Colour Unleashed with Mel Williamson

Tuesdays (4 weeks)

Feb 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th, 2025

10.00 AM - 1.00 PM (PST)

Online via Zoom

Level: Suitable for Beginner & Intermediate Levels

Medium: Acrylic & Oil

Workshop Overview:

Join Mel Williamson in this dynamic four-day workshop designed to help you harness the power of colour in your artwork. Dive into the basics of colour, mix to perfectly match your reference, and learn to love limited palettes (including the famous Anders Zorn’s). We’ll also  explore the use of complementary colours and colour harmonies.
 

Each day we will focus on a specific, easily digestible topic, and practice usable skills. Mel will demonstrate all of the key principles, and guide you through exercises that reinforce each concept. Through hands-on exercises and optional homework, you'll build lasting  confidence in your ability to mix and use of colour, and use these practical skills in your own future artwork.

This fun and engaging online course is suitable for both beginner and intermediate artists, and the skills translate to other mediums and any style of painting. Mel will be using oil paints, but you are welcome to use either oil or acrylics (see supply list).

About the Instructor - Mel Williamson:

Mel’s work has been described as “fresh and honest”. She enjoys painting almost anything (from apples to landscapes to dead animals), working from photographs and from real life. The tactile and slippery nature of oil paint is celebrated in her work, and her process allows  her subjects to emerge during the process.

After a 15-year career in graphic design, Mel rediscovered her love of oil painting in 2012 at the Salt Spring Painters Guild life drawing group. Now painting full time, her success and recognition have been growing since winning “Best Work on Canvas” at the Sidney Fine Art Show in 2013 (her first-ever juried event). She practices and studies relentlessly: thru books and online, and at weekly life-drawing sessions. She has attended workshops near and far - recently winning scholarships to a special bootcamp with Jeremy Mann in Menorca, Spain (2018) and to the Portrait Society of America (2020), and most recently attended the Rome Workshops (2023).  

Mel is represented by Peninsula Gallery in Sidney, Steffich Fine Art on Salt Spring Island and Art  Interiors, Toronto. She truly loves teaching and works with Winslow Art Center, Canvas Method (Vancouver), Dragonfly Art Supplies (Salt Spring Island), and the Federation of Canadian Artists.

Student Testimonials:

•  "Thanks so much…Really enjoy your teaching style."  - M.A. 

•  "You are a gentle, generous, gracious teacher and it was a joy to be in your class!” - R.O. 

•  "I’ll take this moment now to tell you how much I loved your workshop! I feel like I have so many take-aways and am amazed that I made all my own colours and shades! You took the mystery out of it. I learned so much.” - J.S.
   
•  "I’m thrilled with the workshop, you really reignited my passion for painting!” - A.B. 

•  "Thank you for all your sharing this weekend. So many valuable insights. And you’re incredibly kind and encouraging to everyone as you teach.” -  F.F. 

• "I loved your class again. There’s something about the way you paint that really resonates with me, and I adore your works so much. Your classes give me permission to use those greys and neutrals that I love.”  -R.M.