About the Workshop

Members Tickets: $395 General Admission Tickets: $435

Most painters know what they're painting, but struggle with why it matters and how to make it connect. In this intensive 3-day oil painting workshop, working artist and instructor Steve Puttrich will teach you a practical framework that transforms good paintings into compelling ones. You'll master the 12 Powers of Contrast, the hidden architecture that guides the viewer's eye and creates focus in any composition. You'll learn to identify the emotional core of your subject and let that story drive every color, value, and brushstroke decision. And you'll discover how to paint with freshness and confidence, knowing when to commit, when to stop, and how to avoid the overworked look that kills so many otherwise strong pieces.

Through daily demos, hands-on painting time, and direct feedback, you'll leave with a clear system you can apply to every painting you make. Whether you're painting plein air or in the studio, this workshop will give you the tools to create work that doesn't just look good. It means something. Visits to current BRAHM exhibitions will complement the workshop themes and provide additional inspiration.

Workshop Schedule

Day 1: Design Gives Focus

Day 2: Story Gives Meaning

Day 3: Freshness Gives Life

A needed Materials List is below registration.

Materials List

Photo References: Bring 10-12 images that you’ve always wanted to paint. Or select images from my on-line and physical reference library. So whether you’re painting from a photo or ipad, you’ll have solid reference materials to paint from.

Oil Paints (Professional Grade) Gamblin or Rembrandt 

Bring your preferred brand, but aim for artist-quality paint. These are the instructor’s colors:

• Cadmium Yellow Light

• Transparent Orange

• Quinacridone Red

• Quinacridone Violet

• Ultramarine Blue

• Cobalt Blue

• Viridian

• Sap Green

• Transparent Yellow Earth

• Stil de Grain Yellow (Rembrandt brand)

• Transparent Red Earth

• Radiant Blue (Gamblin or equivalent)

• Titanium White

Mediums & Solvents

• Gamsol – Odorless Mineral Spirits (required for solvent)

• Walnut Oil Alkyd – as painting medium (or your preferred medium)

Brushes

• Assorted bristle and synthetic brushes (sizes 2–12, flats, filberts, and rounds)

• 1–2 large brushes for block-ins (size 1”- 2”)

• Palette knife (metal, medium or offset)

Supports

• 6–10 small panels (4x6", 6x8", 6x6” 8x10")

• 2–3 mid-size panels (9x12", 11x14", or similar)

• All panels should be pre-primed (oil-primed or gessoed)

Palette

• Gray disposable palette pad, glass palette, or wood palette

Other Supplies

• Portable Plein Air easel (or you can use the museum’s studio easels with advance notice)

• Palette scraper

• Viva paper towels or blue shop towels

• Trash bag

• Wet panel carrier

• Sketchbook or notebook for thumbnails and notes• Soft Pencils 3B-6B

• Optional: The Fairview Finder (Steve’s own tool for composition and value design)