Start to Finish Figure Painting

Start to Finish Figure Painting

Adult Course | Available

200 Grant St Denver, CO 80203 United States
A-02
All
1/21/2025-2/25/2025
6:00 PM-9:00 PM MST on Tue
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$387.00
$328.95

Start to Finish Figure Painting

Adult Course | Available

The human form is one of the most complex subjects to paint, but also, and only partially because of this, the most satisfying. In this class you will learn how to break down the complex task of painting the figure, all in one go, into manageable chunks, through a well-defined process that really works.


We’ll start by stringing out the process over the course of the first 3 sessions, not to layer paint and build a highly rendered figure, but to create a solid foundation that will later be compressed into single session sittings for the final three sessions.


Watch as I demo the steps, get hands on help as you work, and learn to paint generally to specifically in this class that will take your skills to the next level, from wherever you are.

The Thumbnail Study - a 1,000 foot view

She’s Got Good Bones - drawing just enough, before you paint

Our Hero, Value - Organizing your palette and painting for success

Check the Thermostat - learning to find subtle differences in color

Let it Shine - Turning on the light to build form

Here (n)or There - Selectively defining edges

Restating the Obvious - Finishing touches before signing wet paint

  • *Figure Drawing and some form of oil painting required for this class

  • Painting Surfaces

     

    For sketches and color studies:

    Watercolor paper, cold pressed paper, or thick paper of any kind, coated in acrylic gel medium, shellac or gesso.

    OR primed canvas  (My new favorite is Centurion Deluxe oil primed Linen Paper) 

    Gaffer’s tape for defining borders (black is best).

     

    For your alla prima paintings:

    At least four 8”X10” (or similar) prepared surfaces. You may use the substrates from above mounted to a backing and taped to size, or use primed panels, or stretched and primed canvas.

     

    Oil Media paint brushes

    A variety of long handled. flat rectangular or filberts ranging from 1/4“ to 1”. Two of each!

     

    Medium and Brush Cleaner

    Odorless spirits, ideally "Gamsol" in a sealable brush washing container

    Linseed Oil

     

    Oil Paint

     The following colors of oil paint (professional, not student grade or knock offs, 37 ml tubes are best):

    • titanium white

    • cadmium yellow light

    • indian yellow

    • cadmium red medium or light

    • permanent alizarin crimson

    • ultramarine blue (not french)

    • viridian

    • ivory black

     

    Palette
    • Glass or wood palette, no paper palettes.
     
    Additional supplies
    • Masking tape or gaffers tape

    • A backing of any kind to support surfaces that are not sturdy on their own
    • Viva paper towels, shop towels or plenty of rags
    • Small diamond shaped or rectangular shaped palette Knife

    * Vine Charcoal and a #2 Pencil

     

Denise Dambrackas

Denise Dambrackas is a contemporary realist oil painter and mixed media artist living and working in Denver, Colorado.

After earning a BFA in 1995, she slowly, and income-willing, transitioned to a long professional career in graphic design. It wasn’t until 2018 that she returned her attention back to expanding her skill set in the fine art of oil painting, through study with some of the profession’s master teachers. She continues to study, hungry for knowledge and ideas on how to better facilitate her most unique expression as an artist.

For the love of oil painting, she dabbles in most all subject matters, but continues to return to the figure. In her current series of work, "Future Feminine" she ventures to smash gender-based limitations and inspire the girls of today. She says, “I’m dedicated to upholding the current trend of positive change in gender roles, I hope that my paintings will help the females of the future avoid the pernicious sense of doubt that has undermined their predecessor’s full potentials, for centuries. In the process, I’m finding my way through the same.”

Denise began teaching at the Art Students League of Denver in early 2023.