Loose Realism: Painting the Still Life in Oils with Sarah Sedwick

2026 October 9-11 9:30-4:30 pm EST Instructor:  Sarah Sedwick All levels are welcome! Oil or acrylics Paint looser and more confidently during this three-day workshop with Oregon artist Sarah Sedwick! Take a step-by-step approach to alla prima oil painting, from black-and-white studies to brilliant color. Build a beautiful composition with life and movement, and get a new perspective on the still life. Instead of struggling with overworking your paintings, practice STOPPING SOONER to keep the freshness you crave in your work. Working with a split-primary palette of six colors and white, explore how creating quick studies and using bigger brushes can loosen up your paintings. Learn the fundamentals of composition design, and walk step-by-step through Sarah’s alla prima process, creating a dynamic still life from start to finish! Sarah will demonstrate and work with each student individually. Instruction is in oils, and acrylics are welcome – particularly Open acrylics, which stay wet longer. Class size limited to 15 students. All levels welcome, age 15 and above. There will be a lunch break each day. Lunch is on your own. For those traveling to Chattanooga, please contact us if you need accommodation recommendations and we will be happy to help! CLICK HERE for materials list. About the Instructor: Sarah Sedwick is a prolific painter of still lifes in a style she calls “Loose Realism.” Expressive brushwork, brilliant color, and dynamic compositions are her goals in both painting and teaching. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Sarah earned a BFA in Illustration from The Maryland Institute, College of Art in 2001. Based in Oregon, she has been teaching workshops on alla prima still life and portrait around the country since 2013. She is the author of the book Dynamic Still Life for Artists, published in 2022. Sarah’s teaching philosophy is simple: the more you paint, the more you improve – so removing the blocks that keep us from the canvas is key. Loosen up, let go of perfectionism, and watch the results unfold! We are unable to issue refunds or exchanges for this visiting artist workshop unless the workshop is cancelled by Townsend Atelier.  However, in the event we can fill a cancelled spot with someone on our waiting list, we can issue a refund less the cancellation fee.