Vibrant Still Life (Online Course) Spring 2026 w/ Carol Tarzier

May 22 to June 12 (Fridays), 3:00 PM to 6:00 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. Our business hours are 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM. All course information and email correspondence will be sent during business hours. If students purchase a course, workshop, demo or recording outside business hours or during the weekend the course information or recording will be sent the following business day.

DEMO:

Course Description

This course isanintroduction to composition, color, and light in the still life.

We begin with designing the composition using a viewfinder,approachingthe composition as a flow through the canvas. We move into color mixingusing a limited palette andthen to saturated versus tinted colorto create light on thecanvas, then into lost edges and luminosity.

The course is open to all levels and the instructor will discuss student work on an individualbasis. Each class features a completed piece and a demo of the process. I enjoy workingwithstudents of all levels.Iwelcome comments and questions and will be givingindividualized feedback throughout.

Course Outline

Week 1 –

Palette/Color mixing andcomposition

Apples demo

Week 2 -

Light and shadow colors/ Edges/ Brushstrokes

Cantaloupe slices demo

Week 3 -

Glow and Transparency

Tangerines/ oranges/cantaloupes or watermelon

Week 4 -

Black background/ Wet into wet

Painting metal/ Tangerine

Course Materials List

Supplies are suggested. If you cannot get supplies for the first class, bring in the closest match. 

Turpenoid Natural or brush cleaner in Silicoil brush washing container.

Gamsol odorless thinner in small container for medium

Medium – M. Graham walnut alkyd medium or M. Graham Walnut Oil

Oil paint colors.  Here is a suggested palette.  M. Graham paint is made with walnut oil.  M. Graham is available online (Blick or Amazon.)  

Cool red - Alizarin crimson or Cad Red Deep or Anthraquinone Red

Warm red - Cadmium Red Light or Cad Red Medium or Azo Coral

Cool yellow - Cadmium yellow light

Warm or medium yellow - Cadmium Yellow Medium

Transparent yellow – Indian Yellow

Violet or red leaning blue - Ultramarine blue

Warm or medium blue - Thalo Blue Red Shade

Titanium white

Canvases or canvas-coated panels.  Internet suppliers - Source-Tek or Raymar or Centurion panels, any size from 6”x 6” to 8” x 10” or canvases from Michaels or Blick.  I prefer cotton canvases. 

Brushes – I order from Rosemary & Co, UK.

Rosemary & Co has a large assortment, this is a suggested list. 

Ivory series Long Flats #4, 8, 14, Or Evergreen series long flats #4, 8, 12, daggers 3/8”, ½”

Ivory series 2” impasto brush

Sable angle brushes or sable long flats

Bristle brushes - long filberts or Egberts

If you are buying local -   two long flats one smaller one at least 1” wide, and a couple of filberts.  Watercolor brushes work for oil painting. 

Paper or glass or plastic palette. 

Studio easel or plein air easel if you prefer your own. 

Color wheel

Graphite or charcoal pencil

Paper towels, soft (Viva or blue auto paper towels from Costco)

Isopropyl alcohol for cleaning the palette and brush handles

Viewfinder –The Color Wheel Company 7002 View Catcher from Amazon. 

Materials for setup – White cloth, black cloth, a gooseneck or similar light, backdrop

Reading Reference– “Daily Painting”, Carol Marine