OIL PAINTING
Instructor - Laurie Snow Hein
Artist Laurie Snow Hein is a rare Florida treasure. As a native Floridian she grew up on south Florida’s most beautiful beaches and it is those memories that still inspire her work today. She depicts our beaches not only as they are, but also as they existed in her idyllic childhood.
Recognized nationally for her coastal originals and prints, Snow-Hein has achieved something most artists only dream about, but never achieve. She has been able to raise her six children on the income doing what she loves . . . creating and successfully selling her paintings.
While most of us hated the isolation of the pandemic, Snow-Hein found inspiration and more time to paint, to paint much larger more detailed images of her favorite coastal views from Crystal River and Boynton Beach to the Florida Keys.
Laurie started teaching at age 21 and has been teaching at the Everglades Club in Palm Beach and Lost Tree Village in PBG for over 30 years.
ALLA PRIMA OIL PAINTING 2 DAY WORKSHOP
SUPPLY LIST
This two-day oil painting workshop is designed to help students gain confidence painting alla prima (wet-into-wet) using strong value structure, simplified shapes, and expressive brushwork.
Day One: Coastal Wave
On the first day, students will complete a small oil painting in one sitting, focusing on capturing light and movement in a coastal wave. Through demonstration and guided practice, students will learn how to simplify a reference into 3–5 values, block in large shapes, and build color using a limited palette. Emphasis is placed on painting decisively, maintaining fresh brushstrokes, and avoiding overworking detail. By the end of the session, students will have a finished seascape study and a repeatable process they can apply to future paintings.
Day Two: Bring Your Choice
The second day invites students to bring their own subject matter and apply the same principles learned on Day One. Whether starting a second painting or continuing an existing piece, students will focus on value studies, strong composition, and confident color application. This day is more individualized, allowing for questions, problem-solving, and deeper exploration of subjects students are already interested in painting.
What You’ll Learn
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Simplifying compositions into big shapes instead of details
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Creating strong value structures using 3–5 values
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Mixing clean, harmonious color with a limited palette
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Painting an alla prima oil study from start to finish
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Understanding light direction, edges, and expressive brushwork
Skill Level Adjustments
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Beginner: 9x12 format, pre-toned surfaces, limited values, longer demos
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Intermediate: 12x16 format, transparency in the wave face, stronger edge control
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Advanced: Larger formats (12x16 or 16x20), abstraction, design emphasis, optional palette knife use
This fast-paced, encouraging workshop is ideal for beginners looking to build a solid foundation and for more experienced painters wanting to loosen up and strengthen their value and design skills.