Realistic Painting in Oils
with Kristina Laurendi Havens

For intermediate to advanced students

Kristina Laurendi Havens joins the studio again this fall to lead an intimate, intermediate-to-advanced oil painting intensive focused on composition, color harmony, and painting language. Bringing an MFA from Texas Christian University, Kristina offers a technical approach that emphasizes the "color story" and the deliberate preparation of the painting surface. While many local sessions focus on foundational mechanics or broad explorations, Kristina’s class is designed for those ready to refine their personal painting language through frequent live demonstrations and high-level individualized instruction.

Fall I Class Schedule

Tuesdays, 10:30AM-1:30PM

September 29 - November 17, 2026

Ages 14 - Adult | minimum 6, maximum 10 students

Class Details

Students are expected to bring their own ideas, sketches, or photo references, and art materials to each weekly class meeting. It’s encouraged to work at an easel vertically or semi-vertically.

Periodically, Kristina demonstrates a technique or concept for the class to follow. She explains and demonstrates exercises enabling each student’s personal style to shine through. Topics vary based on class interests.

Topics covered through periodic class demonstrations and group exercises:
  • Oil painting techniques for portraits and figures
  • Surface preparation and priming
  • Color story and palette selection
  • Choosing the right reference material
  • Anatomy and proportion in figurative work
  • Light and shadow in oil painting
  • Layering and glazing techniques
  • Mixing and applying oil paints
  • Composition in portraiture
  • Developing personal style in oil painting

After each exercise, Kristina individually critiques students’ project progress, providing recommendations, encouraging comments, and answering questions. She sketches ideas for students struggling to visualize artwork solutions and demonstrates techniques on their work with permission.

Kristina’s classes are for intermediate to advanced students with some prior art instruction, emphasizing perceptive drawing skills for those seeking to build observational techniques in oil painting.

Kristina Havens demonstrates portrait painting

Art Materials & Palette Recommendations

Start with the materials you own based on Kristina’s recommendations. She’ll provide further instructions based on your project needs.

Oil Painting Supplies

  • Foundation pigment colors: (titanium white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, etc.)
  • Brushes (various sizes, synthetic or bristle)
  • Canvas or panels (primed for oil painting)
  • Mediums (linseed oil, turpentine or odorless mineral spirits)
  • Palette knives
  • Paper towels, rags for cleaning

Kristina will provide guidance on selecting and using these materials during the class.

Workshops

Portrait Painting from the Live Model

Saturday, October 10, 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. $70
Saturday, November 14, 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. $70

Minimum 6 students, maximum 12.

Kristina will lead the class step by step painting a portrait from the live model. Beginning with pose set-up and lighting, followed by successfully starting with a limited palette and a strong composition, and working towards a real likeness from the live model. A supply list will be provided upon registration. Model fee is included in class fee, please note: a tip is generally required if the model allows photo references.