Study & Intuition: Building Lively Observational Paintings
Through this course we will balance using study and intuition to build dynamic paintings that capture our observed world. We will begin by honing our technical abilities to paint accurately from observation with weekly assignments focused on gaining control of drawing, composition, and color. By the end of the course we will build off of this skill base and do multi-week, multi-layered paintings with lively, textured surfaces. We will explore how working in layers can help us to make corrections, experiment with bold intuition-led brush marks, and even capture the potential movement/change of a subject over time.
This is a six week course beginning January 4th, 2026 and is comprised of weekly recorded video lectures + demonstrations that you can watch and follow at your own pace, as well as one-on-one live weekly feedback sessions with me. See below for more details, schedule, and materials list. Course is appropriate for all levels of oil painting students.
Registration is closed. Please subscribe to my newsletter to be notified of future course offerings.
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Week 1: Drawing, Composition, and Rhythm
Explore drawing with paint and the role of positive and negative space in achieving dynamic images
Balancing awkward compositions
Thumbnail paintings
Explore drawing with paint and the role of positive and negative space in achieving dynamic images
Balancing awkward compositions
Thumbnail paintings
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Week 2: Value and Simplification
Introduction to the three elements of color - Value, Hue, and Chroma
Emphasizing value and simplification to describe form
Simultaneous contrast
Introduction to the three elements of color - Value, Hue, and Chroma
Emphasizing value and simplification to describe form
Simultaneous contrast
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Week 3: Warm / Cool Relationships
Play with warm/cool hue shifts and low contrast to describe light and form
How color pathways lead us through compositions
Working “wet on wet”
Play with warm/cool hue shifts and low contrast to describe light and form
How color pathways lead us through compositions
Working “wet on wet”
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Week 4: Analogous Color Worlds
Deeply explore one slice of the color wheel
Control color and achieve subtlety by limiting our palettes
Deeply explore one slice of the color wheel
Control color and achieve subtlety by limiting our palettes
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Week 5: Texture, Layers, and Intuition Pt. 1
Explore painting in layers and observing subject matters that move or change with time
Building surfaces with texture
Painting tight (detailed) vs loose
Explore painting in layers and observing subject matters that move or change with time
Building surfaces with texture
Painting tight (detailed) vs loose
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Week 6: Texture, Layers, and Intuition Pt. 2
Introducing big changes into your week 5 painting
Making corrections vs overworking
Using constraints to our creative advantage
Playing with levels of refinement
Listening to our habits and intuition
Introducing big changes into your week 5 painting
Making corrections vs overworking
Using constraints to our creative advantage
Playing with levels of refinement
Listening to our habits and intuition
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HOW DOES THE COURSE WORK?
Weekly video lessons will be published each Sunday 9am (EST). These lessons will include a lecture looking at historical and contemporary paintings that demonstrate the themes of the week, an assignment over-view, and an in-depth painting demonstration of myself completing the assignment. You can watch and work on the assignment at your own pace throughout the next week. You should expect to spend at least 2-4 hours painting each week to get the most out of the course.
Each student registered for the full course may also sign up for a weekly, recurring time slot with me on the following Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. These meetings will be held on zoom and will be around 10-15min of one-on-one time for you to receive individualized feedback on your work. I am very excited to meet with you all, get to know your work, and offer this personalized guidance!
You will schedule these recurring check-ins with me right after registration for the course (I will contact you with instructions). Time slots are available Thursdays 9am-12pm EST, Fridays 2pm-5pm EST, and Saturdays 2pm-8pm EST. If none of those timeframes work for your schedule and/or timezone, please reach out to me and I would love to work with you to find another suitable time.
*Weekly check-ins for feedback cannot be refunded or rescheduled if missed.
MATERIALS LIST:
Oil Paints: I will be using Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Red Medium, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Pthalo Blue, and Ivory Black. If you have slight variation in your colors that is OK. You will definitely want a warmer and cooler version of each primary though (plus white).
Palette (I prefer a sheet of glass. It can be easily cleaned with a razor scraper.)
Palette knife for mixing colors.
Gamsol for cleaning brushes.
Mediums (I will primarily be using linseed oil and Winsor Newton’s “Artist Painting Medium.” For Week 5 and 6 I may also use Galkyd to speed drying times.)
Brushes (I like to have both synthetic and bristle brushes in a variety of sizes. Round and filbert brushes are my favorite, but pick what feels best to you.)
Surfaces (For week 1 you will need two surfaces for painting exercises (approx. 11x14-16x20 in). These will not be finished paintings, so you may prefer to use primed paper or a canvas pad rather than a more expensive panel or stretched canvas. Week 2, 3, and 4 I would recommend one surface for each week (at least 9x12 in). Week 5 and 6 you will work on the same painting, and I would recommend a slightly larger surface (approx. 16x20 in though could easily be smaller or larger depending on preference).
COMPLETE SCHEDULE:
Week 1
1/4 “Drawing, Composition, and Rhythm” published
1/8-10 Individual studio check-ins
Week 2
1/11 “Value and Simplification” published
1/15-17 Individual studio check-ins
Week 3
1/18 “Warm / Cool Relationships” published
1/22-24 Individual studio check-ins
Week 4
1/25 “Analogous Color Worlds” published
1/29-31 Individual studio check-ins
Week 5
2/1 “Texture, Layers, and Intuition Pt. 1” published
2/5-7 Individual studio check-ins
Week 6
2/8 “Texture, Layers, and Intuition Pt. 2” published
2/19-21 Individual studio check-ins
*Please note, the “week 6” studio check ins will be delayed by ONE week in order to give students more time for their last assignment.
QUESTIONS? Ask me at hannahsteeleartist@gmail.com