Introduction to Composition and Design
with Shelly Wierzba
Saturday, January 30th, 2027 | 10:30AM - 4:30PM
204 S Austin Street in Rockport, Texas.
$150 for Members | $200 for Non-Members
Class Description:
OBJECTIVES: - Understand the pyramid of good painting. - Learn and use the formats for good design and composition. - Understand and use the Golden Section and Center of Interest. - Identification, selection, and creation of the abstract shapes of your design. - Learn how values (light to dark) work to build a strong design A. Grouping values together, simplifying, creating masses. B. Unequal distribution of shapes 1. Major and minor 2. Dominant and subdominant 3. Variety of proportion 4. Interlocking C. Correct perspective of shapes - Understand how the Master painters through the ages moved the viewers eye through their paintings. - Learn to use the reference photo as a tool and not as an absolute picture to copy. - Understand tangents and how to spot them.
Supply List:
Paints: (these are oil colors, but adapt them for your medium) - Titanium White - Van Dyke Brown (tricoat.com) -Yellow ochre -Burnt umber -Raw under -Transparent red oxide
Brushes: Flats sizes 2, 4, 6, 10, and 12. For oil medium get bristle brushes (suggest Dick Blick Masterstroke and Newton University).
Palette knife: Dick Blick (metal, flat)
Easel :There will be both standing and table easels available from the art center for you to use if you choose or bring your own portable easel (standing is best if you are able), French or plein air.
Canvas panels: Bring 5 to 6 panels size 8 x 10.
Odorless mineral spirits: in container (oil medium painters).
Paper towels
Sketch book (highly recommended: the Notanizer app from your app store. It has a black and white Yin Yang pic and is a 2 or 3 dollar one time price)
About the Instructor:
Rockport, Texas oil painter, Shelly Wierzba has been creating art in various media for 47 years. She studied art and design intermittently throughout her educational years, and pursued independent study with renowned painters in the Pacific Northwest after a fulfilling career in the medical field. She enjoys plein air painting and teaching from both her studio and on location.
Studio paintings usually start from plein air small paintings and sketches with the goal to capture the mood and energy of the light. Painting in the outdoors keeps my work fresh and inspired, and keeps me focused on continuous learning. Spending hours in nature observing the subtle nuances of a scene produces an appreciation of the beauty that I hope to pass along through my artwork. Painting is an amazing journey and I paint for the love of that journey.
MEMBERSHIPS: American Impressionist Society, signature member; Oil Painters of America; National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society; Rockport Center for the Arts, and Port Aransas Art Center. She was featured as an Artist to Watch in the national magazine, Southwest Art, in the June - July 2021 issue.
She is a past juried member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, and the High Desert Art League. Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States in solo and group shows and hangs in numerous private and corporate collections across the nation.
Website: www.shellywierzba.com
Saturday, January 30th | 10:30AM-4:30PM
$150 for Members | $200 for Non-Members