Fearless Florals with Melanie Morris

Covid-19 Precautions Update – June 15, 2021

On June 11, 2021, Kentucky lifted all mandates regarding Covid precautions that would impact our workshops at Ephemera Paducah.

What that means is, those who are not fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged to wear a mask during the workshop while inside. Those who are more comfortable wearing a mask if vaccinated may certainly do so. However, precautions such as mask-wearing or attestations of vaccination status, etc. are no longer required for this workshop. 

My staff and I are fully vaccinated. We have hand sanitizer, soap, and clean shared supplies as well as clean the studio each evening of your workshop. We will also continue to be mindful of social distance in classes and use technology so that demonstrations are projected eliminating the need to hover around a table to see what’s going on!

We are so looking forward to seeing you at an in-person workshop this year!

Kristin

Do you wish you were more “fearless” in your approach to acrylic painting? Do you love the look of floral paintings? If you want to create looser florals without fear, this is the class for you!

The class will paint from life choosing a floral from a number of bouquets that will be provided. Melanie will walk students step-by-step through how to create a successful floral painting – from composition to color mixing. She will paint numerous demos each day and provide individual guidance. Students love this encouraging class and are excited to continue painting at home.

Below are the supplies Melanie recommends but advises to please bring what you have.

At a minimum, you will need gel medium, retarder, disposable mixing pad, and the Sta-Wet palette. Please let Kristin know if you’d like to have any of these waiting for you. 

Acrylic Paints – You don’t have to have the exact colors and are welcome to bring what you have. I like Golden brand acrylics but any brand is fine. You want regular heavy body acrylics not liquid or “open”. Also, professional paints have more pigment than student grade allowing for richer colors. Below are the main colors on my palette.

• Cadmium Red Medium
• Cadmium Yellow
• Titanium White
• Cerulean Blue Chromium
• Alizarin Crimson
• Phthalo Blue (Green Shade)
• Ultramarine Blue
• Permanent Rose (This is a Winsor & Newton color)

I also like to keep the following colors on my palette but they are optional.

• Cadmium Orange
• Dioxazine Purple

Medium/Retarder

Golden mediums and retarder. The medium has the same consistency as the heavy body paint. The retarder is a thick liquid.

• Regular Gloss Gel Medium

• Retarder (liquid)

Brushes/Knife

•  Synthetic Brushes – bring what you have. I like brights – #4, #6, #8 are good sizes. It seems like each brand of brush has different sizing so to the right is a photo of the ones I use the most.

I prefer the long handle brushes – helps to make your painting looser. I like the Silver Brush Bristlon All Media Brushes

• Palette/painting knife – I find the most versatile shape knife is the one below. We will be using the knife just to load your palette so a plastic knife is fine too.

Palettes

• Large Disposable Paper Palette (without a hole – 12 x 16 or larger)

• Sta-Wet Premier Palette –Buy the red top palette – it has the sponge and special paper you will need. I keep all my paint in this palette box and mix on the disposable paper palette. My acrylic paint stays wet for a couple of weeks.

Other

• Willow or vine charcoal

• Six 6” x 6” canvases or panels – I use Ampersand Value panels in the smooth finish but you are welcome to bring whatever you like. I don’t recommend the canvas panels.

• Disposable gloves – I end up finger painting to smear edges so I like to wear gloves. You don’t want them too loose because they will just get in the way

• Optional – ViewCatcher– I’m a big fan of a viewfinder. I use it to get the proportion of my canvas then select my composition.

A Tabletop Easel

As always, lunches, as well as snacks & drinks, are provided. Chocolate is an Art Supply at Ephemera Paducah!

The minimum age to participate is 16.

The minimum needed to make this class is 8; the maximum is 16.

If you registered for this workshop by using our “$99 holds your spot” deal for the July 16-17 workshop, your balance ($340) is due no later than May 1, 2021, and can be made via PayPal or Credit card on this page or by mailing a check to Ephemera Paducah. Not paying the balance on or before the due dates results in the loss of your deposit and class seat.

Before registering, please familiarize yourself with our Cancellation Policies.