Oil Painting: Explorations in Still Life

Instructor: Sarah Paolucci 

Dates: Wednesdays, May 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Ages: 15+

Members: $162

Non-Members: $180

(Registration deadline: May 2)

Description:

Open to all levels of experience, this workshop offers an in-depth exploration of oil painting techniques and traditional still life. Develop foundational painting skills, including glazing and layering oil paints to create luminosity and depth. Over the course of 4 sessions, you will complete two to three paintings. 

Open Studio Time:

Upon approval from the instructor, workshop participants will be granted access to the Painting Lab throughout the duration of the workshop. Aside from scheduled workshop hours, the lab is available for independent use Monday – Thursday from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Materials: 

Provided by particpant (similar items may be substituded if you already have them):

• Palette
• Palette knife
• 8oz container of Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits
• Soft mop brush: Link to Jerry's Artarama
• Assortment of synthetic flat and round bushes of different sizes for oil painting
• Three 8x10" gessoboards: Link to Jerry's Artarama  
• Travel container for brush cleaning: Link to Jerry's Artarama
• A few personal objects (if you would like to include them in the still life)
• Oil Paints: of any brand of your choice, Gamblin or Williamsburg are recommended
  • Colors: Hansa Yellow Light or Lemon Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Pyrrole Red, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Sap Green, Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White or Permalba White, Chromatic Black
  • OPTIONAL colors: Manganese Violet, Prussian Blue, Viridian

Email ssamele@fivepointsarts.org if you have any questions about the materials list.

Instructor Bio:

Sarah Paolucci is an oil painter, graphic designer, and educator with experience teaching painting and drawing at the college level since 2016. In 2019, Sarah earned her MFA in Illustration from the Hartford Art School. Her work has been showcased in multiple exhibitions, including a solo show at the Hartford Public Library’s ArtWalk which featured large-scale oil paintings of artisans’ hands. With over 15 years of experience as a graphic designer and a deep passion for creating, Sarah combines technical skill and artistic insight in her work as both an artist and teacher.

Instructor's Website

All workshops are held at the Five Points Arts Center, 855 University Drive

Workshops may be cancelled due to low enrollment if a minimum number of participants are not met. Registrants will be notified in advance and a refund or credit will be arranged (see workshop polices below for details).

Workshop Policies: Please review the terms of our workshop policies here