For students just starting to explore the world of painting, this workshop offers an introduction to a simple and effective technique – and expert help in completing two acrylic paintings in just five days.

For accomplished artists, it’s a chance to try a different method, medium or subject matter in the first painting, and to use what they’ve learned to do a portrait of a family member or friend in the second.

Nicholas Pearce has taught hundreds of students to work with a limited palette of four colours plus white, applied with a single 1 1/2 inch house painters’ brush for everything from blocking in to fine details to tonal washes. They learn to mix colours on the canvas, and to feather wet paint onto dry to create subtle colour shifts. The final step is washes to unify lighting effects in some areas, and to set other areas back.

The workshop begins with composition, the basis of all good paintings. Then students choose from figurative photo references provided. The ancient technique of gridding is used to transfer the image to a 30 x 40 inch canvas. For their second painting, students do a portrait of someone close to them.

Throughout the week, Nicholas offers mini-lectures, provides one-on-one help, and paints on his own canvas to show the techniques in action. The goal is to have everyone walk away with two paintings, ready to hang on their walls.

NOTE: This class teaches skills, not creativity. Nicholas believes creativity is inherent, and cannot be taught. Skills, learned in a fun, collegial atmosphere, provide the foundation that allows creativity to emerge.

* This instructor has generously donated a piece of art, “Tania with Fan”, available at the Gala Auction.