Tanya Hough
Hough studied at Ringling School of Art. After retiring from teaching, she began painting full-time, largely to help navigate the anxiety and grief surrounding the decline of her aging parents. From there, painting morphed into a way of life.
“Color has always attracted my imagination and exploring it in paintings makes me happy. I paint primarily with acrylics, though I immerse myself in other media such as colored pencil, watercolor and occasional multimedia and collage. I love the challenges of new subjects and varied approaches, and I adore using the palette knife and varying brushwork and surfaces.”
One of her paintings “That Banyan Tree” is the cover art for “Banyan Moon,” a novel by Thao Thai, released June 2023.
Painting with pen, brush, water, and watercolor pencil.
We will be drawing and painting with pen, brush, and water. This class is a little like watercolor, but easier. The special pen we will be using “bleeds” a turquoise and pink color when water meets the ink so there will be lots of relaxed experimentation. All materials will be provided as well as techniques that assist and allow participants to experiment and build painting skills.
First we will play with and practice several approaches to making the most of the color “bleeds”. It takes some practice to figure out how to make the ink flow the way we want it to and create the desired effects. Once we have mastered the basics, we will apply the technique to hand drawn flowers, and finally receive special paper to make a finished piece. A picture will be provided to those who don’t feel confident enough to draw their own. Lastly we have the option to use watercolor pencils to color the flower centers and leaves.
This is very individualized and quite relaxing. You will leave with several practice pieces and one potentially finished flower.
Class dates: June 17, 24, July 1, 8,15, 22
This class is designed to allow students to explore works of famous artists and some painting techniques that relate to them. Each week we will peruse and discuss the work of one famous artist and explore their art and approach to painting (30 minutes on the large screen). Next we will play with this approach by planning and painting our own pieces using prompts, examples, or items supplied for still lifes.
This class is fun, educational, and hands-on and is designed to build community while simultaneously developing and improving painting skills. This class can be as simple or involved as the student desires. The focus is on experimentation and learning using acrylic paints.
Students will be able to take their pieces home to work on them if they choose. All materials will be provided as well as a schedule of artists we will learn about. The artists in this series include Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, Georgia O’Keefe, Picasso, (and probably Matisse and Seurat).
Wear something that looks good with paint on it.
Class dates: November 4th, 11th 18th 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Students will explore ways to approach painting a bird of their choice (either serious or whimsical). Having three consecutive classes helps to allow plenty of time to practice, plan, and paint a finished piece.
In the first class we will discuss color basics, contrast, style, and basic painting strokes. We will practice and plan before we draw or transfer our bird onto the 11x14 canvas and paint the background. Many examples will be available to model from and a few to transfer if desired.
The second class will be largely the painting of the bird, capturing the expression, and layering or blending the colors. We will be painting an 11x14 canvas and learning techniques that assist and allow participants to improve their skills. You may draw your own or learn how to transfer a premade image (supplied).
Group is limited to 6 students. BYOB and/or snacks if desired.
Make sure to wear something that looks good with paint on it.
Basic painting supplies will be included (brushes and basic paint colors and an 11x14 canvas).
All of my classes are personalized so a student may repeat a class and get new instruction.
Painting on Black Canvas (Negative Space)
With a black canvas, instead of painting in the darks, we will let the dark canvas create the background and dark parts of the painting while painting in the colors. This requires us to shift our perspective. We will need a basic sketch ready before painting. For those with minimal drawing skills, there will be at least 4 images which can be transferred (mostly birds). Those with drawing skills are encouraged to complete a sketch on paper to transfer to the canvas.
Once we have our image, we will begin adding color.
Animal Patterns
Let’s play with color and pattern!! Tortoises and turtles have repeating patterns that make painting them fun and relaxing. Two templates will be provided to transfer the image onto your canvas (or you can draw your own).
The first class will involve the transfer of the image, selecting your color palette, and the simplest part of painting. This means painting the tortoise/turtle background and beginning the shell design. The second class will be the painting of the pattern where we add a variety of color. Each student can choose to use the examples as a guide or use their own imaginations.
All classes
At least four examples will be provided as well as techniques that assist and allow participants to improve their skills.
Group is limited to 6 students ages 14 and up.
Basic painting supplies will be included (palette knives, brushes and basic paint colors, and an 11x14 canvas).
Wear something that looks good with paint on it.
All of my classes are personalized so a student may repeat a class and get new instruction each time.
Tendrils & Tentacles
Acrylic painting class with Tanya Hough
Beginning with simple shapes we will be painting an octopus on an 11x14 canvas. Students can reference one of my photos or start from scratch and draw their own. We will learn basic techniques that assist and allow participants to improve their skills. This is for all skill levels and can be as simple or complex as desired.
NOTES
Group is limited to 8 students ages 14 and up.
Basic painting supplies will be included (palette knives, brushes and basic paint colors, and an 11x14 canvas).
Wear something that looks good with paint on it.
All classes are personalized so a student may repeat a class and get new, personalized instruction and use different examples each time.
Class Dates: October 21, 28, November 4, 11.
No matter what your level, this series will be tailored to your specific skills and needs. We will address the basics, as well as different approaches which will build skills and confidence in your acrylic painting.
We will investigate how to plan a painting, what to add and what to leave out.
We will learn color basics and mixing, and how to use different brushes and a palette knife.
We will practice painting shapes, shadowing, creating contrast, skills that will help us paint landscapes, florals, and buildings (depending on which subjects students prefer).
We will use canvas boards and paper to practice each skill and improve technique before we get to our masterpieces on a 12x16 canvas.
Students can bring their own photos of landscapes, florals, or architecture for their pieces or choose from several examples.
All materials will be provided. Wear something that looks good with paint on it.
All of my classes are personalized so a student may repeat a class and get new instruction each time.
3 Classes, 3 paintings, lots of fun!
The first class will be spent setting the stage for our flowers and experimenting with ways to create abstract backgrounds using palette knives, brushes, and various common items. We will learn about complementary colors and why they work so well against each other, then we will play. We will be working on three separate pieces which will allow us to experiment and move between each piece while another is drying. At the end of class we have our abstract backgrounds and discuss placement and types of flowers that might work with our backgrounds before we head home. Class 2 will allow us time to decide on our flowers, and their placement before we block them in. We will learn some brush techniques that best suit our choices, and progress on our pieces. Our third lesson will allow us time to address challenges and add details to finish our pieces.
This can be as simple or complex as the painter desires.
Ages: 16 and up.
Basic painting supplies will be included (palette knives, brushes and basic paint colors, and an 11x14 canvas).
Wear something that looks good with paint on it.
All of my classes are personalized so a student may repeat a class and get new instruction each time.