*This course is for current FY '27 WMSC members. If you are not sure of your membership status, please contact our office. Geared to teh novice/beginner/never ever painter, this course will cover the basics from what you need to get started with acrylics to completing simple still life scenes. More advanced artists who may want to use other media and work on independent projects are welcome to join for teh fun aand social interaction as well as share techniques and experiences. UNLESS YOU ALREADY HAVE SUPPLIES, WAIT TO PURCHASE UNTIL AFTER WEEK 1. Course Outline: Wk 1: What you need: Basic supplies from paints, easels, palettes, brushes, et. Mounting a canvas on a frame, canvas preparation. Unleash your inner artist with hands on experimentation with different brush types, paint qualities and more. You may end up with an abstract mastserpiece! A list of basic supplis will be provided in a handout during class. Wk 2: Painting basic 3-D shapes (cylinder, pyramid, sphere, cube) using an "underpaiting" as a guide to placement, size, features, dark and light. The very basics of light and shadow and how to make things look three-dimensional on a two-dimensional surface. Wk 3: Color Theory. Mixing basic primary colors to create color wheels that can be a good reference point for your future work. Seeing like an artist! Is the grass always green, the sky always blue, and snow always white?? Wk 4: Let's Paint! We will use the skills and techniques we have developed to paint a simple still life. E.g., an empty vase and/or a bowl in monochrome. Wk 5: Let's make it a challenge! How about a transparent glass vase with some flowers! WooHoo! We are getting fancy. Wk 6: Find your own unique style. Do you have a favorite artist or artisitic style? Old master, impressionism, abstract? Choose one and give it a try. We have some art books to browse.