Hi everyone,
I hope you are well.
Welcome to April's content schedule! Here's a sneak peek of what you can look forward to this month:
- Major tutorial - Giraffe portrait - Oil Paint - Available Now
Let's dive back into oil paint with this beginner to intermediate oil painting portrait of a baby giraffe. In this 4.5-hour tutorial, I'll take you through the process of painting a realistic giraffe portrait in oil using my two-step application method. In the first phase, we'll establish midtones and shadows; then, in the second pass, we'll refine the details, enhance textures, and adjust highlights and shadows to add depth and realism. The final result will be a lifelike giraffe portrait with vivid contrasts and intricate textures. This tutorial is perfect for intermediate to advanced painters looking to refine their skills and achieve a detailed, realistic finish.
2. Micro Tutorial: Flat Fur for Beginners in Oils- April 17th
This month's micro-tutorial is another fundamental exercise tutorial that explores flat fur with oil paint, also applicable to intermediate and advanced artists. The tutorial is roughly 2 hours long as it is the first of many in this series of exercises, so it covers my process and surrounding techniques in detail.
These fundamental exercise tutorials will focus on painting various types of textures, such as fur, feathers, skin, and scales. Each session will include short exercises where I will guide you through a step-by-step process for painting challenging features, including curly hair, short flat hair, wet fur, and dense fur like that of a koala. These tutorials will be in both acrylic and oil paint.
These exercises will be essential for your practice, ensuring that when you encounter these textures in your own work, you will feel confident in your ability to recreate them.
3. Live Demonstration: Core Class - Thursday, April 24th at 10am (ACST)
This month's live demonstration: Edges & Blending: Creating Soft vs. Hard Edges in Wildlife Art – Understanding edge control is crucial for achieving realism in fur, feathers, and backgrounds.
In this core class, we’ll explore a simple yet often overlooked aspect of painting—edges. The way we define or soften the edges of our subject can either separate it from the background or seamlessly merge it into the surrounding space. But when should we use which approach, and how do we execute it effectively?
We've all admired how master artists effortlessly blend their subjects into backgrounds, creating depth and atmosphere while keeping the subject distinct. If you've ever wondered how to achieve that balance, you're not alone!
In this session, I’ll break down the techniques for both connecting and separating elements in a painting. Through the live demonstration, we’ll examine different edge treatments and discuss when to apply them for maximum impact. Whether you're aiming for a sharp, crisp focal point or a soft, ethereal transition, mastering edges will elevate your work.
I look forward to seeing your creations this month. Thank you so much for being here.
If you have any questions or requests, please feel free to send me an email at carla@carlagraceart.com
Kind regards
Carla Grace.
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