Instructor: Angus Wilson
Media: Acrylic & Oil paint
Dates: September 4–6, 2026 (F-Su)
Tuition: $595
Class Limit: 15
Class Location: Santa Cruz Art League Class Room
Materials List <— download
Join Angus Wilson, in a small-group setting, where you will learn his simple rules/colorful paintings technique!
This workshop will focus on simple rules and techniques to create more expressive, colorful painting. Within the workshop, Angus will primarily guide students through his own distinctive approach to painting. Angus will focus on techniques for breaking free from conventional styles and old habits. Encouraging simple and easy methods to create stunning artwork, opening the students up to more creative confident work. During the workshop, Angus will teach many aspects of painting, with a particular focus on color, simplifying composition, and the power of dynamic ‘underpainting’.
The workshop will be held on ‘still life’ painting, but ideas and methods learned in the class can apply to all painted subjects.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:
Students will work from photographs of still life arrangements provided, or (if approved) their own subjects. During the workshop, painting exercises will be used as a method for teaching ideas and principles. These will include an approach for – ‘designing & re-imagining color choices’, and ‘creating energetic simplified brushwork’
The workshop will focus primarily on Acrylic, but oil painting is also welcome. If the student wishes to work in another medium, please arrange directly beforehand.
- Color planning within a painting (using the power of underpainting and complementary colors) Many ‘traditional’ workshops and teaching gets bogged down in the complexities of color and paint, this isn’t strictly necessary for painting great paintings, find out why.
- Freeing up color – methods for adapting the colors in a subject to create a stronger painting.
- Getting to know paint – Acrylic, and oil. Ways to approach each medium.
- Optionally to interested students, Angus will have a break out lesson and demo teaching how he uses a computer, (or tablet), to plan a painting and make color choices.
- ‘Tricks’ and Training
- Methods for finding a style that works for you
- Tricks to knowing a subject before you start painting
- Which do you do, ‘plan’ or ‘wing it’?… and why you should try the other one
MEET ANGUS WILSON
Angus Wilson was born and raised in Scotland and has lived in numerous cities throughout Britain. He has worked as a professional artist his entire career, however his work has been varied and few would say his path to a fine art career was by a traditional route. Originally attending Art College in the disciplines of photography, film, and animation, Angus then pursued a career in television and video, as well as the computer entertainment market. Angus worked as a director, producer, editor, and animator, winning international awards for his animation and entertainment products.
Throughout this period of his life, traditional painting functioned as a sideline. However, in 2004, with growing popularity in his work, Angus made the decision to pursue his fine art career full time. In lighter moments he jokes that his skills have regressed, from cutting edge multi-million-dollar CG animation projects to “merely” pushing paint around a canvas!
However, there’s nothing “mere” about the artist’s work. It is reminiscent of many post-impressionists, such as Matisse and Cezanne, yet there’s a contemporary underpinning that gives his work a powerful kick of originality justifying his ever-growing success and loyal following. In 2007 Angus relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, he works mainly in oil and acrylic. He has and continues to be involved in numerous shows, displaying work internationally. His work is collected and held by museums, corporations and collectors worldwide. His work is collected and held by museums, corporations and collectors worldwide. In 2023, the De Young Museum in San Francisco chose one of his paintings for a group exhibit on SF Bay Artists.
