LEARN TO PAINT!

I teach beginning and advanced students

Learn traditional oil painting techniques made faster and easier with updated materials. I teach two primary techniques of traditional western oil painting: underpainting/glazing and alla prima, or “wet into wet”. Many are intimidated by oil painting but, in fact, it has qualities that make it much easier to handle than water base paints. The quality in oil that causes it to dry slowly make the blends necessary when rendering 3-dimensional form much easier to achieve. New and updated materials allow oil painting without the associated odors and make it an acceptable activity in a home setting. Learn the basics of the medium and its safe usage. Make blends with oil paint and learn how these blends can be used to represent 3-dimensional forms as they are affected by light and shadow. See how the color of an object is influenced by light and shadow. Materials list provided upon registration.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

"To teach art is to be moved and enriched by the aspirations and inspirations of each student; I have seen miracles." -Cynda Valle

“Your life right now is as real as it will ever be. It won't be more real in the future, when you get into or out of college or into or out of a relationship or a job or a financial quagmire or a health problem. In fact, the things keeping you back—these embarrassing, boring, stupid obstacles—are the heart of what it is to be human. They're the whole reason for making and needing art." -Miranda July 

"The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. To him... a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death. Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create--- so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, his very breath is cut off from him. He must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency he is not really alive unless he is creating." -Pearl S. Buck

"I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me, too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you." -Frida Kahlo

PAINTING LUMINOSITY IN OIL

Throughout the western history of oil painting one of the goals has always been luminosity; that is the sense that light is emanating from the painting itself... from the renaissance comes the idea that to achieve luminosity the painted light should be surrounded by shadow. This is an expression of the paradox that states that something is best defined by the inclusion of its opposite (ie. light/shadow). This paradox, as it was applied to painting was called chiaroscuro. With the Impressionists came a new way of expressing luminosity. They found that by using the concept of complimentary color contrast (Broken Color) they could produce canvases that appeared to shimmer and glow with light. My teaching will explore both the notion of chiaroscuro as practiced by the classical painters and the "broken color" of the impressionists. Students will produce painted exercises using the methods and materials discussed.

PAINTING FROM THE HEART - SATURDAY WORKSHOP

For those who've always wanted to paint, but never thought they could. For artists of all media and expertise who seek a stronger connection with their artistic soul. For artists with a creative block: Putting paint filled brush to paper can be a powerful transformational experience. In this workshop you will "turn off" your conscious mind and everything you've learned about art making; giving yourself over to an intuitive, unselfconscious kind of painting that will ultimately allow you to communicate with yourself in the language of image and symbol. This way can be a means to process and resolve significant physical, emotional and psychological issues within a safe and non-threatening context. You may well learn things about yourself of which you were not previously aware and in each will be reawakened a child's joy in play with color, form and self expression. Following this process with others creates a meaningful bond and an inspirational group dynamic that strengthens and encourages each participant.

CLASS INFORMATION

Classes/workshops take place in my studio at The Los Angeles Brewery 

Beginning & advanced students Saturday workshop: (dates TBD)

Experienced painters atelier-style paint with me: (email to set up times and dates)

STUDENT WORKS & ACCOLADES

"Take a painting class with Cynda! Besides being an extraordinary artist herself, she has a way of coaxing and coaching the very best out of her students... she can address every technique from alla prima to carefully layered glazes and 'old master' painting techniques. I had her as a teacher and she was on my master's degree committee a long time ago, but I have not forgotten her advice. She knows her stuff!" -Dovey Dee

"If ya'll have the opportunity to take a class DO IT! It's a huge value for the $ to learn life long painting skills while having a blast, creating beauty and making awesome friends! Cynda is such an amazing teacher and friend! I learned soooo much from the time I spent with her and I'm still learning from seeing the work she continues to do!" -Sheri Howe

STUDENT WORK