Oil Colours

• Titanium white or lead (Cremnitz) white
• Yellow ochre, or yellow ochre light or pale
• Cad red med or vermillion (preferred), or an earth red (Venetian or English red)
• Lamp black or ivory black
• Burnt umber or raw umber
• Optional: a strong blue, such as ultramarine blue

Note: Purchase only Artist Grade paints. Do not use Winton or water soluble paints.

Solvent

• Odorless mineral spirits (GamSol). Turpentine is NOT permitted in the studio.

Canvas

• Primed acrylic panel or canvas 18″X24″ or smaller (panel preferred). Ampersand or Raymar are suggested brands.

Optional: Your canvases for this workshop can be prepared ahead of time with a mid-value grey imprimatura: an initial stain of oil paint diluted with mineral spirits, and applied over the entire surface of the canvas. We suggest trying to match the swatch below as best you can using a mixture of white, black, and raw umber, well mixed with a palette knife. You will need approximately half a ping pong ball-sized amount. You can transfer this to a disposable pie plate to dilute slowly with mineral spirits until the mixture is the consistency of house paint. Apply it with a brush over the entire canvas and set aside for at least 2 weeks to dry completely. To speed up drying, you can add a drying agent, like Liquin or another alkyd dryer, before applying.

Mediums

• Linseed oil

Tools

• Palette (Select one of the following): Glass, wood or paper (Grey Matters)
• 2 palette knives; long blades
• 2 medium cups (small cups with lids for holding medium or mineral spirits)
• 2 small jars for cleaning brushes
• Mahl stick (a ½ inch diameter dowel approximately 30 inches)
• Rags or paper towels or shop towels

Brushes (either natural or synthetic hair)

Note: No flats or round brushes needed; these are the minimum brush requirements – please feel free to bring more.

• 2-3 Bristle hair filbert brushes – ranging in size from #2 to #8
• 10-20 Soft hair filbert brushes – ranging in size from #2 to #12
  • 2-3 EACH of #2, #4, #6, and #8
  • 1 EACH of #10 and #12

About ARA Workshops

Each participant gets lots of one-on-one attention from our superb instructors. ARA instructors teach year round so, unlike many artists who offer summer/holiday workshops our instructors are professional teachers as well as accomplished artists. Whether you are an award-winning experienced artist or have never painted before, our instructors will tailor to your skill level. If you have any questions or are having trouble with online registration, please contact us. All participants enrolled in workshops at our physical location will be required to follow our studio policies in effect to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

Proof of vaccination

All visitors to our Columbus Centre campus must be fully vaccinated to access the building. Please email proof of vaccination to info@academyofrealistart.com for verification before the workshop begins.

Masks and hand hygiene on arrival

On entering the Columbus Centre, all visitors are expected to wear a minimum of a 3-ply medical mask at all times. Please sign in at the front desk to assist with records for contact tracing, and use the hand sanitization stations in the lobby and elevator. Upon arriving on the 3rd floor, all arriving students are also expected to wash their hands in one of the sinks in the Figure and Workshop rooms.

Daily symptom screening

Please come see an instructor on arrival to have your temperature screened. We ask that any students who are feeling unwell, who have had recent close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or who have recent travel history with a mandatory quarantine period, please stay home and self-isolate.  We will transfer your deposit to a future workshop.

Physical distancing

All horses and easels will be placed 6 feet apart to ensure enough distance between you and your neighbours. These are not to be moved, and extra distance is encouraged whenever possible. Instructors will wear masks at all times and practice social distancing while instructing.

Sanitization stations and common areas

Frequent hand sanitization throughout your time in the school is asked. Sanitization stations are located outside of each studio. The lunch room is limited to a capacity of four people at a time, so please plan accordingly and follow social distancing rules during breaks.