2023 In-Person Schedule

SUMMER: July 7 - August 31, 2023

Tap register/pay for a series of 6 classes in the calendar table below.

MON TUE
(6:45pm Ongoing Class)
WED THU
(Invitation-Only Mentored Class)
FRI
(9:30am Ongoing Class)
SAT SUN
(Noon Ongoing Class)

Trial Classes Available to New Students:
JUN 1
Pay $12.50 per attendance
JUN 2
Pay $28 per attendance
JUN 4
Pay $28 per attendance
JUN 6
Pay $28 per attendance
JUN 8
Pay $12.50 per attendance
BREAK - NO CLASSES
Start of Summer Season Classes:
JUL 7
Pay $168 for Summer Season
JUL 9
Pay $168 for Summer Season
JUL 11
Pay $168 for Summer Season
JUL 13 JUL 14 JUL 16
JUL 18 JUL 20 JUL 21 JUL 23
JUL 25 JUL 27 JUL 28 JUL 30
AUG 1 AUG 3 AUG 4 AUG 6
AUG 8 AUG 10 AUG 11 AUG 13
AUG 15 AUG 17 AUG 18 AUG 20
AUG 22 AUG 24 AUG 25 AUG 27
AUG 29 AUG 31

 

Ages 13 - Adult | up to 10 students

Free E-mail Consultation

Shane wants to cater his instruction to you. To get the most out of his class from the start, he invites you to E-mail two or three images of your artwork (even doodles) and discuss your goals and what artwork inspires you. He'll reply with some recommendations on your first project and list the best materials to bring to your first class.

Check the calendar (button above) to see when classes are scheduled. One-day workshops outside will also be periodically scheduled, and those who sign-up on Shane's E-mail list will be notified when workshops are scheduled.

About Shane's Art Classes

Classes are ongoing and attended weekly at Shane's classroom studio. Shane works individually with every student one-by-one on their personal unique projects. Prospective students who are not of a beginning level are expected to bring their own ideas, sketches or photo references, and art materials to each class.

Periodically, 30-40 minutes into the first hour, he demonstrates a technique or concept for the class to watch or follow as a group exercise. Shane will explain and demonstrate exercises and techniques enabling each student's personal style to come through their work.

After the exercise, Shane walks from one student to another individually critiquing each student's progress on his or her project. Each person receives instruction in the form of recommendations, encouraging comments, and answers to questions. Sometimes Shane will quickly sketch ideas for students who have trouble visualizing ways to solve artwork problems. If permission is granted by the student, Shane will also demonstrate techniques on the students' work.

Every season Shane invites all levels of students to attend his ongoing classes. Prospective students who consider themselves "beginners" are asked to attend one free introductory session at the beginning of the season.

Group Exercises

Concepts covered periodically through group exercises in Shane's Ongoing Classes:

  • Linear perspective
  • Values of light and dark on forms
  • Color wheel and color mixing
  • Color schemes - charting a small color study
  • Drawing features of the human head
  • Drawing features of the human body
  • Composing from more than one reference

Shane points instructs an oil painting art student
Shane prepared my son for more challenging things in high school. I believe that young people who are serious about developing their artistic talents would benefit from receiving instruction from Shane.
Shane is one of the most knowledgeable fine art teachers I have ever known! His ability to share his knowledge in a formative way helped me to hone in on each aspect of a specific skill allowing me to complete one segment of learning at a time. Whether it be drawing or painting, he allowed plenty of time to exercise my newly found artistic expression thus allowing the freedom be able to take the knowledge home and practice.

Recommended Art Materials
for Shane's Ongoing Classes

Art Class calendar flyer
Calendar and supply list applicable to most of Shane's students.

If you're not new to taking art classes, please start the first day with the materials you already own. Shane will give further instructions based on what you need for your own projects. Most of Shane's students either draw or paint with materials on this general list of supplies. For a brief overview, tap to reveal more information below:

What to choose—acrylics or oils?

Attracted to details? Prefer to paint small? Shane recommends oils. Oils are easier to use for detail because of their slower drying time, and when using in small amounts, they are easier to control. Acrylics tend to become too viscous when working on subtle details. PROS: tubes of paint last a long time, they're easy to blend, and they work great for both small and large paintings. CONS: can be frustrating to try without instruction, more expensive materials needed, mineral spirits can cause some users allergic reactions.

Get bored with painting slowly? Not sure what you like? You'll probably feel a more immediate acquaintance with acrylics than with oils. Because of drying time constraints, students who use acrylics tend to use the paint more liberally and abundantly—a good thing. PROS: fast-drying, ideal for working large, clean-up with water and soap only. CONS: the pigment dries noticably darker, and smooth blending is difficult.

