FAQ for In Person Classes with Felicia Forte
Curriculum- Felicia’s in person classes are studio style (practical). Each week you will engage in creating an alla prima study from life. That task will remain the same and around that structure you grow and develop your skill, taste, and voice. Felicia offers guidance in the form of technical advice, philosophy, and demonstration as needed.
Medium- Felicia’s technical expertise lies in oil paint, she can teach a beginner how to use and master the medium. She is also happy to have students use other types of mediums in her classes as long as they are already proficient in the use of them.
What is the tone of the class? Felicia’s classes are for painters with serious curiosity and desire to learn. She welcomes beginners and amateurs as well as advanced or professional painters. This is a master craft, expect that learning it can be challenging and engaging.
A note for beginners- This craft is learned through making paintings. They will be “bad” for a long time, that is the same for everyone who has ever learned this craft. There are many skills to learn that must eventually be accomplished in concert to produce a technically masterful painting. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable, come with a child’s mind for learning.
How long do I take this class? To learn to paint you will need to practice regularly, for years. You should find a teacher who resonates with you and stick with them until you have learned all you can from them. You can tell when you are ready to find a new teacher by your level of excited engagement in their work and the practice. If you are already proficient at painting and wish to learn something about Felicia’s methods you may benefit from any length of participation in her class.
Want to get some practice before hand? Felicia has lessons and video demos available on her Skool platform.
Reserving a spot. Payment is required to hold a place in this class. You may register on the Booking Calendar Page for the upcoming month or next available quarter. Students with current enrollment will be offered the chance to keep their spot in class before it is offered to the public/waitlist. If there is space in a class, enrollment will open to new students approx. a week for the start of that month’s class.
Refunds and Makeups. Felicia cannot offer refunds or makeups for student cancellations or absences.
To Contact Felicia’s Studio: https://www.feliciaforte.com/write-to-felicia
More General FAQ
Q: Are you planning to teach a workshop in (my city)?
A: None scheduled for 2026. Check here going forward.
Q: What materials do you paint on?
A: For large or more complete paintings I paint on either linen which I stretch and prime myself, or cradled wood panels also primed myself. For small works and studies I use Arches oil paper and small cradled wood panels.
Q: What medium do you use?
A: 50/50 odorless mineral spirits and oil (I try different ones.. safflower, walnut, lavender- all artist grade). When I paint on the arches oil paper, I first wash it with this medium and a tiny bit of paint to tint to elongate the erasable period.
Q: What easels do you use?
A: https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-heavy-duty-h-frame-easel/
Q: What do you prime your canvas with?
A: Acrylic Gesso ( I like Golden brand), several thinned coats, and maybe sand a bit to smooth at the end. When I use the Arches Oil Paper I do not prime it, it's made for oil painting and does not require it.
Q: What palette do you use?
A: If you mean paint colors- I often use these: Ivory Black, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalocyanine Turquoise (Michael Harding), Brilliant Pink (MH), Cadmium Red, Cadmium Orange, Yellow Ochre, Cadmium Yellows, Transparent Oxide Red or Burt Sienna, Titanium White. I will also add and subtract new colors depending on the painting in progress or whim.
If you mean Palette, I use New Wave Palettes the large POSH model.
Q: What types of brushes do you use?
A: Princeton Ashley 5200F series bristle brushes are my go to. Sometimes I’ve purchased a ‘lot’ of brushes from eBay and enjoy experimenting with new shapes and textures. In the past I worked with Rosemary Brushes and created a student set. Usually leaning hard on long flats/bristles and switching to other types if I get bored or inspired.
Q: Do you have an instructional video?
A: You can find lessons and videos on my Skool platform.
Q: How do you mix your skin tones?
A: There is no easy answer to this, every painting, every portrait is different. If you do not wish to have formulaic paintings you must use observation and logic each time you mix a color. The practice that made color second nature for me was using a limited palette (Zorn) for EVERY painting for 2 years, then adding color back in one at a time over the next year.
Q: Where are you based?
A: San Francisco, CA
Q: Where did you study?
A: The California Art Institute (now closed), The Art Student's League of New York for 1 year, and for many years on my own.
Q: Do you have prints available?
A: I have prints available on my shop page.
Q: Do you draw with pencil or paint to start a painting?
A: 99.9% of the time I start with paint.
Q: Do you work from life or from photos?
A: I do both.
Q: How long does a painting take you?
A: Three hours is the minimum amount of time I complete a painting in, like an all prima portrait or still life sketch. But I have spent days, weeks, months or even years on a painting.
Q: Do you varnish the arches oil paper?
A: Yes, with Kamar spray varnish usually.
Q: How do you frame work painted on arches oil paper?
A: Either by having the painting mounted on a stronger support and framed as you would any painting, or matted and framed under glass.
Q: What is your studio lighting set-up?
A: I have a C-Stand with extension arm and a soft box light (with the cover both on and off depending on how bright I want my light), like the ones I’ve linked here. I use large, stong 5000 kelvin Bulbs, to give cool Northilght-like illumination.