Paintings that sing with Colourful Greys with Lalita Hamill, AFCA

Saturdays, Nov 2nd, 16th, 30th & Dec 14th, 2024 

9.30 AM - 12.30 PM (PST)

Online via Zoom

Level: Open to all painters who have some experience with colour and are willing to do homework assignments between sessions.

Medium: Acrylic & Oil

Workshop Overview:

Many artists believe that the best way to create a colourful painting is to add more colour or make the colour more intense. Unfortunately, this often leads to paintings that are perceived by the viewer to be garish and loud; these artworks often lack subtlety and sophistication. In fact, one of the best ways to create colourful paintings is to strategically place greys beside or around small amounts of intense colour. The term ‘grey’ refers to any colour on the inside of the colour wheel, usually created when you mix colours that sit across from each other. 

For those wanting to improve the impact of colour in their paintings, this workshop will consist of information, exercises, and feedback both in and out of class. The majority of the practice will occur between classes, so participants need to ensure they have a minimum of four hours per week to paint. Participants can opt to email photos of their homework to Lalita in order to receive tailored feedback at the beginning of the next session. Video recordings will be provided to participants (only) for a limited time after each session.

The structure of each session will look something like this: 

· Review of homework 

· Instruction and demos by Lalita - note: you will not be painting during the session. 

· Exercises

· Description of between-session exercises

· Q&A

Main topics will include the following: 

• Choosing the right tubes of paint (and by ‘right’, I mean to get the look and feel you want)
• Ensuring your paint is the appropriate consistency, and what to do when it isn’t
• Palette management
• “Mother” colours, lights, and darks
• Mixing colour on the palette vs on the canvas
• Colour Theory
  • Contrast of Saturation
  • How colours affect each other
  • Creating gradations of colour that are the same tonal value
  • Colour and mood
  • Colour and eye flow
• What to do when things go ‘sideways’

About Lalita Hamill, AFCA: 

Lalita is a sought-after instructor and juror who specializes in contemporary realism, especially of figures, still life and landscapes. She attended the Vancouver Academy of Art for four years, where she studied traditional painting methods from classically trained instructors. Lalita is a Signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, and an Associate Member of Oil Painters of America. She has been teaching for over 30 years, facilitated public monthly critiques for 10 years, and has been running a weekly contemporary atelier program out of her studio for seven years. Lalita designed the Foundations Program for the Federation of Canadian Artists. She is accomplished in oils, acrylics and watercolour, and specializes in art assessment and composition.

Lalita has a degree in Philosophy and English, and is also a writer, musician, facilitator, and XR Designer. “I paint to gently awaken in myself and others that which has been lost, hidden, or buried.”  - L.C. Hamill  Visit www.lalitahamill.com

Student Testimonials:

• “In her critiques, Lalita provides honest and gentle suggestions for improvements at the same time she lets the painters know what really works in each painting.  Over the past four years I have learned so much from her.  What a lovely soul she is.”  - Marion Iherg

• “I have learned more about colour and tones in these sessions than I have ever learned from any other professional artist or class.”  - E. Johnston

• “I really appreciate Lalita’s knowledge delivered with such a friendly, inclusive style” - J. Dixon 

• “Lalita is a fantastic facilitator and makes you feel good about your painting. I value her professional opinion.” - Nadja Mak

• “I have learned a great deal while attending Lalita’s art critiques. I feel I understand what I’m looking at so much more and can articulate what I feel about a piece more than I could before. It helps me appreciate different styles as well. I find every session worthwhile and inspiring.”  – Heidi Stewart