The subject will be a still life of a pitcher and piece of fruit painted from actual objects. Students will learn perspective as well as blending paint colors and learning brush strokes and layering paint. The class will also highlight the history of still life painting from Dutch Masters through Impressionist painters.

All materials needed will be provided. Each student will receive his/her own canvas and brushes to keep.

Class Dates: April 25th, May 2nd, May 9th

Class size limit: 8

Cost: $225 

Instructor: Dorothea Berkhout

With my Dutch heritage, my admiration for the Dutch master painters, and my interest in contrasts between shadow and light and highlighting objects to reflect the angle of light, my paintings exhibit a realistic approach and perspective.  I prefer to paint with oils, as they provide me the ability to intensify my paintings and my subjects by layering the paint and increasing the perception of depth.  I have a passion for nature, and I love to paint still life, scenery, and figures, enhancing natural and everyday objects.  Having traveled nationally and internationally, my paintings render the beauty, balance, and order that I have seen and attempt to express from a variety of settings.   

Although I began painting at a young age, I turned my attention to music for many years, then academic pursuits, and I have now returned to painting again over the past few years.  After spending most of my life in New Jersey, I have recently relocated to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, where I hope to be able to portray the local beauty with its vibrant light and colors in my future paintings and I now have the time to devote to further developing my technique.  I appreciate the many opportunities in the Santa Rosa Beach area to interact with other artists and see their work, and I look forward to getting further engaged in the arts community here.