Category Archives: Tools and Methods

Acrylic Workshops – Spring Session, 2011

I have begun a series of five, weekly semi-private acrylic workshops for experienced artists currently using acrylics or any other painting medium.  The workshops will be held once a week in my studio in Windham, NH.

For those folks new to acrylics, the workshops will provide hands-on experience on how to work with this fast drying, versatile medium. Experienced acrylic artists will learn new methods and approaches to get the most from this wonderful paint.  I will share with you all of the painting processes and methods I have developed over 30 years of painting.

Click on the Acrylic Workshops tab on this site for a list of what’s covered in the workshop, and a list of materials needed for the class. If you are interested in taking the five week workshop, e-mail me at www.donsfineart@comcast.net or call at 603-890-6883.  There are currently two openings in the April workshop and I am accepting reservations for additional workshops.

Prerequisites
Each student must have two to three years of painting experience, a basic knowledge of drawing, composition, color theory; and a willingness to try something different and out of their comfort zone in the creative arts.

Objectives
Each workshop will focus on specific methods to get the most from this versatile medium. The workshops are best taken in order, as each workshop will build on the lessons of the previous workshop. There will be homework assignments at the end of some sessions.  These completed assignments will be needed for the following session.

The Workshop Studio

Surface Preparation for Masonite Panels Added

I just put the instructions and photos of how I prepare Masonite panels for painting. There are two parts to this process. The first produces a surface with thousands of tiny peaks and depressions; the second step takes this a little further and produces a velvety smooth surface with microscopic pits that is great for washes and scumbles. This all looks and sounds like a lot of surface preparation, but believe me; it’s great to paint on.

The canvas preparation steps will be coming in a week or two.