Dates: Fridays, February 6-20, 2026
Time: 10:00 am-12:30 pm Pacific Time, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm Eastern Time, 6:00 pm-8:30 pm UK Time
Level: All
Medium: All
Have you ever wondered how to properly stretch linen, make a panel, choose one paint or brush over another? Ever wondered why you finished art school not knowing how to lay out a palette or photograph your work? It’s time to change that!
In this three-week course, artist Mark Thompson covers almost everything you need to know about the technical and practical challenges of being an artist. From the basics of making paint and varnishing your finished painting, to how to choose a website provider, he’s got you covered!
Week One: What to paint on and why
• Making a stretcher
• Stretching a canvas/linen the right way
• Why choose one substrate over another, Rigid supports and how to prepare them. Priming – history of grounds, traditional and modern
• Archival materials
Week Two: Paints, mediums and palettes
• A brief intro to making paint
• Why one quality is different to another, Transparent and opaque pigments – their history
• Best material for a palette.
• Laying out a limited and full palette.
• An exploration of whites
• How to select the right medium for the job.
Week Three: The studio and after
• Why choose one brush over another
• Cleaning your brushes to make them last
• A solvent free studio?
• Studio safety, fire risks
• Final varnishing – options
• A note on photographing work, presenting your work well
• Choosing a website provider
• Shipping safely and cheaply
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