Workshop FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL PAINTING by Serj

“DAY 1: Fundamentals of oil painting – introduction to the principles and components of oil painting. “Alla prima” technique
The workshop will begin with an excursus on the technical principles of the oil painting technique, defining the role of oil, pigments, thinners and mediums. This path will be accompanied by a selection of spotlights on art history’s masters which will help to visualize and have a better understanding of the most popular, yet misunderstood painting technique. The practical course will be focused on the so called “alla prima” technique (from the Italian language “alla prima” can be translated as “at first attempt”). This technique is based on the direct use of oil colors which are applied and blended while being fresh (wet on wet), allowing the creation of spontaneous as well as rich images.

DAY 2: Fundamentals of oil painting – a better understanding of color characteristics “Alla prima” technique
The second appointment will include an introduction to the properties of ready-made colors, in particular the meaning and the technical aspects of words such as series, permanence, opacity description and pigment code. This focus aims to provide a better understanding for the selection and use of colors, guiding their application according to their characteristics. The second practical workshop will re-propose the “alla prima” technique, painting from scratch a new work and improving the painting dynamic based on the knowledge accumulated through the recent learning and the previous workshop.” (Text by courtesy of  Serj)

Serj (b. 1985, Bergamo, Italy) lives and works in Berlin. He studied painting at Liceo Artistico Statale di Bergamo. In 2005 he moved to Rome where he attended the painting course at the Academy of Fine Arts, from which he graduated with honors in 2009. Selected solo shows include: abstine substine (2020, Blueproject Foundation, Barcelona, Spain); Flat Fold Floats (2019, Spazio KN, Trento, Italy); Lunghezze d’Onda (2015, Palazzo Sforza Cesarini, curated by Giovanna dalla Chiesa, Genzano di Roma, Rome, Italy); mira-morsa (2014, Operativa Arte Contemporanea, Rome, Italy); CODIMA: primo enunciato and CODIMA: secondo enunciato (2013, Cortile dell’Arte, Rome, Italy). Selected group shows include: K60 (in collaboration with Galeria Plan B, Wilhem Hallen, Berlin, Germany); Passages / Paysages (2021, curated by Roberto Lacarbonara, Plazzo Barbò, Torre Pallavicina, Italy); Polyptoton / πολύπτωτον (2018, curated by Elena Giulia Abbiatici, Something Else – OFF Biennale Cairo, Cairo, Egypt); Una Vetrina (2016, MAXXI, The Indipendent project, curated by Giulia Ferracci and Elena Motisi, Rome, Italy); The Hawt Show (2016, outdoor project by Galerie Rolando Anselmi, Borgo Colle Melone, Frosinone, Italy); FRAC, Festival Ricerca Arti Contemporanee (2015, Palazzo Rinascimentale, curated by Nicoletta Grasso, Aieta, Cosenza, Italy); Factory (2013, ex Mattatoio Testaccio, curated by Costantino D’Orazio, Rome, Italy); Il Peso Della Mia Luce (2013, Operativa Arte Contemporanea, text by Gianni Garrera, Rome, Italy). Selected site specific projects include: G (2017, Funkhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany); Six Traps (2016, Nevalon Festival, Montalcino, Siena, Italy); Three Spears (2016, Save Festival, Moscow, Russia); Mira (2015, Una Vetrina, Rome, Italy).

More information on the Serj Website.