Photographic Residue: Painting Beyond the Image

Photographic Residue: Painting Beyond the Image

Short Class | Available

Intermediate
6/23/2026-7/21/2026
6:30 PM-9:30 PM EDT on Tue
$295.00

Photographic Residue: Painting Beyond the Image

Short Class | Available

This Tuesday evening class explores landscape painting through photographic reference, focusing on interpretation rather than imitation. Students will work from printed photographs selected from the teacher’s collection alongside historical painting examples to develop stronger composition, atmosphere, color relationships, and painterly clarity.

Phones will not be used as reference material in class. Working from printed images allows students to slow down, observe more carefully, and engage with painting as a deliberate studio practice rather than a quick act of copying. Photography becomes a starting point, a sketch, while painting becomes the living interpretation.

Classes emphasize palette organization, color mixing, value, chroma, saturation, temperature, and the construction of a compelling image. Through both long-form paintings and smaller studies, students will develop a clearer studio process and a deeper understanding of how to move beyond copying into expressive painting.

  • Your instructor has provided a list of materials required to participate fully in this class.
    If you have any questions about specifics or what is needed week-to-week, please reach out to your instructor via the email in your confirmation letter.

    • Specific brushes needed: An assortment of brushes in various sizes and shapes—these should be soft brushes that are ready for use. Please do not use hard bristle brushes.
    • A small assortment of palette knives (at least 2)
    • Multiple surfaces in various sizes. Minimum size is 8” x 10”. For the larger sizes, Trevor recommends 18” x 24” or slightly larger. This will be expanded on in class. All canvases must be toned prior to class. It is best to tone with acrylic paint. Tone in Yellow Ochre.
    • Disposable Paper Palette, no smaller than 12” x 16” (the larger the better, please no small palettes)
    • Paper towels or rags
    • Container for oil or acrylic mediums or solvents to take home. Please note this material cannot be disposed of in WSS sinks.
    • Sketchbook and small assortment of pencils

    Colors for Palette (you may paint with Oil or Acrylic, but Oil is recommended; Gamblin 1980 is an affordable choice):
    • Cadmium red medium
    • Cadmium red light
    • Alizarin Crimson or Quinacridone Magenta
    • Cadmium yellow or Cadmium yellow light
    • Cadmium orange (optional)
    • Yellow ochre
    • Raw umber
    • Raw Sienna
    • Ivory black
    • Titanium white
    • Cerulean blue, Manganese blue hue, or Pthalo Turquoise (Plaza brand: https://www.plazaart.com/plaza-artists-oil-37ml-phthalo-turquoise) (choose one)
    • Cobalt blue
    • Ultramarine blue

    If using oil paint:
    • Small jars with lids (minimum 2 for solvents and mediums)
    • Odorless thinner such as Gamsol, a small jar
    • A small bottle of Gamblin’s Galkyd (4.2 or 8.5 oz.)

    If using acrylic paint:
    • Water cup
    Small spray bottle
    • A small bottle of acrylic medium (2 or 4 oz.), gloss finish (Golden recommended)
    • Golden Acrylic Retarder is also a good medium

    Optional Supplies:
    • Straight edge

Trevor Young

Learn about your instructor & more on our faculty page!