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Painting in Oils

Oil painting reached a very high level of prominence, ability, and prestige during the Italian Renassaince. In Painting in Oils, Jörundr Haustmyrkr (Jason Behnke) teaches the techniques used by those artisans, and the varying styles and approaches during that time period. There were rigid standards that were enforced by the socially elite and religious order that dictated proper painting techniques, and this helped create the famous works that still exist today. Of course, this also helped the creatively ambitious artisans to explore realms of painting beyond those standards, and thankfully these works are equally important.

A still life is set up in the class, and each student may contribute a personal item (must be appropriate to their SCA persona and their period) to the still life, thus making the still life more than just "fruits and vegetables". Good items are pieces of armor, weapons, jewelry, trinkets, garments, accesories. The item shouldn't be too intricate, and avoid something with a blazon or any symbols, as these are difficult to paint and usually added after the painting dries. In this class we want to focus primarily on light and forms the way the masters painted.

Students sit around the still life and paint a part of the still life from their perspective, using the techniques discussed in the class. Don't try to paint the entire still life, just a piece of it, even a single item, is fine.

The students are to bring their own materials, and Jörundr tries to bring plenty to share in case there's something that someone forgot, or would like to try. He paints along with the students, and by the end of the class, time is taken to share and discuss each others' paintings.

Materials for the class include:
- pre-stretched canvas or canvas panel
- sable or natural brushes
- oil paints
- drop cloths, rags, paper towels
- clothes you're not worried to get paint on
- easel or board to prop the canvas on
- odorless turpentine
- glass or ceramic jar for the turp
- personal item (SCA preferred) to add to the still life


Email jorundr@behnkestudio.com for more infromation.