My Evening Class: Draperies and Texture in Still Life

Last fall semester my students from an evening class "Still Life Painting", that I teach at Studio

Incamminati, learned the basic painting concepts while working on their individual still life arrangements.

     The class began with a lecture about basic laws of composition.  Students learned how to build simple still life arrangements from several simple objects and draperies.

Some examples of student's grisaille

     After executing thumbnails, value and color studies, they begun exploring still life painting process step by step.  Preliminary studies were used as a reference during as students worked on their final paintings.

     During the first painting stages artists stayed focused on making an accurate drawing and proportions. They learned to see the still life as a group of abstract shapes. 

     The larger-to-smaller shape principle was observed as students moved through this process. 

Example of student's color block-in

     As students arrived at a full color block-in stage, they studied the value and color relationships and learned to render various textures. 

     In final stages they learned to determine a focal point and edge relationship.

Example of student's color block-in

 

     There are still spots available in my evening class Draperies and Texture in Still Life, that will begin on January 13, 2016

Class schedule: 
Wednesdays from January 13 till March 23, 2016
Time: 6 p.m.– 9 p.m. Tuition: $399
NOTE: No class Jan. 27, 2016

To sign up for class, please use this link:

Questions or comments, click here:

Student's work in progress

Four Seasons

Autumn. 2014 Oil on linen, 28 x 22 in

     Nature and its four seasons has been inspiring artists and musicians for centuries.  An idea to create my version of “Four Seasons” was born in 2013.

    In this series I wanted to covey the spirit of the seasons through a human form and integrate elements of a still life and a portrait. 

Winter. 2014  Oil on linen, 28 x 22 in

Spring. 2015 Oil on linen, 28 x 22 in

Although I used myself as a model, it was not my goal to create 4 self-portraits and capture likeness. I was trying to find various looks and expressions and appear as a new character in front of my viewers. 

Use of different style wigs, that were turned into complex still life, and various lighting conditions helped me in this approach.

 The series “Four Seasons” was completed in 2015.

Summer. 2015 Oil on linen, 28 x 22 in

To view my artwork, please go to: www.katyaheld.com