Introduction to Painting with Acrylics

Arlington Community Education, Thurs, Jan 18 – Mar 28, 2024 (no class Feb 22), 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Discuss, observe, and explore compositional choices, color relationships, and the materials and techniques of acrylic paint in this foundational class. Working from still life, we will explore the fundamental elements of form, light and shadow, blocking in color, value, and composition. Each session will begin with a brief exercise to loosen up your hand and provide an opportunity for experimentation, with the remainder of the session being dedicated to close observation and skill development. Students are encouraged to bring in objects that they would like to paint or place with the still life set up. Individual feedback will be provided as you work to improve your paintings across multiple sittings. Beginner to intermediate painters are welcome.

Workshop: “The Power of Everyday Objects” 

This two hour workshop led by artist Meghan Bailey is scheduled for Monday, January 8, 9:55-11:25 am, for the Advanced Placement Art course, at Governor’s Academy in Byfield, MA. This workshop is part of the programming for the group exhibit Undercurrents on display at Governor’s Academy in Remis Lobby Gallery of the Wilkie Center for Performing Arts, November 27, 2023 — January 12, 2024. Artists include Meghan Bailey, Amy Decker, Angelina Ruiz, and Belle Struck.

Students are asked to bring in an object that has personal resonance and importance to them. This could be any object except a smartphone or electronic device. For example, this may be something handed down in the family, an object that has cultural significance, or is part of pop culture. The object could be something that is used almost every day, or alternatively, never used but displayed, or stored away. It is ideal if the student can bring the object to class since this can provide a richer experience but realize this may not be possible. Alternatively, the student may bring images of the object.

We will explore the many layers of meaning in the objects such as nostalgia, symbolism, memory, and the personal. We will consider how art can transform, enhance, challenge, or make new meaning. Artists who use objects as inspiration in their work like Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, Nick Cave, Mark Bradford, Elizabeth Murray, and Elena del Torres will be discussed. Students will spend the remaining time creating artwork that explores their object inspired by the artists discussed. This artwork will become a series of pages for a small collaborative zine produced by the class. A limited run of the zine will be made available and be included on display for the exhibit Undercurrents. 

Suggested materials include but are not limited to glue sticks, scissors, collage materials, paint, pastel, pencil, colored pencil, pen, and marker.

Students will consider the following in their artwork:

• Meaning: symbolism, personal symbolism, cultural symbolism, iconography, pop culture, thematic
• Interpretation: gestural, illustrative, painterly, personal style, exaggeration, pattern, color, graffiti, repetition, exaggerate, enhance or alter the object’s purpose.
• Ways of depicting the object: drawing, paint, writing, collage, mixed media