Description:

Values are the backbone of every successful painting. They set the mood, create depth, and guide the viewer's eye. Get them right, and your work sings-get them wrong, and even perfect color can't save it.

In this hands-on still life workshop, I'll walk you through my step-by-step process for nailing values from the very first brushstroke. We'll start with a 3-step grayscale or grisaille approach to simplify shapes, refine edges, and solve value challenges before color ever touches the canvas. Then, I'll guide you in building a finished, full-color piece that's strong from the ground up.

You'll leave with tools you can use in every painting you create—no matter your subject or style.

Materials List:

• Odor-free solvent (I use Gamsol by Gamblin)

• Solvent jar

• Paper Towels (Scott Blue Shop Towels or Viva)

• A grocery bag for your trash

• Palette knife for mixing colors (No plastic palette knives)

• Palette: I recommend using a glass New Wave palette that can be placed in a Masterson Stay Wet Artists Palette Seal to keep your paints fresh for each day of the workshop). Another option would be to cover your plaints with cling film at the end of each day. Tiny plastic palettes or wax paper palettes are not recommended and will only frustrate you.

• Flat razor blade for palette clean up if like me, you have a glass palette

• A smart Phone or iPad

• Portable easel (I will be using my Strada Easel)

• Cap or visor (this is really helpful in helping to see accurate values)

• Kneaded eraser

• Medium: Gamblin Galkyd lite

• Odorless solvent: I’ll be using Gamsol

• 3-4 Centurion Deluxe Oil Primed Linen Panels 11x14 or larger

Oil paint:

I honestly use whatever brand I have on hand. I gravitate mostly to Rembrandt, Gamblin, Michael Harding, and Williamsburg. Please do not use student grade paints, as this could result in more frustration. Below are the colors needed for this workshop.

Colors:

• Asphaltum

• Raw umber

• Raw sienna

• Burnt sienna

• Ivory black

• Titanium White

• Ultramarine blue

• Phthalo Turquoise

• Quinocardone Magenta

• Cad red

• India Yellow

• Cad Yellow Deep

• Cad lemon.

Brushes:

• Rosemary and Co.:

  • Red Dot Combers (sizes 1⁄4”, 1⁄4”, and 1⁄8”)

  • Red Dot spotter 3

  • Ultimate Filberts 2-3 various sizes

  • Eclipse Long Filberts 2-3 various sizes.

• Princeton Dakota:

  • Flats 2-3 various sizes

• 1 or 2 Mop Brushes small/medium

Suggestions:

• Mundy mops from Rosemary and Co.

• Masters Touch oval mop

• Trekell Oval Mop Brush