Open page for registration info-

REAL Academy of Art Colorado is honored to host Dustin Van Wechel!

Workshop Description
Join this fun and informative single-day wildlife painting workshop with Dustin Van Wechel on Saturday, August 15th, 2026. Attendees will learn techniques for improving their wildlife paintings such as using expressive brushwork and the palette knife to create texture, handling edges, composition basics, color usage, controlling values and much, much more. Attendees will also receive one-on-one personal instruction after a wildlife painting demonstration by Dustin!

VAN WECHEL WILDLIFE PAINTING WORKSHOP SCHEDULE SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

9am – 12pm -Wildlife Painting Demonstration/Discussion

12pm – 1pm – LUNCH!

1pm – 4pm –  Class Painting Time / Personal Instruction

4pm – 5pm – Class Critique / Final Instruction

-Students are welcome to paint along with Dustin working from the same reference, or they may also bring their own.

SUPPLIES NEEDED

PAINTS/MEDIUMS Holbein Artists’ Oil Colors or Williamsburg Artists’ Oil Colors are recommended Any other professional-grade paints also accepted.

Yellow Ochre Cadmium

Yellow Cadmium Red

Anthraquinone Red or Alizarin Crimson

Burnt Sienna

Ultramarine Blue

Cobalt Blue (optional)

Viridian Sap Green (optional)

Titanium White

Quick Dry White (optional)

Phthalo Green

Dioxazine Purple (optional – Gamblin Oil Paint)

Italian Terra Rosa (optional) (other colors welcome)

Mediums Winsor & Newton Original Liquin Winsor & Newton Artist Painting Medium

BRUSHES & KNIVES:

High-quality Bristle Flats in Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10 High-quality Synthetic Sable Flats in Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10 High-quality Small Rounds or Liners Palette Knife & Painting Knife Palette knife of any size or shape / painting knife; diamond trowel — between 2 and 3 inches.

SUBSTRATE:

Any pre-stretched and primed canvas or linen or panels prepared for oil painting. Small canvases are recommended — 11″ x 14″, for example. Canvas panels by Scottsdale-based SourceTek are recommended. Instructor will be using #66 Claessens Linen mounted to a ¼ birchwood panel. Go to: www.canvaspanels.com

SUPPLIES:

Paper Palette (makes for much simpler clean-up in a workshop environment)

ODORLESS Mineral Spirits

Paper Towels

Plastic Grocery Bags

Empty Metal Coffee Cans with Plastic Lid (Small- to medium-sized) or other metal containers for holding orderless mineral spirits are welcome, such as a leak-proof brush washer.