often takes longer, but I welcome grand enterprise. Small paintings can be very sweet; if you go this route, I suggest getting several so you can work on multiple aspects at the same time. Common sizes are 9”x11”, or 5”x5”, or 16”x20”.


  • *can be found at local art stores, such as Playtime (Broadway, Arlington) or Artisan's Supply (Central Sq, Cambridge)
Beaudoin, Cat

she/they Catherine Beaudoin is a young artist currently residing in Boston, Massachusetts. Beaudoin received her bachelor’s degrees in Studio Art and History from Washington & Jefferson College outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her curiosity led her to experiment with several mediums and visual art mediums including oil, acrylic, pastel, graphite, charcoal, pen and ink, found objects, and natural elements. While in Arizona, Beaudoin established her roots as an elementary art teacher and grew passionate for arts ability to address community needs. She began to integrate herself into various sectors of the art world: government, schools, non-profits, community happenings, and various cultural events. This experience gave her insight to the interconnectivity of the art world while illuminating the systems supporting select demographics. Along with their role as the Education and Programs Manager at Arlington Center for the Arts, Beaudoin is a teaching artist, mentor, visual artist, and graduate student. Beaudoin's current research and projects include college access for student-parents and caregivers, equitable access to community arts programming, and ecological art education.