Painting: Brushes & Knives using Thick Acrylics
10 Week Class ONLINE | Registration opens 2026-02-10 12:00 PM
Expressive, gestural paint-handling is one of the most important qualities of a strong work of art. Neglecting the development of brush and palette knife skills can limit your progress as a painter. The terms “expressive” or “gestural” are used to describe a method of fine art painting characterized by energetic brushstrokes that emphasize the sweep of the painter’s arm and the movement of the hand. In other words, the mark making expresses the artist’s emotions, personality and confidence.
This intermediate level course will focus on developing brush and palette knife-handling skills through demonstrations. We will review application and medium techniques to build student’s vocabulary using thick acrylics and mediums. Images and non-objective based images will be reviewed. All demos will be done using acrylic paint.
Base Tuition: $465
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- What You Will Learn:
- Correct use of acrylics from the foundation to the completion of a painting
- Creating textured foundation layers using molding paste
- Developing brush and knife painting mark-making skills
- The advantages of Imprimatura (foundation colour) applications
- Using heavy gel to expand paint and create expressive mark making
Brian Burnett
Brian has been an art instructor at the Toronto School of Art since 1991 (amongst other important roles at the school). Visceral, textured layers of paint coupled with pattern and movement have been constants in Burnett's painting. In recent work, he has brought together his passion for painting and digital technology, creating digital paintings. He has exhibited regularly since 1979 (CDA, US, UK), his work has been collected by the City of Toronto, General Electric, Government of Ontario, Art Gallery of Ontario, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Art Gallery of Windsor, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Glenbow Museum, Agnes Etherington Art Gallery and McLaren Art, as well as many Corporate and private collections.