Shane encourages his students to paint standing-up because it helps to keep from getting too close to the canvas (and from getting to bogged-down on insignificant details.) Easels are provided in class for up to 12 students. The following materials are up to you to bring to class:

  • Oil and Acrylic Colors (or their color equivalents) listed below are necessary for limited-palette paintings in most lighting situations. They represent a warm and cool version of the primary colors plus some secondary colors and useful neutrals. Other colors can be bought in miniature tubes or later as needed...(Download a PDF showing Shane's Limited Color Palette Layout and some helpful hints about color)
    • Titanium White (large tube)
    • Cadmium Yellow Light (warm)
    • Cadmium Red Light (warm)
    • Permanent Alizarin Crimson (cool and beautifully transparent!)
    • Ultramarine Blue (cool)
    • Cerulean Blue (warm)
    • Viridian Green (cool)
    • Sap Green (warm)
    • Optional toning earth colors: (Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Burn Umber and Ivory Black)
  • Palette and More
    • OILS: (Listed in order of preference)
      • A 11-3/4 X 15-3/4 inch sheet of glass purchased at a home improvement/hardware store fits well within a "Mastersons" plastic palette holder (protects the wet paint during transport). The edges of the glass should be taped and backed with heavy-duty masking tape to the edges of an equally-sized gray or neutral-colored mat board. The tints and shades of colors are usually easier to see on when not on white or black. The mat board also strengthens the glass to prevent breakage.
      • Wooden palettes also work well because they tend to be lighter, but you'll want to use the prefinished ones, otherwise, the wood will absorb the oil from your paint.
      • Coated disposable paper palette (available at art supply stores with or without a thumb hole)
    • ACRYLICS : A flat plastic, wood, or coated paper palette with a 12" X 16" area works fine.
  • Solvent, container for solvent, and rags (rather than paper towels)
    • OILS: Zero-odor Mineral Spirits (Gamsol has no odor at all) and large pickle jar large enough to fit a Silicoil wire in it
    • ACRYLICS: water and a quart-sized plastic container
  • Painting Medium
    • OILS: a mixture of stand linseed oil, varnish, and turpentine (for use with oils only)
    • ACRYLICS: a fine-misting spray bottle and acrylic gel medium
  • Painting Tools
    • Diamond-head Palette Knife (pick sizes for scraping the palette of paint daubs and painting large and small areas)
    • Brushes (Shane prefers long-bristled filberts and flats for oils and acrylics.) A selection of 4-5 Sizes should range from about 3/32 inch to about 1 inch (or more if you work large) If you work with thick paint application, you'll probably want stiffer bristles (which tend to be less expensive.) If you work in smaller details, you'll definitely want to spend a little more money on good softer animal-hair brushes.
    • A #0 round pointed round brush works well for finer details
  • Painting Ground (stretched canvas sizes 16" X 12" and larger for both oils and acrylics)

Although most students in Shane's classes paint, he believes that painting is an extension of drawing—only in color. Students who struggle with capturing the accurate representation of objects are encouraged to use traditional drawing media as much as possible.

  • Ebony or 6B Graphite Pencil
  • Kneadable Eraser Medium Size (not pink or gum eraser)
  • 11 x 14 inches or larger sketch pad
  • General’s (or other brand) range of different weights charcoal pencils (hard, medium, soft, extra soft)
  • Kneaded eraser
  • Pack of different sized paper stumps (tortillons)
  • Vine charcoal sticks
  • 18 inch straight edge/ruler
  • Drawing/Painting Ground (ready-to-use heavy-weight paper, stretched
    canvas, primed board, etc.)

Want to learn about mixing colors? Pastels are a great way to learn about color mixing for those transitioning from monochromatic drawing media to color media—including paint! Pastellists should bring a complete set of at least 48 colors in medium-to-soft (non-oil-based) pastels. Some pastel pencils are also recommended. Contact Shane (E-mail) for more information on using pastels.

The easiest and best way Shane can help you achieve your desired effect in painting is through the use of references.

  • Painting ideas on paper: photos that you take yourself, your own sketches, magazine pictures, or reproductions of masterful paintings
  • Still-life objects: If space permits, you may bring your own simple objects to paint in a quick still-life setup (which must be taken down at the end of class) or you may use my collection of still-life objects. Please be prepared to light your setup on your own. You may take digital reference images of the still-life at the end of class.

Make it easy on yourself by keeping your supplies together. The use of inexpensive rolling travel bags work well for the transport of supplies.

  • Non-painters: any container for storage of pencils, erasers, brushes, straight-edge, sharpener, etc.
  • Painters: a tackle box or a small rolling suitcase that holds drawing materials, paints, gesso, brushes, painting medium, brush cleaner, and other small tools is ideal.

Book a personal art lesson or video-conference consultation with Shane

Book an appointment with Shane McDonald using Setmore

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