Introduction to Oil Painting and Beginner Technique
Oil painting, often regarded as one of the most challenging yet rewarding art forms, offers unmatched depth and versatility. This beginner-friendly course is designed to demystify the medium and provide a supportive introduction to its fundamentals. Under the guidance of the instructor, students will explore essential materials, foundational techniques, and core principles of oil painting. By the end of the session, participants will have a solid understanding of the tools and processes, equipping them with the confidence to continue their artistic journey.
Tuesdays, April 8 – 29
10 am – 1 pm
Instructor: Maggie Pollock
Age: Adult (16+) | Beginner to Intermediate
Supply List: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.
- Oil Paints: Warm White, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Burnt Umber, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre.
- Brushes: Various sizes of flat and round
- Pallet knife
- Canvas Boards: 4 – 5 boards at 9×12 or 11×14 or 16×20
- Odorless mineral spirits
Note: The instructor will have various mixing mediums and additional paint colors for the class to experiment with.
Introduction to Abstract Painting
This class explores the fundamentals of abstract aesthetics in painting. Students will learn to understand and apply the visual language of shape, form, and color to create compelling abstract compositions inspired by real-world visual references. The course focuses on acrylic painting techniques, offering versatility and immediate results that support the development of each student’s unique style and aesthetic.
Saturday, March 29
10 am – 3 pm
Instructor: Sogand Tabatabaei
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for 10% discount.
- Acrylic Paints set of 12 colors or 24 colors
- Flat brush (Royal Brush, soft grip brush set)
- Round brush (Royal Brush, soft grip brush set)
- Flat Palette
- Canvas or Canvas Boards, 11×14 or 16×20
- Acrylic pad
- Drawing pencils (4B and 6B)
Lightning in Watercolor
Join this dynamic watercolor class to master the art of painting lightning. Students will learn to preserve fine details with masking fluid and bring stormy skies to life using a wet-in-wet technique. Capture the drama of flashing light against atmospheric clouds in an engaging, hands-on session.
Wednesdays, April 16
4 – 8 pm
Instructor: Iva Neveux
Age: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply List: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.
• Watercolor pallet including your preferred reds, yellows, blues including indigo and earths including burnt sienna
• Watercolor brushes including 1” flat or larger, #6 and #10 round and a rigger brush
• A few 100% cotton watercolor sheets, cold press, 140 lb (9”x12” or larger) such as Arches, Fabriano Artistico, Daler Rowney, Bee, or Winsor Newton
• Graphite or mechanical pencil
• Kneaded eraser
• Tracing paper
• Spray bottle with water
• Masking fluid such as P?b?o drawing gum
• Creative Mark Scrubber Watercolor Brush #2 (optional)
• Rubber cement to remove the masking fluid (optional)
• Color shaper or ruling pen to apply masking fluid (optional)
• Exacto knife (optional)
• Roll of paper towels (optional)
• Two plastic containers for water (optional)
Trees in Watercolor
Join this class to learn how to paint a variety of trees in watercolor. We will briefly explore how to mix your own greens. Using wet in wet as well as wet on dry approach and lifting technique, we will focus on several different types of tries, including multiple variations of conifers and deciduous trees. We will explore painting single standing trees, trees in a group, distant trees, trees in middle ground as well as more detailed foreground trees. 100% cotton paper is highly recommended for wet in wet approach.
Wednesday, April 2 and 9
4 – 8 pm
Instructor: Iva Neveux
Age: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.
- Watercolor pallet including your preferred reds, yellows, blues including indigo and earths including burnt sienna & burnt umber
- Variety of watercolor brushes including 1” flat, #6 or # 8 round, fan and rigger brush
- Pad of Arches cold press 140 lb watercolor paper (9”x12” or larger), other 100% cotton brands will also work (Daler Rowney, Bee Paper, Winsor Newton); some student grade watercolor paper (Strathmore series 400) for charting and testing color and brush strokes
- Natural and/or synthetic sponge
- Graphite or mechanical pencil
- Kneaded eraser
- Tracing paper
- Two plastic water containers
- Spray bottle and a mister bottle
- Roll of paper towels
Northern Lights in Watercolor
The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, have always been a fascinating subject for painters, photographers, and observers. In this class we will capture the beauty of this phenomenon with watercolors.
We will first explore the greens, yellows and dark blues that work best for the northern lights. We will be using mostly the wet in wet approach. In the later stages of the painting the wet on dry approach and lifting will be used. 100% cotton paper is highly recommended.
Wednesday, March 26
4 – 8 pm
Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Museum of Art for a 10% discount.
