Intro to Small Scale Oil Painting with Marisa Stratton

Intro to Small Scale Oil Painting with Marisa Stratton

Workshop | Available

All Levels
6/24/2026-6/26/2026
View Schedule
$320.00

Intro to Small Scale Oil Painting with Marisa Stratton

Workshop | Available

In this 3-day workshop, students will develop 3-5 small oil paintings on wooden panel. Working from photographic reference, students will learn how to optimize a small painting surface through economical brush work. This workshop is an opportunity for students to develop small-form painting strategies for any kind of project, including thumbnail sketches for larger works.

Beginning with underpainting and monochromatic painting, students will strengthen their understanding of value, structure and comparative measurement.

On the second day, students will develop limited palette studies and on the final day the full color palette will be introduced. We will emphasize accuracy in our initial drawing, and focus on color relationships/mixing as the paintings are developed. At the end of this workshop, students will have a small body of work!


In addition to demonstrations, students will be introduced to various miniaturist painters throughout history alongside works of contemporary painters working on a small-scale. 


I will provide general reference material but I highly recommend that students bring reference photos that interest them! Any content is encouraged; if students are preparing to make a body of work or large work, bring images/sketches!





  • Students should also pack lunch or a snack as there is a 45-minute break between workshop/studio sessions.
  • Your instructor has provided a list of materials required to participate fully in this class. 

    If you have any questions about specifics, please reach out to your instructor via the email in your confirmation letter.  

    Surfaces

    Palettes
    • Palette paper pad (for easy clean-up) or 1 glass palette (I recommend a gray-toned glass palette)
       12” x 16” 
      *You can use a piece of glass from a frame as an alternative as well.
    • 1 Hand-Held Scraper w Razor Blade (buy this only if you are purchasing a glass palette!)\
    • Having a box for your palette to live in will be useful for keeping your paint wet! Any old box will work or you can purchase a palette box
    • 1 Palette Knife (Small Trowel size)

    Brushes

    • small round synthetic brushes size 1 and 2 (get at least 2 of each)
    • Small flat brush size (2) - (get at least 3 of these) **my favorite brush size**
    • small filbert or flat soft synthetic brush (size 4) 
    • medium flat soft synthetic brush (size 6) 
    • medium flat soft synthetic brush (size 8) 


    * Make sure you have at least one filbert and at least one flat brush so you can try out each brush shape. I prefer flat brushes so I have flat brushes in all sizes also have one small and one large natural hair brush.
    You can purchase a set of brushes instead of individuals,this is my favorite company for brushes.


    Oils
    (all 37 ml tubes - small tubes)
    • Titanium White
    • Burnt Sienna
    • Cadmium Yellow Medium
    • Yellow Ochre
    • Lemon Yellow (or Hansa yellow light)
    • Alizarin Crimson
    • Cadmium Red / Napthol Red (napthol is cheaper alternative)
    • Ultramarine Blue
    • Burnt Umber
    • Mars Black

    Optional but suggested:
    • Phthalo Blue
    • Quinacridone Magenta

    Student-grade oil paint (slightly cheaper):

    Artist-grade oil paint:

    125 ml Gamsol

    • 1 glass jar with lid (salsa size is best, wide mouth - no plastic lids please)
    • 2 rolls of paper towels
    • Apron/smock/old shirt
    • Artist tape
    • **oil paint is very messy! in class please wear clothing and/or an apron that you do not mind getting dirty**