Light, Color, and Form: Realistic Still Life in Acrylics with Eleonora Hayes
Class | Available
Light, Color, and Form: Realistic Still Life in Acrylics:
In this immersive workshop, we will learn how to capture the subtle interplay of light, color, and texture in a still life composition. Guided step-by-step, we’ll explore essential techniques from sketching accurate proportions to building layers of color and achieving convincing highlights and shadows. Working from real objects under a single light source, you’ll gain confidence in observation, color mixing, and brush control while completing a finished still life. This hands-on session balances demonstration, practice, and personalized instruction, making it ideal for beginners and those looking to refine their skills.
All levels welcome, age 16+.
Please bring the following:- One or two Canvases (recommend 11" x 14")
- Paper for notes and sketches
- Your favorite brushes (although Oliver Art Center has some you may borrow) - recommend a variety of small to medium round, flats, and filberts.
- Acrylic paint (recommend: titanium white, cadmium yellow, yellow ochre, crimson red, alizarin crimson, violet, sap green, deep green permanent, burnt umber, cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, mars black - although at a minimum bring white, black, crimson red, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, leaf green).
*OAC has water containers, palettes and paper towels.
Eleonora Hayes
Eleonora has been painting and drawing since childhood. Growing up in Bulgaria in Europe, she learned how to draw and paint like the old masters. In the USA she was introduced to contemporary methods and theory and earned her MFA in painting and drawing. Living in Northern Michigan for over 20 years, she is drawn to the beauty and serenity of the surroundings. Eleonora’s work has been shown in the Grand Rapids Art Prize competition since 2013. She has been teaching art classes for kids and adults for 25 years at various organizations, including CMU, MMCC, Midland Center for Arts, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Oliver Art Center, NMC extended education, College for Kids, and TCAPS.