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Acrylic Painting – Winter Trees and Landscapes
A one-day workshop that looks at drawing and painting winter landscapes with a focus on winter trees and snow scenes.
The overall aim is to help you to develop techniques and methods to paint a winter landscape. You will be shown how to set up and compose a drawing/painting and be shown how to use acrylic paints.
What will we cover?
This course will establish a few basic methods of acrylic painting through the observation and depiction of trees in the winter and snow scenes.
You will learn some basic colour mixing/colour theory and explore composition, observation, proportion, form, tone and texture.
You will gain some confidence in using acrylic painting materials and review work through group discussion and one to one support.
The overall aim is to help you to develop techniques and methods on how to set up and compose a winter landscape scene and to encourage you to join a longer course in order to develop further. This could be used as an addition to another longer painting course.
You will review your work with one-to-one support and group discussion. In addition, you may also feel encouraged to join a longer course in order to develop your skills further. This workshop could be used as an addition to another longer painting course.
Who is this course for? Is there anything I need to know before joining?
All abilities. Those with some experience of drawing would be helpful. Useful for those who need a refresher as well as those with a little experience.
As our courses are taught in English, please contact us if you have any concerns about your level of English.
What do I need to bring to the first class? Will there be any extra costs?
Bring a basic set of acrylic paints (as many basic colours as possible such as a variety of blues, reds, yellow, white, black and in addition bring some earth colours: e.g. yellow ochre, burnt sienna, burnt umber, raw umber) also acrylic and cartridge paper, brushes, pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, a palette, and a water jar. Also please bring photographs or similar of the scenes that you want to draw and paint. (The Tutor will, provide some if you are unable to)
Learners are expected to bring their own materials
Some less common or unusual materials may be brought by the tutor.
Please wear old clothes or bring an apron
If you have any queries, please email the tutor at [email protected]
What can I do when I finish the course?
In discussion with your tutor you may like to progress onto other longer courses in acrylics or other media, to join other art groups, societies and to meet people with similar interests and make friends.
We welcome learners with additional needs and disabilities. When you enrol please let us know if you would like to discuss your extra support needs with a member of the Supported Learning Team who will then contact you as soon as possible. If you are enrolling within 10 days of the course start date, we may not be able to contact you before your first class. Surrey Adult Learning values and supports equality and diversity by promoting fairness and respect at all times.
How to enrol
You can’t currently enrol online for this course, so please call 0300 200 1044 to express your interest or to make an enquiry for further information.
If this isn’t what you’re looking for, then we’ve got plenty more courses to offer!
Snowy Winter Forest Acrylic Painting step by step Artist Composer Supriyo
acrylic painting, painting executed in the medium of synthetic acrylic resins. Acrylics dry rapidly, serve as a vehicle for any kind of pigment, and are capable of giving both the transparent brilliance of watercolour and the density of oil paint. They are considered to be less affected by heat and other destructive forces than is oil paint. They found favour among artists who were concerned about the health risks posed by the handling of oil paints and the inhalation of fumes associated with them. Because of all these desirable characteristics, acrylic paints became immediately popular with artists when they were first commercially promoted in the 1960s. Notable 20th-century artists who used acrylic paint include Pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, Op artist Bridget Riley, colour field artists Mark Rothko, Ellsworth Kelly, and Barnett Newman, and British artist David Hockney. Acrylic paint is a fast-drying paint made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion and plasticizers, silicon oils, defoamers, stabilizers, or metal soaps Most acrylic paints are water-based, but become water-resistant when dry. Depending on how much the paint is diluted with water, or modified with acrylic gels, mediums, or pastes, the finished acrylic painting can resemble a watercolor, a gouache, or an oil painting, or have its own unique characteristics not attainable with other media. Acrylic painters can modify the appearance, hardness, flexibility, texture, and other characteristics of the paint surface by using acrylic mediumsor simply by adding water. Watercolor and oil painters also use various mediums, but the range of acrylic mediums is much greater. Acrylics have the ability to bond to many different surfaces, and mediums can be used to modify their binding characteristics. Acrylics can be used on paper, canvas, and a range of other materials; however, their use on engineered woods such as medium-density fiberboard can be problematic because of the porous nature of those surfaces. In these cases, it is recommended that the surface first be sealed with an appropriate sealer. Acrylics can be applied in thin layers or washes to create effects that resemble watercolors and other water-based mediums. They can also be used to build thick layers of paint — gel and molding paste are sometimes used to create paintings with relief features. Acrylic paints are also used in hobbies such as trains, cars, houses, DIY projects, and human models. People who make such models use acrylic paint to build facial features on dolls or raised details on other types of models. Wet acrylic paint is easily removed from paintbrushes and skin with water, whereas oil paints require the use of a hydrocarbon. Acrylics are the most common paints used in grattage, a surrealist technique that began to be used with the advent of this type of paint. Acrylics are used for this purpose because they easily scrape or peel from a surface.
