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Figurative

Alla Prima Portrait and Figure Painting

Taught by David Shevlino

  • Dates Sep 10, 2026 – Sep 13, 2026
  • Tuition $695.00 Register Now
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About this class

Overview

Alla Prima Portrait and Figure Painting
with David Shevlino
September 10-13, 2026 | Thursday- Sunday | 9:30 am-4:30 pm
  • Experience: All Levels of experience are welcome in this workshop.
  • Registration: Each student must enroll individually. Click the Cancellation Policy tab above for more info.
  • Medium: Oil
  • Materials List: See the Materials Tab below.
  • Location: Sedona Arts Center, Theatre Studio

In this four-day workshop, we’ll alternate between painting the portrait and the nude figure alla prima (wet into wet) and learn the techniques used to create a fresh, direct response to our subjects. There will be a painting demonstration and lots of class time for students to work from live models with a different pose each day. The focus will be on economy of brush strokes, simplifying the head and seeing it in terms of basic shapes and planes described by light and shadow. We’ll also talk about basic concepts like proportions, value, color mixing and paint application. This approach helps us to paint our subjects with greater understanding, expression and directness.

The class will be particularly helpful for those who want to move from a tight painting style to a looser, economical paint application, and we will talk about basic concepts like proportions, value, color mixing and paint application. This approach helps us to paint our subjects with greater understanding, expression and directness.

The class will be particularly helpful for those who want to move from a tight painting style to a looser, economical paint application.

26 0910w DS

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$695.00

Available

David Shevlino

David Shevlino

David Shevlino was born in Jersey City, NJ in 1962. A graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania, he also studied at the Art Students’ League in New York. Growing up near NYC, Shevlino was exposed to art as a teenager. He began making trips to art museums at age 15 and developed a love of traditional figurative painting.  His early work was very traditional and classically inspired.  However, after many years of experimenting, Shevlino began exploring a looser paint application which stradles the line between representational painting and abstraction.   This “in between” area is where the painter feels most comfortable and best able to express his artistic voice.  His paintings are characterized by broad brushstrokes, a sensuous application of paint and an obvious feel for tonal harmonies. At the same time, the artist demonstrates a firm sense of control, tightening up the composition through his deft modeling of the human form.

Shevlino has exhibited work nationally in both solo and group exhibits over the past two decades and currently lives in NC.

Painting Materials:

-Brushes:  filberts, flats of varying sizes. Avoid soft synthetic brushes and brights. For stiff synthetics I recommend Rosemary Ivory series or Silver Brush Bristlon series.

 

For a natural bristle, any good quality manufacturer will do. (Robert Simmons, Tintoretto, Silver brush, Rosemary.)

 

NOTE:  Bring  at least 2 brushes which are ¾” and 1” wide 

 

-Medium: refined linseed oil, but not cold pressed (NO STAND OIL)

-Odorless mineral spirits for rinsing/cleaning brushes

-Rags or paper towels

– Palette  AT LEAST 11 x 14 or bigger

 

 -Neutrally toned gray canvas or panel: -panel/canvas  size range 

14 x 18 to 16 x 20 inches.  You can use Liquitex neutral gray #5

Please tone your surfaces before the class so that they are drys

 

Students need 1-2 canvas/panels for each day of the workshop

-Paint cups or old cans

 NOTE: Bring jars or cans for your thinner at least 3” in diameter

-Jar with lid for used paint thinner.

 

Oil colors:

Titanium white

Cadmium red light or equivalent

Cadmium orange or equivalent

Burnt sienna

Yellow ochre

Alizarin Crimson

Ultramarine blue

Purple  

Cadmium yellow light

viridian green

Azo Green- M Graham 

…or Olive Green

raw umber

Cancellation Policy

Registration and Cancellation Policies

Registration

  • Each student must enroll individually
  • Students may register online or by calling the Sedona Arts Center’s Administrative Offices in the Art Barn, toll-free at 888-954-4442 or locally at 928-282-3809
  • Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express are accepted or student may pay with cash or check by registering in person during office hours at the Art Barn

In-Person and Online Workshops

  • Payment in full is due upon registration, or a payment plan can be put in place by the student upon check-out through Sezzle.
  • There is a $125 Cancellation Fee for any cancellations made before August 10, 2026. Remaining balance will be refunded.
  • There are no refunds after August 10, 2026.
  • If Sedona Arts Center cancels the workshop for any reason, all payments made will be refunded in full

Important Message

The Sedona Arts Center is not responsible for providing make-up sessions or issuing refunds, credits, or transfers for courses missed as a result of illness, emergencies, or other events beyond our control. There are absolutely no refunds after the cut-off date for any reason, unless the Sedona Arts Center has to cancel the workshop, then all fees paid will be refunded in full.