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This six-week painting class is designed for students interested in exploring texture as a central element of painting. Using acrylic paint and spackle, students of all experience levels will learn how texture can introduce abstraction while also creating a strong sense of physicality and landscape within an image.
The classroom will open for arrival at 5:45 pm.
Each class will be broken into focused segments, where students will explore techniques such as palette knife application, contrasting thick and thin, and incorporating external or unconventional elements into the work to enhance surface complexity and meaning. Texture will be used intentionally to guide the eye, imply depth, and establish material commentary.
Throughout the course, we will examine historical and contemporary examples of artists who use texture to bridge abstraction and landscape, with particular attention to Bay Area Abstract Expressionism and materially driven painting practices.
About the instructor:
Willy is a painter and visual artist whose work is often informed by color and texture. He primarily focuses on painting, but also has a developing ceramics practice. His interests lie in the intersection of abstraction, landscape, and physicality, using thick surfaces and gestural mark-making to evoke place, and emotional response. He graduated from Bennington College, where he studied music and painting.
A full materials list will be provided prior to the first class.
Some suggested supplies include:
• Canvas paper pad or sturdy mixed-media surface (11×14″ or larger)
• Acrylic paint (titanium white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, burnt or raw umber)
• Lightweight spackle
• A variety of brushes, including at least one larger 1″ brush
• Palette knife or other tools for applying and shaping texture
Please contact willyg57@gmail.com with questions!
About the classroom space: Ulna studio is a creative space located on the 2nd floor of the Portland Storage Building on SE Morrison st. Students will need to be able to go up and down a flight of stairs for classes. Masks will be optional, and we ask that you do not come to class if you are feeling sick.
If you are Black or Indigenous or Trans and would like 50% off class cost please use the coupon code MAGENTA at check out.