Intro to Acrylics

Class Includes Lifetime Access, Instructor Feedback, Online Community, Over 3 hours of Video & More!

12 Lessons – $85

In this three-class series you will learn how to create the Background, Middle Ground and Foreground in acrylics with Fred Lisaius. You will also learn many techniques for creating depth and making all three grounds work together. This class is designed to introduce beginners to the beautiful medium and to excite more advanced students with new information and techniques.

TEACHER: Fred Lisaius

Class Description

Welcome to this three-class series where we will learn how to create the Background, Middle Ground and Foreground. We will also learn many techniques for creating depth and making all three grounds work together.

Acrylics paints are beautiful. The medium is creamy, colorful, and very versatile. This class is designed to introduce beginners to this beautiful medium and to excite more advanced students with new information and techniques. I look forward to painting with you! — Fred

Class Itinerary

Part 1 – Backgrounds Class Itinerary

Lesson 1 – Mixing colors for the blue sky, building the big shapes, and defining our cloud edges.

Lesson 2 – Determining the color variations within the clouds, adding layers to create contrast and depth, and finishing by creating smooth transitions.

Lesson 3 – Create a warm color palette, lay down transition layers, and practice techniques for smooth blending.

Lesson 4 – Continue smoothing and refining, and glazing techniques for creating even more subtle tints.

Part 2 – Middle Grounds Class Itinerary

Lesson 1 – Picking colors that indicate distance and depth, and roughing in shapes of a distant mountain range.

Lesson 2 – Adding a second layer of paint to the first layer for complete coverage. Adding detail to create a realistic look.

Lesson 3 – Painting tree forms, .trunks and branches; working with subtleties color to create the right balance for a middle ground element in a backlit scene.

Lesson 4 – Revisit tree forms. Make adjustments in color transparency, adding additional branches and fine details with a small brush

Part 3 – Foregrounds Class Itinerary

Lesson 1 – Decide on your foreground subject and make sketches to get familiar before committing to paint. Choosing warmer and richer colors to bring the subject forward and roughing in your subject with the first layer of paint.

Lesson 2 – Adding second layer of paint, refining the form of your subject, and adding final details to make it feel close and really bring it to life.

Lesson 3 – This is the culmination of our whole series, and we will be taking on the challenge of painting the human figure, starting again with some pencil sketches and then applying our first layer of paint to our panels.

Lesson 4 – Using smaller brushes, we will make those final touches that give the human form its character and personality, as well as refining light and shadow and bringing it to its finish.

     

Supplies

  • 2 to 4 panels to paint on. These can be canvas or wood. 16″ x 20″ is a nice size, but choose sizes you like.
  • Acrylic Paint: Titanium White, Mars Black, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, Hansa Yellow, Pyrol Red. Note: Consider adding a Quinacridone color or 2 to your palette-  Coral and Purple are 2 of my favorites.
  • Brushes for acrylic paint: #2 round, #6 round, and #12 filbert
  • Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid in satin
  • Paper towels
  • Clean cotton rags
  • Jar or small bucket for water
  • Palette. Disposable paper palettes make for an easy clean up.

Fred Lisaius

 

Fred Lisaius is a painter, sculptor, and a popular art teacher at Bellevue College, WA  (“Fred is perfect!”). Fred is represented by the Patricia Rovzar Gallery in Seattle, and his work is in many private and corporate collections. Fred recently had a show at the Bainbridge Island Art Museum.

From his statement:

The deeper I go into the forest the closer I feel to the truth. Off of the trail, there is a quiet calm where ideas can be contemplated and refined. In my paintings and my sculptures, I utilize the forum of nature to explore our relationship to the natural world and to each other.

 

Nuts & Bolts

  • This class is now available as a self-study class.
  • Immediately upon class signup, you will receive access to the class videos and corresponding materials.
  • A private Facebook group will be available for you to (optionally) share your artwork and enjoy and learn from the artwork of others. You may also email your teacher directly with questions or feedback.
  • You will have indefinite access to this class.