Details for "Not Everything Needs to Be Painted: Attention Over Accuracyw/Michael King (Nov. 2026)"
Not Everything Needs to be Painted: Attention Over Accuracy
with
Michael King
When: Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. + Sunday, November 15, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
.Where: Music Box, Harmony Room (main floor) 1564 Argyle Avenue, West Vancouver, BC V7V 1A1
Fee: $180 (NSAG members); $225 (non-members)
Scroll to the very bottom for the sign up button; please read the refund policy near the bottom of the page prior to registering.
Course Description
This workshop will emphasize painting your vision rather than strictly following a photo. We’ll explore what is essential to a painting and how utilizing a focal area simplifies how you approach and design any painting.We'll concentrate on what matters instead of what's provided in your reference.
Supply List
Please bring your standard painting supplies for your acrylic, oil, pastel, or gouache setup, along with the suggestions below.
Important — Oil Painters: If painting in oil, use ODOURLESS Mineral Spirits ONLY. No exceptions. Anyone using anything other than odourless mineral spirits will be required to leave.
- Sketchbook: A blank-page book for:
- Writing note
- Compositional sketching
- Don’t forget a pen or pencil.
- Reference Photos: Have a selection of reference photos, preferably your own, that you would like to explore.
- At least two copies of each, printed in colour or have them available on a tablet
- If you lack reference photos, please take a look at royalty-free image sites such as Unsplash.com; Pixabay.com; Pexels.com)
- Easel (any of the following: Tabletop easel; French easel; Plein air pochade setup
- Cover to protect table
- Surfaces: For studies we will be painting various studies to start with.
- Working on loose, primed canvas is best (you can usually buy primed canvas by the foot at most art stores).
- Alternatively, you could use: A pad of canvas paper; OR a large sheet of watercolour paper, cut as needed. Flat surfaces are great for studies because they are easy to store or throw away, allow for any size or proportion, and are much more convenient than stretched canvas.
Day Two — Final Painting
- Bring a few canvases or canvas boards in various proportions and sizes you’re comfortable working on. Suggested sizes:
- 9 × 12"
- 12 × 12"
- 11 × 14"
- 12 × 16"
- Try not to go too large so you can spend more time refining and finishing rather than trying to fill the canvas with paint.
- Brushes & Knives: A selection of brushes from 1½" to ¼" is preferred:
- Flats
- Filberts
- Rounds
- Also bring (not mandatory): Palette knife; Rigger brush
- Paints: Please bring the colours you usually use.If you are looking for suggestions, Michael recommends:
- Hansa Yellow Medium (PY74)
- Perylene Red (PR149) OR Cadmium Red Light (PR108)
- Permanent Alizarin Crimson (PR177)
- Cobalt Blue (PB28)
- Ultramarine Blue (PB29)
- Burnt Sienna (PBr7) OR Transparent Oxide (PR101)
- Titanium White (PW6)
These specific colours are not required.
- View Finder: You can buy a Viewcatcher from Opus or Amazon. It is an essential piece of equipment for plein air and is also very useful in the studio for your much-needed thumbnail sketches. It’s worth the purchase! (Note from the NSAG: Please consider supporting Opus.)
Additional Supplies
If you bring printed photos, it is beneficial to have:
-
Two L-shaped cards, no more than 12" in length, for visual cropping. You can cut these from matte board or corrugated cardboard.
-
Sharpie or other thick black marker
-
Tracing paper or sheets of clear acetate
-
Painter’s masking tape
Food
Something to drink and something for lunch
If you have any questions, please email me at mrking@michaelking.ca.
Artist Biography
Michael King, a Canadian painter, is passionate about plein air (outdoor) painting, concentrating on capturing the essence of the landscape. His direct experiences in the outdoors serve as a driving force behind the creation of his more extensive studio works.
Always looking for the nuance of light, shape and colour, he combines representational elements with an Impressionistic style. His paintings balance realistic observation with abstract interpretation, resulting in a unique and captivating aesthetic.
With a formal education in Industrial Design from Carleton University in Ottawa, King’s product design career shaped his approach to observation & painting. King places a strong emphasis on mastery of the technical aspects of painting, design and his need for simplicity.
As an enthusiastic instructor, his workshops teach painting and design in a straightforward, accessible manner with a philosophy grounded in scientific fundamentals of perception and observation, along with time-proven principles of art.
King is the founder of PleinAirBC.com and the artful:minds podcast series on YouTube. He is the past president and past vice president of the Fraser Valley Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA). He is also a past board member of The Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) and the Friends of Leigh Square in Port Coquitlam.
King’s work appears in private collections throughout Canada, the United States and the UK while winning a few awards in a variety of exhibitions and competitions.
To Register
If you are a NSAG member please login prior to registering for this workshop to pay the member rate Non-members select the non-member rate.
Note for non-members: If you live between Deep Cove and Bowen Island, consider becoming a member for discounted rates on our workshops, monthly free demonstrations, and the opportunity to sell your work at our shows. Check us out further at https://nsartists.ca/aboutjoin
Registration Confirmation
Payment confirms your registration and participation in the workshop. If you do not receive an email confirmation within an hour of paying please check your junk mail/spam folder, and if you do not see a confirmation email contact the guild immediately at contact@nsartists.ca.
Cancellation Policy
If you are unable to attend a workshop, refunds are not issued, but you may find another person to take your place.
If the workshop is full and there is a willing replacement on the waitlist, you can cancel through Kolina Logan (kolinalogan@shaw.ca) in which case a refund will be issued.
No refunds will be issued within 24 hours of the workshop start time. NSAG reserves the right to cancel the course.
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We gratefully acknowledge the support of the District of West Vancouver through the Community Grants Program. |
Cost & Status
- NSAG Member Cost: CAN$180.00
- NSAG non-member.: CAN$225.00