Creative Painting: Building a visual mythos

Course Descriptive 1

About this class

Students will be introduced to the basics of painting and learn how to develop an individualistic painting practice. This class will cover basic color theory and mixing, learning to effectively use tools, such as brushes and palette knives, the details and preparation of painting substrates, such as paper, panel, and canvas. students will also learn how to pursue and develop a personal painting practice through individualized prompts and analysis from the instructor. Students and people interested in starting painting should consider this class because by the conclusion of the course they will be equipped with the knowledge and tools of which they can harness to further teach themselves and continue painting based on their goals, which could be as a hobby, a therapeutic activity, or perhaps, pursuing professional endeavors.

Class Outline

Class 1:

  • Short presentation regarding painting practices and painting demo by instructor.
  • Introduction to using painting tools.
  • Warm up painting session, which will consist of painting on small pieces of paper to practice and explore
  • ideas and colors.

Class 2:

  • Preparing and priming substrates (surfaces, paper, canvas, or panel).
  • Explore the dynamics of mixing paint and applying paint.
  • Painting session on small prepared surfaces.

Class 3:

  • Prepare and prime larger painting surfaces.
  • Utilize the ideas and explorations of last session’s small paintings into a singular larger painting.
  • Freeform self directed painting session.

Class 4:

  • Painting session.
  • Group analysis and discussion.
  • Individualized painting prompts given by instructor.

Class 5:

  • Creating a personal visual mythos.
  • Beginning a new painting.
  • Painting session.

Class 6:

  • Painting session.
  • Individual discussion and analysis by instructor.

Class 7:

  • Utilize visual mythos in the creation of final painting.
  • painting session.

Class 8:

  • Finalize last painting
  • Group analysis and reflection.

Materials needed

Please note: VCUQatar reserves the right to cancel classes for which not enough participants are registered. Already paid fees will be refunded.

Please do not purchase materials until VCUQatar has sent final course confirmation.

Items to buy for this class

Participants are required to buy their own materials beforehand and bring them to every class

  • Brush set
  • Acrylic paint set or individual tubes: red, blue, yellow, raw umber, black, and white.
  • 2-3 medium canvases
  • Artist tape
  • Palette knife
  • Flat painting palate or palate paper
  • Gesso for priming.
  • The rest of the materials, which will consist of bare and prepared canvas, paper rolls, and some panel will be provided by instructor at no cost.

On occasions, there may be some more materials to be bought and brought in if and when advised by the instructor.

Where to buy your materials

Most of the materials are available from any art supply shop, for example:
  • Cass Art (Fire station): Community Classes students get a 15% discount upon presenting the registration ticket
  • Jarir Bookstore: on Rayyan Road or Salwa Road
  • Color Note: on Al Nasser Street
  • Ibn Al Qayyim: at Markhiya Roundabout
  • Al Rawnaq

Schedule

Start: Wed, 17 Jan, 2024
End: Wed, 6 Mar, 2024
Lessons: 8
Days: Wednesdays
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Location: VCUarts Qatar
Cost: QAR 1300

Instructors

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Yousef Bahzad

Yousef Bahzad is a Qatari/American visual artist, born in Michigan. He graduated from VCUQ with a BFA
and minor in Art History. His practice consists of mainly painting and experimental photography. All his art
forms supplement and feed into one another, with regards to tone, color and imagery. He maintains and
builds upon a visual mythos which consists of past drawings, paintings, and photographs to harness in the
creation of new artwork. Through this visual mythos, he explores personal and universal human themes.