Fine Art Fundamentals Series 3.1

Five online classes include live interaction with an instructor for a unique personalized experience! In this part of the third series, students will use oil pastels and watercolor to create two artworks that are original and truly their own. Students will apply elements of form and composition to their artwork while exercising creativity and developing observation skills. Each series of online Fine Art Fundamentals classes build on different composition concepts.

There is a one-time, pre-requisite Online Form Class each student who is just starting Fine Art Fundamentals must complete. This class teaches students about form and composition, preparing students with the necessary understanding of these concepts to more confidently apply them in the projects designed for our Fine Art Fundamentals and Advanced Exploration programs. Sign up for the Online Form Class.

Watch this Parent Guide video which includes instructions on how to set up an art space at home and how you can achieve a more independent and empowering experience for your child.

Find the list of supply needs by day below. Plan to spend about 15 minutes preparing the supplies before each class.

Weekly (one day per week) options are available year round and daily (week-long) options are available during school breaks.

Supplies Information

Quality art materials of good value have been specially selected for these classes because we know better supplies and tools improve the outcome of art making. Limited palettes of specific colors teach color mixing and are preferred over a palette with many colors. Our colored pencil selection provides the unique practice of layering and pressure control to blend and is preferred over softer colored pencils that mimic the practice of using soft chalk pastels to blend.

Listed below are the required supplies plus a number of choices and brands. Please allow time to acquire the needed art materials. If you purchased these supplies before or have these supplies at home, no need to purchase again.

Required Art Supplies

Board (~16×20″) for stretching paper  –  Blick

Masking tape for stretching paper  –  Blick  –  Amazon

2 sheets bristol vellum drawing paper (12-14″ x 17-19″ in size, purchase by pad or single sheet)

Tracing paper  –  Blick  –  Amazon

Composition templates (download and print)  –  PDF

Oil pastels  –  Blick  –  Amazon

Tube watercolors  –  Blick List-Van Gogh

  • Recommended colors: Permanent Red Violet, Permanent Red Light, Permanent Lemon Yellow, Phthalo Green, Prussian Blue, Ultramarine Deep Blue, Yellow Ochre, Black

Soft hair watercolor brushes  –  Amazon-Mozart

Watercolor palette  –  Blick-Richeson Slant Palette  –  Amazon-Richeson Slant Palette  –  Michaels-Artist’s Loft

Water cup for rinsing brushes

Squirt bottle  –  Blick-Squeeze Bottles

Paper towels

Artist manikin  –  Completely optional! Photo reference of manikins will also be available in class.

Supply List By Day

Prepare for each day of class by having the following supplies ready beforehand.

Day 1 Escape the Shape Part 1

  • 1 sheet of bristol vellum paper (12-14″ x 17-18″ stretched to board on all four sides)
  • 2 sheets of tracing paper
  • Composition templates
  • Graphite pencil
  • Eraser
  • Artist manikin (totally optional!)

Day 2 Escape the Shape Part 2

  • Continuing on same paper as Escape the Shape Part 1
  • Oil pastels

Day 3 Escape the Shape Part 3

  • Continuing on same paper as Escape the Shape Part 2
  • Oil pastels
  • Tube watercolors (students will select color(s) in class)
  • Squeeze bottle with water
  • Watercolor palette
  • Soft hair brushes
  • Cup with 1″ of water for rinsing brushes
  • Paper towels

Day 4 Animal-Go-Round Part 1

  • 1 sheet of bristol vellum paper (12-14″ x 17-18″ stretched to board on all four sides)
  • Graphite pencil
  • Eraser
  • Tube watercolors (students will select color(s) in class)
  • Squeeze bottle with water
  • Watercolor palette
  • Soft hair brushes
  • Cup with 1″ of water for rinsing brushes
  • Paper towels

Day 5 Animal-Go-Round Part 2

  • Continuing on same paper as Animal-Go-Round Part 1
  • Oil pastels
  • Tube watercolors (full range of colors)
  • Squeeze bottle with water
  • Watercolor palette
  • Soft hair brushes
  • Cup with 1″ of water for rinsing brushes
  • Paper towels