Michael Weller – Paint What You See, Not What You Know: Painting from Observation (Online); Wednesdays, January 25-February 22, 2023

Date: Wednesdays, January 25-February 22, 2023
Time: 9:30 AM-12:00PM Pacific Time, 12:30-3:00 PM Eastern Time, 5:30-8:00 PM London Time
Level: All
Medium: Oil or acrylic

Supply List pdf – right-click or option-click to download

Patrick Heron, the British abstract and figurative artist, said that you don’t look at a painting of an apple and go, “It’s an apple, it’s an apple, it’s an apple!” In reality, it’s the color shapes.

In this 5-week class, participants will try new strategies and explore color shapes as they paint from observation using the still life. Following Michael Weller’s lead, students will attempt to paint more abstractly, observing and comparing the longest lines and the biggest color shapes, mixing paint and putting down the right color in the right place.

From arranging and cropping a picture and comparing shapes and colors, to mixing paint and putting down the right color in the right place, the aim is to be clear as painters and be yourselves.

Each week, students will follow setups that Michael uses – a few apples or pears, a cup, a milk bottle and a coffee packet.

Michael will paint in oils. Students may paint in oils, gouache, watercolor or acrylic. Some experience of drawing is useful but all levels welcome.

Michael Weller studied librarianship in Manchester and realised early on he didn’t want to be a librarian. Life-drawing cheered him up. Later he did a degree in Fine Art and studied portrait-painting at Lavender Hill Studios and drawing and painting with the New English Art Club. In 2015 he won the Le Clerc Fowle Medal for a group of outstanding paintings at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ annual exhibition, and the Winsor & Newton Award for a painting at the New English Art Club annual exhibition. Weller was elected to the New English Art Club in 2022. michaelweller.co.uk