Beginner Acrylic / Oil Painting — 4-Week Series | Saturdays, Feb 21–Mar 14, 2026 | 10:00 AM–12:30 PM

$150.00

Ready to explore the world of acrylic or oil painting but not sure where to start? Or maybe you’ve painted a little before and want to build confidence and skill? This relaxed, hands-on class taught by HCA artist Barbara Kraemer is designed specifically for adult beginners who want a supportive, step-by-step introduction to painting.

Over four weeks, you’ll learn how to choose and use your materials, understand how acrylics behave, and develop a strong foundation in observation, value, and brushwork—skills that apply to every painting you’ll ever make. With a small class size, you’ll receive plenty of personalized guidance from Barbara throughout the course.

What We’ll Cover

Week 1 — Foundations & Materials
• Understanding color, value, light, and shadow
• How these elements create depth and realism
• Overview of paints, brushes, surfaces, mediums, and tools

Weeks 2–4 — Painting From Your Own Reference
• Bring 1–2 photos to choose from
• Prepare your canvas and sketch your subject
• Learn and practice a variety of techniques
• Develop your personal style as your confidence grows

Final Session — Group Critique & Reflection
• Supportive discussion of your finished work
• What you learned and where to go next

A supply list will be provided before the first class.
Some materials may also be purchased directly from the instructor.

Ready to explore the world of acrylic or oil painting but not sure where to start? Or maybe you’ve painted a little before and want to build confidence and skill? This relaxed, hands-on class taught by HCA artist Barbara Kraemer is designed specifically for adult beginners who want a supportive, step-by-step introduction to painting.

Over four weeks, you’ll learn how to choose and use your materials, understand how acrylics behave, and develop a strong foundation in observation, value, and brushwork—skills that apply to every painting you’ll ever make. With a small class size, you’ll receive plenty of personalized guidance from Barbara throughout the course.

What We’ll Cover

Week 1 — Foundations & Materials
• Understanding color, value, light, and shadow
• How these elements create depth and realism
• Overview of paints, brushes, surfaces, mediums, and tools

Weeks 2–4 — Painting From Your Own Reference
• Bring 1–2 photos to choose from
• Prepare your canvas and sketch your subject
• Learn and practice a variety of techniques
• Develop your personal style as your confidence grows

Final Session — Group Critique & Reflection
• Supportive discussion of your finished work
• What you learned and where to go next

A supply list will be provided before the first class.
Some materials may also be purchased directly from the instructor.

Acrylics/Oils Art Class Supply List

(Revised February, 2026)

Barbara J. Kraemer

732-473-9929

Barbara.kraemer@hotmail.com

Always buy the best supplies you can afford. You get what you pay for. Bring whatever supplies you

have but if you don’t have paint yet, the brands and products below are the best and highly recommended.

I will sell a enough paints for our first two weeks’ projects for $5.00 a week. After that, please have your

paints.

Supplies:

Palette –Covered Watertight Palettes are a must for both oil and acrylic painting. Recommended:

Masterson. (Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette, available on Amazon in various sizes. Airtight Wet

Painting Palette, Keeps Wet Paint Fresh for Days.

If you paint in oils, the smaller size palette will fit in your freezer which keeps oil paints usable longer.

Paints: Student grade paints frustrate! Professional grades are best! You get what you pay for!

Acrylics: I use GOLDEN. Other good brands are Liquitex, and Winsor & Newton, available in heavy

body (thick), fluid (thin), and specialty formulas like Golden Open (slow-drying) for blending.

Oils: Richardson Oils-The Shiva Series. Winsor & Newton.

1. Blues – (warm) Ultramarine, (true) Cobalt, (cool) Cerulean, Paynes Gray

2. Reds – (cool) Permanent Rose, Magenta, Alizarin Crimson; (warm) Vermillion, Cadmium Red

Light

3. Yellow – (warm) Cadmium Yellow; (cool) Lemon, Hansa

4. Titanium White,

5. Carbon Black

Other great colors you may want to bring include

6. Sepia (dark brown)

7. Burnt Sienna

8. Raw Sienna

9. Greens – Undersea Green, Sap Green

Painting surface: Canvas, Paper (Note: Some students want to start small, however, it is sometimes

easier to paint larger, so I recommend starting with at least 11x14.)

General Supplies

2 Water Containers (Plastic is best)

Brushes – Variety of Sizes, Flats and Rounds

Color Wheel

Covered Palette

Eraser (kneadable)

Notebook

Palette Knife(s)

Pencils - Soft B2, B3, B4

Rags, Sponges, Paper Towels

Scrap paper to test colors

Sketch Pad

Spritz Bottle

Both oil and acrylics : Gesso (for priming canvas) – (Liquitex Basics is okay to use for gesso only.

Don’t use Liquitex Basics paints.)

For oil painting: Winsor Newton Liquin Original, Odorless Thinner (e.g. Mona Lisa), covered cups, jars.

Optional Supplies:

Painter’s Tape (white)

Chalk

Online Art Supply Stores:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/

Dick Blick: https://www.dickblick.com

Hobby Lobby: https://www.hobbylobby.com/

Jerry’s Artarama. https://www.jerrysartarama.com

Michaels: https://www.michaels.com/

Utrecht: https://www.utrechtart.com/