Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art

Discover the joy of putting brush to canvas in this four-week introductory journey. Foundations of Acrylics 101 is designed to be your creative sanctuary, a place where the technical foundations of art meet the relaxing flow of the painting process. Whether you are picking up a brush for the very first time or returning to the easel after years away, this course offers a gentle, structured path to artistic confidence.

Together we will move step-by-step through the life of a painting, using the timeless beauty of still-life arrangements to sharpen our eyes and steady our hands. We begin by exploring the soothing rhythm of color mixing, learning how to create a harmonious palette from just a few primary tubes to find clean, intentional hues. As your comfort grows, we’ll transition into the logic of light, breaking down complex objects into simple shapes and using soft shading to breathe three-dimensional life into your work. In the later sessions, the focus shifts to the tactile world of texture and layering, where you will learn the "rounding out" techniques that turn a flat sketch into a soulful, finished piece. We conclude our time together by adding those crisp, luminous highlights and fine details that bring a sense of magic and "pop" to your masterpiece.

Join us for a couple of hours each week of focused, quiet creativity. You’ll leave not only with a finished still-life painting you’ll be proud to display but with a foundational toolkit of skills and a refreshed spirit to carry into your next creative project.

Find your flow and master the basics. Space is limited—reserve your easel today.