Intro to Acrylic Painting 1W27
Age Group:
Adults
Explore the fundamentals of acrylic painting through still life and landscape. Learn to mix color, work with value and composition, handle brushes, and build paintings through layering, texture, edges, and spatial depth.
Over eight weeks, create four paintings, beginning with still life and progressing to landscape. Each project develops over two class sessions, giving you time to observe, experiment, and develop your paintings from initial composition to a more finished work. Demonstrations, individual feedback, and group discussion will support you throughout the process.
No previous painting experience is required.
Images: Saeed Hosein Acrylic Artwork
Saeed Hosein
Saeed Hosein is an Iranian painter and educator based in Boston. He is currently an MFA candidate at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University and holds an MA in Painting from Tarbiat Modares University and a BA in Painting from the University of Tehran.
Saeed has extensive experience teaching painting and drawing to students of different ages and skill levels. His teaching focuses on building strong foundations in observation, composition, color, and painting techniques while encouraging students to develop confidence and their own visual language.
His artistic practice centers on figurative painting and explores themes of memory, identity, power, and lived experience. In 2026, he was a Summer Fellow at Ox-Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency, where he also served as a teaching assistant for a figurative painting course.
Website:
Materials to bring to class:
Students should bring the following supplies to class. It is not necessary to purchase professional or expensive materials for this introductory course. Student-grade acrylic paints and basic painting supplies are perfectly suitable.
Acrylic Paint: A basic set of acrylic paints is sufficient. Students may purchase an introductory acrylic set or individual tubes in the following colors. You can buy online here.
- Titanium White
- Black
- Yellow
- Red
- Blue
- Burnt Sienna or Brown
Note: A larger tube of Titanium White is recommended, as it will be used frequently.
Brushes: A small basic set of synthetic brushes suitable for acrylic painting is sufficient. You can shop online here.
Students should have:
- 2–3 flat brushes in different sizes
- 1–2 round brushes
- 1 larger flat brush
Painting Surfaces: Students may choose whichever option is most affordable and convenient. You can shop online here or here. A 12"×16" size canvas is recommended for most projects. Students working on paper may purchase a pad and use individual sheets for each project.
- Canvas
- Canvas panels
- Acrylic or mixed-media paper
Basic Supplies: The Eliot School provides palettes or disposable plates for mixing paint, but if you want to purchase them for your own home practice, you can purchase here or here. The Eliot School also has aprons available for use during class but if you prefer you can purchase your own or wear old clothing suitable for painting.
Optional Supplies: These materials are useful, but not required:
- Palette knife
- Spray bottle
- Sketchbook
- Acrylic medium
- Pencil and eraser (Eliot School has these in the classroom)
Students are encouraged to begin with basic materials and add additional supplies only as needed throughout the course.