Curious about oil painting but not sure where to start? The Essentials of Oil on Saturday, July 19 is a one-day workshop designed to introduce you to the vibrant, expressive world of oil paints—no prior experience required. All materials are provided; teaching artist Anne Pfeiffer will guide you through the essentials, helping you unlock the bold, beautiful possibilities of oil painting.
Whether you're an artist working in another medium, completely new to painting, or an oil painter looking to explore the dynamic alla prima technique, this class is for you.
Alla prima, meaning “all at once,” is a lively, direct painting method where wet paint is applied over wet layers without waiting for them to dry. It’s favored by plein air landscape and still life artists for its energetic, spontaneous quality—capturing the artist’s gestures and decisions in real time. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll start with guided color mixing exercises to get comfortable handling oils, brushes, and understanding basic color theory. Then, you'll apply your new skills to create a simple still life from observation, learning to work confidently with shape, value, and color in the alla prima style. Pictured: "Whidbey Path to the Beach," an oil painting by Anne Pfeiffer.