- Watercolor pallet including your preferred yellows, blues including indigo, permanent red or permanent magenta, and viridian or phthalocyanine green
- Variety of watercolor brushes including 1” flat, #6, # 8 or #12 round (the size of the brushes should correspond with the size of paper you choose to paint on)
- Several sheets of Arches cold press 140 lb watercolor paper (9”x12” or larger); other 100% cotton brands will also work (Daler Rowney, Bee Paper, Winsor Newton)
- Student grade watercolor paper (Strathmore series 400) for testing color mixes
- Graphite or mechanical pencil
- Kneaded eraser
- Tracing paper (optional)
- White gouache (optional)
- Two plastic water containers
- Spray bottle and mister bottle
- Roll of paper towels
Skies in Watercolor
Join this class to learn how to paint a variety of skies in watercolor. Using mostly wet in wet approach, we will focus on several different types of skies, including multiple variations on clouds, stormy/rainy sky, early morning calm sky and sunsets. 100% cotton paper is highly recommended for wet in wet approach.
Thursday, March 13 & 20
5 pm – 9 pm
Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: Adult (15+) / All levels
Supply list: Please show confirmation receipt at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.
- Watercolor pallet including your preferred reds, yellows, blues including indigo and earths including burnt sienna & burnt umber
- Watercolor brushes including a 1” flat and a #6 OR # 8 round brushes
- Graphite or mechanical pencil
- Kneaded eraser
- Tracing paper
- 2 plastic water containers
- spray bottle with water
- Pad of Arches cold press 140 lb watercolor paper (9”x12” or larger), other 100% cotton brands will also work (Daler Rowney, Bee Paper, Winsor Newton).
- Roll of paper towels
- Washi Tape or any narrow masking tape
Figure Painting
Improve your life painting skills and explore a variety of paint media while working freely from a nude model in this popular figure painting class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request and is a perfect class for beginner to advanced artists. Both male and female models will be placed in short and long poses.
Wednesdays, April 2 – 23
2 – 5 pm
Instructor: Rachel Moseley
Age: Adult (15+) | All levels
Supply List: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.
- 18×24″ US Art Supply Canvas Pad (can be found on Amazon)
- Long handle flat brushes, various sizes
- Turpenoid odorless mineral spirits
- Pallet or pallet paper
- Roll of blue shop paper towels
- Suggested oil paints:
- Lamp black
- Titanium white
- Alizarin Crimson
- Ultramarine Blue
- Olive Green
- Yellow ochre
Painting Intensive: Landscapes from Photographs in Oil or Acrylic
Working in oil or acrylic paint, students will explore value divisions in landscapes and the basics of brush sketching and massing. With these skills students will learn how to relate color to value and will gain a better understanding of identifying spatial cues in a landscape. Using foundational skills students can then explore under-painting, glazing and dry-brushing techniques.
Saturday & Sunday, April 19 & 20
10 am – 3 pm
Instructor: Daniel Helzer
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels
-
Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.
- 5 – 7 Canvas Boards 16×12 or smaller
- Palette Knife
- Palette
- Paper Towels
- Selection of bristle brushes (small, med and large)
- Assortment of brushes.
- Palette knife, paper towels and a few canvas boards, 8×10 or bigger.
Paint Colors:
- Cobalt Blue
- Ultramarine Blue
- Alizarin Crimson
- Black
- Cadmium Red Light
- Cadmium Yellow or Hansa Yellow
- Burnt Sienna
- Titanium White
For Oils: Gamsol, turpentine or walnut oil for use as a brush medium or cleaner.
Painting Intensive: Landscapes from Photographs in Oil or Acrylic
Working in oil or acrylic paint, students will explore value divisions in landscapes and the basics of brush sketching and massing. With these skills students will learn how to relate color to value and will gain a better understanding of identifying spatial cues in a landscape. Using foundational skills students can then explore under-painting, glazing and dry-brushing techniques.
Saturday & Sunday, March 1 & 2
9 am – 2 pm
Instructor: Daniel Helzer
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels
-
Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.
- 5 – 7 Canvas Boards 16×12 or smaller
- Palette Knife
- Palette
- Paper Towels
- Selection of bristle brushes (small, med and large)
- Assortment of brushes.
- Palette knife, paper towels and a few canvas boards, 8×10 or bigger.
Paint Colors:
- Cobalt Blue
- Ultramarine Blue
- Alizarin Crimson
- Black
- Cadmium Red Light
- Cadmium Yellow or Hansa Yellow
- Burnt Sienna
- Titanium White
For Oils: Gamsol, turpentine or walnut oil for use as a brush medium or cleaner.
Watercolor Portraiture
In this class, students will learn how to render the human face as you study its anatomy, including bone structure, muscle tone and the relationship between facial features. Students will work with the instructor to learn and understand basic watercolor principles and techniques such as washes and shading to achieve a realistic likeness. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist looking to refine your techniques, this class offers a comprehensive exploration of portrait painting.
Tuesday – Thursday, April 22 – 24
10 am – 1 pm
Instructor: James Gayles
Age: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply List: Show confirmation email at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount. Instructor will provide a line sketch of the subject and a color reference photo of the subject.
- A set if watercolors
- A set of Watercolor brushes. Minimum of three – one large round wash brush, one medium and one fine.
- Graphite transfer paper
- Ball point pen
- Eraser
- Container for water
- Paper towels
- Watercolor paper 18×24 – prefer 300 lb