How to paint snow in acrylics
Equipment
Hog filbert No. 6
We have put together everything you need to complete this project and more for just £37.20.
Colours
‘Painting snow should be easy, right?’ says Steve Strode. ‘It’s just a case of reaching for that tube of white. Well, that’s sort of correct, but snow is rarely pure white. When I first thought about painting snow I constantly read that close observation would reveal the multitude of colours it contained.
‘Seeing snow on a dull and overcast day, however, and trying to register anything other than greys and white, left me convinced I was trying to see colours that weren’t really there.
‘It soon became apparent that while snow is basically white, that white is relative and dependent on other factors. Snow is essentially reflective so it can look different depending on the weather conditions, the time of day, the light source and its temperature, and the objects around it.’
Liverpool paint No.106: St James’ Gardens, acrylic on card, (15x20cm)
Here the warm orange yellow glow from the house windows plays against the coldness of the blue grey snow outside.
‘Your snow paintings will improve with practice, but if you rarely see the stuff where you live, I’d recommend you begin by looking at a few painters who have tackled the same subject, and learn the basics from them. Studying seasoned painters, such as Peter Brown, Edward Seago or Richard Schmid will help familiarise you with handling the colours and tones of snow for when you have a chance to try things out for real.’
When the snow arrives
‘In the spirit of such investigation, why not try the simple demonstration below and pick up a few valuable tips for when the snow arrives?
Apart from the obvious advice to dress warmly, here are a few more tips might help you on your way:
- Wear walking boots and thick socks, which will lengthen the time you can stand in comfort.
- Standing on a piece of cardboard insulates you from the cold and stops you slipping around.
- Wear a cap; snow reflections are quite strong.
- Cover the seats and paint from the warmth of your car. Aside from offering protection from the elements the acrylics stay wet longer as there’s no wind.
Grytvitken Harbour, South Georgia, after Edward Seago, acrylic on paper, (23x30cm)
‘Exploring paintings of snow and having a go for yourself, either from copies or life, will see you developing your own approach, but late afternoon sun holds more interest for me than grey and uninspiring scenes. Late afternoon light can offer pinks, oranges and vibrant blue shadows. Not only do I find value contrasts, but the light and shadow usually means there’s a temperature contrast between the warm and cool colours, too.
‘Even if you’re not painting, observe other paintings or snow in situ at different times of the day. Make notes, colour studies or sketches, and all these resources will feed into your own work and give you confidence to meet the challenges ahead.’
Demonstration: Liverpool Painting No. 104: St James’ Gardens
Liverpool Painting No.104: St James’ Gardens, acrylic on card, (15x20cm)
FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PAINT ALONG WITH STEVE IN ONE COMPLETE SET
I used (15x20cm) 2mm thick board, but thick paper or card will do.
Prime this with burnt sienna and white.
When it’s dry, make a simple map of your study.
