Caravaggio Master Study: Chiaroscuro & Glazing (All Supplies Included)

Dive into Caravaggio’s style with hands-on chiaroscuro and glazing techniques—supplies all included! Taught by instructor Mel Fiorentino

Caravaggio Master Study: Chiaroscuro & Glazing

Join us for an in-person dive into the dramatic world of Caravaggio! This workshop is all about mastering the art of chiaroscuro—that stunning play of light and shadow—and glazing techniques that bring paintings to life. All supplies are included, so just bring your creativity and get ready for a hands-on experience exploring this classic style. Don't miss out on this artistic adventure!

Step into the drama of the Baroque and learn how the Old Masters built powerful paintings through strong value design, structured underpainting, and luminous glazing.

In this 4-week Saturday workshop, we’ll complete a master study of St. Matthew and the Angel by Caravaggio using a streamlined, beginner-friendly process: projector-assisted drawing, a fast raw umber wash, and oil layers that build toward a finished, gallery-ready result.

This class is welcoming to beginners (including first-time oil painters) while still offering plenty of refinement and technique for intermediate students.

What You’ll Learn

• How to simplify a complex reference into a clear value plan
• Chiaroscuro: creating form with light vs. shadow
• Building a strong foundation with underpainting (medium-to-light structure)
• Glazing methods for skin tones (light to dark) and atmosphere
• Edge control: hard/soft/lost edges for realism and focus
• How to bring a painting to a cohesive, finished state without overworking

Dates & Time

Saturdays — March 28, April 4, April 11, April 18
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Week-by-Week Process

Week 1: Project image + drawing + raw umber acrylic wash + oil sketch
Week 2: Underpainting of medium-to-light values (structure for glazing)
Week 3: Begin glazing skin tones (light to dark) + unify the backdrop
Week 4: Additional glazing + fine tuning + finishing touches

What’s Included

✅ All supplies included (24” x 30” canvas + all in-class painting materials)
✅ Projector setup + cropped reference provided
✅ Guided instruction, demos, and individual feedback each week

Who This Is For

• Beginners who want a clear, supported process
• Intermediate painters who want to strengthen values, edges, and glazing
• Anyone who loves Old Master lighting and wants to learn it step-by-step

Tuition

$395 — All supplies included

Notes

• Seating is limited to keep instruction personalized.
• Wear clothes you don’t mind getting paint on.