322-Painting and Drawing from Photos

In this workshop, you will learn how to properly work from photos, solving the distortion, color, and value changes so that the piece seems to have been drawn or painted from life. This class is for intermediate to advanced students who want to learn classical drawing techniques. Students may use the reference photos provided, or bring their own.

Special Notes

All students must comply with the Policies and Procedures found on The Center's website. There will be no refunds for students removed from class for failure to observe The Center’s Policies and Procedures.

Materials

Graphite Drawing:

Graphite pencils: 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B

 

Charcoal Drawing:

Charcoal pencils: (soft, medium, hard)
White Charcoal pencil, chalk, or pastel

Soft Vine Charcoal

 

80-120lb  drawing paper (or pad, 11x14, or 14x17)

Canson drawing paper (Moonstone, or Felt color)

 

General Supplies Needed:

Kneaded Eraser

Hard Rubber Eraser

Sharpening Blades (Mat knife, X-acto, etc.)

Sandpaper (medium grit 100, or 120 – to sharpen pencils)

Blending stump

Binder clips (or spring clamps)

Paper towels

Dust mask (if you’re sensitive to charcoal dust)

 

Oil paint:

Palette

A permanent wood, plastic, or Masonite palette is preferable to a disposable wax paper palette. If you are buying in a new (wood or Masonite) palette, you will need raw linseed oil to rub down the surface before you start using it. 

 

Palette Knives

One drop handle palette knife. Do not buy straight handle knives or painting knives. 

 

Colors (minimun)

Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Ultramarine Blue (or Cobalt Blue Hue), Burnt Sienna, Ivory Black. 

 

Brushes

Filbert, or flat bristle brushes (hog’s hair for oil, synthetic for acrylics), 1 or 2 of each size, #2, #4, #8. You will also need a few smaller, soft haired round (sable or synthetic sable) brushes; #0, #1, #2. To clean your bristle brushes, rinse in odorless mineral spirits, then gently in soap and water. With any true sable brush, avoid odorless mineral spirits. Wipe down with a paper towel as best as you can, and then clean with Murphy’s Oil Soap, or Ivory soap. 

 

Canvas

Traditionally, oil paintings are executed on either rigid or flexible supports. Most common supports in modern times are flexible, and are usually made of canvas. The most common rigid supports are either wood or Masonite. For convenience, you may also use canvas boards. But please note that these materials handle very differently. Bring at least two supports in various sizes (I would not go smaller than 6” x 8” and no larger than around 12” x 16”).

 

Misc. Accessories Odorless mineral spirits

(artists quality, not from the hardware store -- Turpenoid is one brand)

Linseed Oil

2 palette cups with lids

#2 pencil

Paper towels or rags

A small piece of white or light gray mat board, with a small hole punched in the middle

 

If you are using ACRYLICS, use the oil painting list (above) for colors and brushes. Please note: there is no need for odorless mineral spirits. Also needed area small spray bottle, water container, and plastic palette.

About the Instructor

Oscar Peterson

An alumnus of Pratt Institute and The Art Students League of NY. Studied with leading realist painters as Max Ginsberg and Nelson Shanks, teaches at The Art Students League, NYC and gives private lessons. Award winning portrait artist; exhibits in NY, NJ and Connecticut galleries.

REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS

Class Details

August 09 - August 09, 01:00 pm - 04:00 pm

Days: Saturday

Tuition: $94

Member Tuition: $69

Location: The Center for Contemporary Art

Semester: Summer 2025

Level: Adult

Instructor: Oscar Peterson