Delaware Valley Art League

​Membership Meeting & Artist's Demo:

April 21, 2027 (Wednesday)

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

 

DEMO: Ernie Norcia - Figure in an Interior (oil) 

My painting demonstration will be set-up as an interior space, like a living room with chair and end table. The figure will be seated, possibly reading. The demonstration will focus on the construction of an image, how it is conceived and executed. The goal will be to get enough paint on the surface that composition and structural intentions are clear. Because time is so limited, the demonstration will essentially be a rough-in of something that could be further developed at a later date.

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Workshop: 

April 28, 2027 (Wednesday)

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

 

Artist's Bio:

Images of the human figure, and portraits in particular, are the focus of Ernie Norcia's work. Each portrait painting is designed to reveal the vitality of his subject, as well as aspects of their humanity. Ernie's approach to painting is the result of years of study in the distinguished traditions of European and American painting. Artists such as Titian, Velazquez, Degas, and Sargent are his personal favorites as well as significant sources of inspiration.

 

His portraits, whether formal or informal, destined for a boardroom or a private residence, display the spirit of his subject. Ernie's paintings are done in oil using the finest materials, and occasionally in handmade classic tempera. He is a master of traditional methods in a contemporary world, using strong drawing as the underpinning of each portrait. Ernie works with the belief that well-crafted, archival images have lasting impact on viewers, leaving a legacy for future generations..

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Ernie Norcia's paintings can be found in corporations, hospitals, universities and numerous private collections in the United States. His various awards include those from prestigious art organizations in New York City to the Portrait Society of America to an Emmy. Originally from Connecticut, Ernie graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design.

 

His studies included an academic year in Italy. Ernie continued his training at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where he received his Masters Degree in Painting. A resident of the Philadelphia area, he teaches a selected number of private students and conducts painting workshops as well as tending to his ongoing private commissions for clients around the country. Currently, Ernie is putting together a drawing show on MLTV21. The program will be about is basically drawing what you see.

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The Workshop:

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Step 1. Drawing in charcoal Building of composition with value. Fixing drawing.

Step 2. General color application over fixed drawing. Transparent foundation color applied over entire surface.

Step 3. Direct painting onto foundation color. Opaque paints to build volumetric/spatial image of subject. Soft and hard edges developed and clearly defined.

Step 4. Glazing colors over painted image. Enhance skin tones. Enrich other areas with select colors as necessary.

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Supply List for Workshop:

 

General Supplies:

• Soft vine charcoal

• #2, #4, #6 charcoal pencils (optional)

• Kneaded eraser

• Chamois

• Sandpaper

• Workable fixative

• Cotton rags

• Paper towels

• Solvent: Turpenoid or Gamsol, used for thinning paint & cleanup. Fels Naptha bar soap for cleanup, (available at Acme stores)

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Oil Painting Supplies:

• Canvas, canvas on panel:

Commercially primed and stretched canvas (linen or cotton),

no larger than 18" X 24".

Please tone your canvas or panel a middle gray or sepia tone at same value as middle gray before the workshop Brushes:

• White hog bristle (filberts, flats, & rounds) are quite versatile. I recommend medium or medium-large brushes for fast application of paint. Red sable brushes (rounds & flats) for soft and precise brushwork. I recommend #2, #4, and #8 rounds (real red sable), and 1/2" to 1" flats (synthetic bristles are fine for the flats).

• Oil Paints (student quality VVinton) or better:

Cadmium lemon, cadmium yellow pale hue, cadmium red hue, permanent alizarin crimson, French ultramarine, cerulean blue hue, titanium white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, burnt sienna, raw umber, and any other colors you'd like to add.

• Palette Knives, (spatula type):

One or two medium sized knives; these knives have raised handles & flexible blades, and are used to apply and remove oil paint from painting surface.

• Choose a sealed wooden palette, white or gray plastic palette, or a disposable paper palette.

• Palette Cup(s):

A handy two cup item clips onto a palette and holds a small amount of medium and solvent. Mediums:

• To make application and manipulation of paint easier, a medium is added to artist's tube colors. To make your own: mix equal amounts of linseed stand oil, and turpenoid. You may instead choose to purchase a good linseed oil-based medium. To speed drying time, you may want to buy Winsor/Newton's Liquin, or another alkyd based medium.

• Sealed container (can with tight lid) for volatile solvent soaked toweling and rags

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Click on the Workshop Registration Button below to secure your spot!

 

PLEASE NOTE: The cost of workshops is $50.00 for members and $60.00 for non-members.