Learning from Turner (Online Course) Fall 2024 w/ Richard K. Blades

October 23 to November 20 (Wednesdays), 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, Eastern Time

**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.

Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite.

DEMO: https://youtu.be/SlfcM6I_hX0

Course Description

This course will explore the work, color palette and techniques of JMW Turner and how we can translate these into a contemporary painting practice, with modern materials and methods. With a focus on the atmospheric landscapes of Turner’s late work, the course will look at the importance of abstraction in landscape painting and how we create atmosphere and depth.

This course aims to show you how to borrow some of Turner’s techniques, instead of copying his style and how we can use them to complement our own visual language and style.

Focuses will be on

Mark making

Atmosphere building

Glazing

Rubbing back

Scumbling

Colour mixing

Spontaneity and being loose.

Course Outline

Week 1 -

We shall explore the late paintings of JMW Turner and some of his techniques in a presentation. Looking at Turner’s move towards abstraction and how his approach inspired both Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism. We will also look at how Turner’s influence can be seen in contemporary painting and how we can learn from his approach.

Richard will also present his own work and ideas and philosophy behindhis practice.

A painting demonstration by Richard in which he shows the fundamentals of his approach.

Homework set.

Week 2 -

Feedback on student work.

A focus on colour mixing, participants will explore Turner’s colour palette and how to achieve these colours with modern pigments. We will look closely at how the use of colour and tone can create atmosphere, light and depth. 

A demonstration by Richard Painting time.

Homework set.

Week 3 -

Feedback on student work.

A further exploration of colour mixing, mark making and Turner’s techniques in.

A demonstration by Richard.

Richard will share techniques for layering and creating textures, through scumbling, glazing and mark making.

Painting time.

Homework set.

Week 4 -

Feedback on student work.

Navigating the challenges of being inspired by, rather than copying the techniques and aesthetics of other artists. This week we will look deeper into how we can implement some of Turner’s techniques into our own work.

Painting time.

Homework set.

Week 5 -

Feedback on student work and a discussion around the mediums and techniques explored. Usingthe techniques learned, we will create a paintings during an extended painting time after a demonstration by Richard.

Course Materials List

Oil paint, traditional or water mixable. Any brand will do.

Paint

Richard will be using the following colours

Ultramarine Blue.

Either Permenant Rose, Quinacridone Magenta Rose, Alizarin Crimson or Rose Madder.

Cadmium Yellow or Cadmium Yellow Hue.

Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna or Yellow Ochre.

Titanium White.

Medium

Glaze Medium

Surface

Richard will be using Jackson’s Oil painting paper, other suitable brands are: Fabriano Tela, Arches Huile, Strathmore etc. Equally you can use canvas, canvas boards or painting panels.

Brushes.

A mix of Bristle and Synthetic bristle brushes in a variety of shapes and sizes. A great synthetic bristle brush brand are Bristlene by ProArteIdeal Sizes and shapesRound 12/6/4 Flat 10/6

Tools

Palette Knife, RGM 31, 6 or 30

Miscellaneous

Masking tape

Low odour Mineral spirit

Palette

Pencil