Student at an easel

ONLINE INTRODUCTION TO PAINTING

This online course introduces students to a range of painting techniques, including different application methods to develop an awareness of line, volume, form and colour.  Students will complete a variety of projects using acrylic paint in this foundation-level course, taught live by an AGO Artist Instructor, that draws upon the AGO’s painting collections as inspiration.

Every season, we offer projects inspired by artworks in the AGO Collection, including new acquisitions as well as special exhibitions where indicated. Instructors also develop personalized approaches to their teaching techniques focused on student interests and needs. Students are encouraged to discuss their learning goals with their instructor.

Terms and Conditions of Participation in Online Courses.

Please review the Terms and Condition for course experience optimization. 

Participants must be 18 or older. 

Students to supply their own materials. 

Some suggested retailers for purchasing your art materials:

Aboveground Art Supplies (discount code: AGOSTUDENT10), Curry’s, DeSerres, Gwartzman’s, Michaels, or any other art supply or discount craft store.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis delays are very possible. Our Instructor’s will do their best to accommodate alternative materials whenever possible. 

Members
$220.00
Public
$260.00

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COURSE SECTIONS

Fridays, - | 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm (4 weeks)

WEEKLY OUTLINE

Week 1: Value and form. Introduction to materials with black and white paint, and shape and form, through still life.

Week 2: Colour and form. Introduction to colour concepts, mixing, the creation of a colour wheel and colour still life.

Week 3: Applying colour to the subject. Exercises and studies with complimentary colours, mark making, colour function and colour palette choice. Start Landscape Painting.

Week 4: Exploring the medium through experimentation and abstraction. More mark making, alternative tools, masking, glazing, pushing and breaking down the medium.

STUDENT MATERIAL LIST 

Acrylic paints, brand of your choice, one tube of each colour, approximately 120 ml/5oz: 

  • Primary blue
  • Primary red or magenta 
  • Primary yellow 
  • Black
  • Raw umber 
  • Dioxazine purple 
  • A larger tube of titanium white 240ml/10oz 
  • Acrylic matte medium (not gel) 120 ml/5oz or similar

Brushes and Other Materials:

  • A large flat 2 inch chip/utility/house painters brush
  • 2 medium sized filbert brushes (i.e., ½ and ¾ inch hog bristle), 
  • 1 round brush that makes a nice point 
  • Any other brushes you would like use
  • Palette Knives: 2-3 or more various plastic or metal palette knives, trowel and any other shape.
  • A Palette: foam or plastic plates or trays. White is ideal. (Alternative - any flat stiff surface covered with wax paper or aluminum foil, a disposable palette pad)
  • Painting rag: cotton cloth, or paper towel
  • Water container: 450ml-750ml vessel that you will not use to drink from.
  • Pencil 
  • Ruler or a straight edge
  • Masking tape

Surfaces:

  • 7 or more primed canvas boards/panels or primed stretched canvases: 12 x 16, 16 x 20 inch or similar (your choice).
  • A pad of paper that can take acrylic paint, approximately 12 x 16 inch (inexpensive watercolour or printmaking paper can work). Alternatively, 4 or more individual sheets about 18 x 24 inch. Cougar cover stock 200m or similar from Aboveground Art Supplies works well.

Still Life Objects: 

  • 2 - 3 pieces of fruit, a wine bottle and or other objects around the house for still life set up, and a piece of fabric (without a pattern) to place your objects on. 
  • A desk lamp to light it with. 
  • Optional: Inexpensive Styrofoam cones, sphere and cube shapes, 5 pieces.

These are the recommended materials for this course. All sizes are approximate. On your first day of class, your instructor may recommend additional optional materials. Our Instructor’s will do their best to accommodate alternative materials whenever possible. 

 

Instructor:

Sundays, - | 9:30 am - 12:30 pm (4 weeks)

WEEKLY OUTLINE

Week 1: Value and form. Introduction to materials with black and white paint, and shape and form, through still life.

Week 2: Colour and form. Introduction to colour concepts, mixing, the creation of a colour wheel and colour still life.

Week 3: Applying colour to the subject. Exercises and studies with complimentary colours, mark making, colour function and colour palette choice. Start Landscape Painting.

Week 4: Exploring the medium through experimentation and abstraction. More mark making, alternative tools, masking, glazing, pushing and breaking down the medium.

STUDENT MATERIAL LIST 

Acrylic paints, brand of your choice, one tube of each colour, approximately 120 ml/5oz: 

  • Primary blue
  • Primary red or magenta 
  • Primary yellow 
  • Black
  • Raw umber 
  • Dioxazine purple 
  • A larger tube of titanium white 240ml/10oz 
  • Acrylic matte medium (not gel) 120 ml/5oz or similar

Brushes and Other Materials:

  • A large flat 2 inch chip/utility/house painters brush
  • 2 medium sized filbert brushes (i.e., ½ and ¾ inch hog bristle), 
  • 1 round brush that makes a nice point 
  • Any other brushes you would like use
  • Palette Knives: 2-3 or more various plastic or metal palette knives, trowel and any other shape.
  • A Palette: foam or plastic plates or trays. White is ideal. (Alternative - any flat stiff surface covered with wax paper or aluminum foil, a disposable palette pad)
  • Painting rag: cotton cloth, or paper towel
  • Water container: 450ml-750ml vessel that you will not use to drink from.
  • Pencil 
  • Ruler or a straight edge
  • Masking tape

Surfaces:

  • 7 or more primed canvas boards/panels or primed stretched canvases: 12 x 16, 16 x 20 inch or similar (your choice).
  • A pad of paper that can take acrylic paint, approximately 12 x 16 inch (inexpensive watercolour or printmaking paper can work). Alternatively, 4 or more individual sheets about 18 x 24 inch. Cougar cover stock 200m or similar from Aboveground Art Supplies works well.

Still Life Objects: 

  • 2 - 3 pieces of fruit, a wine bottle and or other objects around the house for still life set up, and a piece of fabric (without a pattern) to place your objects on. 
  • A desk lamp to light it with. 
  • Optional: Inexpensive Styrofoam cones, sphere and cube shapes, 5 pieces.

These are the recommended materials for this course. Your instructor may recommend additional optional materials on additional days. All sizes are approximate. Our Instructor’s will do their best to accommodate alternative materials whenever possible. 

 

Instructor:
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