Instructor: Susan Gray Bé

Aesthetic expression emerges as compositions in Oil or Acrylic evolve, and no matter how realistic, a painting needs to work at an abstract level. In this class you’ll be encouraged to balance your painting compositions in terms of abstract art elements on each layer of the painting - especially at the beginning and end of the process. Your compositions will evolve and be refined with contrasting color, tone, and line.  Beginning and more Advanced painters are welcome: Beginners will be given extra attention on the first day and beyond; Advanced artists will be encouraged to develop their visual ideas, improve technique, and to experiment with paint application. Students may choose to use either Oil or Acrylic paint. This class meets in-person at AVA. Click here for a materials list.

Susan Gray Bé holds an MA in Oil Painting from the State University of New York at Albany and a BA in Art from Hamilton College. She has taught at BAYarts, the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Cleveland Museum of Art and Artistree Community Arts Center in Vermont. Creating charcoal and oil portraits are among her favorite things. She loves teaching students to express patterns of light and dark in their painting and drawings.