Have you ever looked at an oil and cold wax painting and wondered how it got that rich, textured surface that seems to have so much depth and life? The secret is layers — and in this class, you'll learn exactly how to build them.
This four-week studio class is open to all skill levels, including complete beginners. No prior painting experience is needed, just a curiosity about materials and a willingness to experiment.
Using oil paint and cold wax medium, you'll explore how to build up surfaces with tools, carve back into layers to reveal color beneath, and create paintings that feel tactile, luminous, and alive. Cold wax is a forgiving and endlessly interesting medium — it rewards experimentation over perfection so you can focus on enjoying the process.
Each week we'll focus on a different way of working with layers:
Adding texture and building surfaces with palette knives and found tools
Carving and scraping back to reveal what's underneath
Layering transparently to create depth and a sense of glow
Bringing it all together in a finished piece that is uniquely yours
In each session we will add new layers to our 4 panels, giving you new techniques for your toolkit, and a growing understanding of how to let a painting develop over time rather than forcing it to be finished all at once.
All skill levels welcome.