1
Grid Method Mastery
Sarah demonstrates how to count squares and utilize negative space, emphasizing the crucial relationships between shapes that ensure accurate proportions.
9m
MasterDemos
Sarah Dean: The Yellowstone Workshop
Sarah Dean: The Yellowstone Workshop
If you're a student you can get 30% off with code STUDENTARTIST and your school email.
Regular price
$97.00 USD
Regular price
Sale price
$97.00 USD
Unit price
per
Join Sarah at Skyline Guest Ranch for a once-in-a-lifetime painting experience
About the Course
Discover the story behind Sarah's Montana workshop
Watch the course trailer
Get a glimpse of the workshop experience
Experience the authentic creative process as Sarah demonstrates her complete approach to painting horses and riders in oil. Filmed during an exclusive workshop at a working ranch near Yellowstone, Montana.
This comprehensive 25-lesson series captures the intimate atmosphere of artists learning together in the heart of the American West. You'll learn how to capture movement, establish accurate proportions using grid techniques, and build paintings from initial sketch to final details.
Learn more about our wonderful hosts at www.skylineguestranch.com
PART 1
Drawing & Foundation
Learn the grid method, drawing techniques, and underpainting basics.
2
Building Forms Through Shapes
Continue developing your drawing by treating the horse and rider as a collection of simple, manageable shapes rather than intimidating subjects.
9m
3
Strategic Detail Placement
Learn when to add tack, water reflections, and anatomical details while resisting the urge to overwork your initial drawing.
9m
4
Bold Line Commitment
Transform your tentative sketch into confident, decisive lines using 6B pencil, creating a roadmap for your painting journey.
9m
5
Sealing & Toning
Protect your drawing with acrylic spray before applying Sarah's signature burnt sienna and violet underpainting that eliminates the intimidation of white canvas.
8m
PART 2
Color Mixing Strategy
Mix and organize your entire color palette before painting begins.
6
Understanding Your Materials
Sarah explains each paint color on the palette and why she avoids using black straight from the tube.
7m
7
Palette Organization
Set up your colors from light to dark, learning how to keep paint clean and organized throughout the painting process.
3m
8
Mixing Black
Create rich black by combining ultramarine blue and alizarin crimson, avoiding the flat quality of tube black.
8m
9
Developing Gray Values
Build a complete range of grays by systematically adding white to your black mixture.
9m
10
Mixing Clothing Colors
Learn specific color formulas for denim and western wear using unexpected combinations like Prussian blue and orange.
12m
11
Background Color Values
Mix colors for trees and sky that support your main subjects without competing for attention.
10m
PART 3
Painting the Environment
Paint backgrounds, trees, and water to establish the environment.
12
Fearless Background Blocking
Overcome the ugly stage by trusting your pre-mixed colors and covering large areas with kindergarten-simple shapes.
10m
13
The Pine Tree Secret
Master Sarah's flat brush technique for creating convincing evergreens with just a few strategic strokes.
9m
14
Atmospheric Edge Control
Build depth through selective blending, learning when to keep edges soft for distance and when to maintain sharpness.
13m
15
Water Color Alchemy
Mix the perfect palette for reflective water, balancing warmth and coolness to capture its liquid quality.
10m
16
Horizontal Harmony
Paint convincing water using filbert brushes turned sideways, creating smooth horizontal strokes that read as liquid surface.
12m
PART 4
Horse & Rider Development
Build the horse and rider using systematic value placement.
17
Shadow Architecture
Begin with the darkest values to establish the horse's three-dimensional form, treating it as sculpture rather than outline.
7m
18
Midtone Muscle Memory
Build form through careful midtone placement, allowing your knowledge of equine anatomy to guide your brush.
10m
19
Strategic Softness
Learn Sarah's decision-making process for edge control - which transitions to blend for flesh and which to keep sharp for structure.
5m
20
Human Form Simplified
Apply the same shadow-first approach to the rider, refusing to be intimidated by the human face.
4m
21
Clothing as Abstract Shapes
Block in western wear using just two values per garment, resisting the urge to overcomplicate fabric.
16m
PART 5
Final Details & Completion
Add final details, water effects, and finishing touches.
22
Essential Equipment
Paint tack and boots with economy, adding just enough detail to convince without overwhelming the composition.
11m
23
Water in Motion
Create dynamic splashes and reflections using slightly tacky paint, capturing the energy of horse and rider in action.
14m
24
The Critical Eye
Learn to assess your work objectively, using Sarah's upside-down viewing technique to see your painting fresh.
14m
25
Final Details and Completion
Complete the rider's face and add the last highlights that bring the entire painting together.
18m
FREE GIFT
Digital Workbook
Comprehensive workbook with key insights and exercises from Sarah's course
PREMIUM ADD-ON
Exclusive Art Print
Receive a premium 11"x14" print of "Colter & Bess" - the painting Sarah creates in this course.
Colter & Bess
Original Oil Painting by Sarah Dean
At Sarah's request we have made her "Colter & Bess" print available exclusively for this course. This is the exact painting she creates during her 4-hour MasterDemo course. Each print is produced on premium Epson Somerset Velvet paper using archival inks for museum-quality results that will last generations.
SIZE
11" × 14"
PAPER
Somerset Velvet
FINISH
Matte
INKS
Archival Quality
2 COURSE BUNDLE
Bundle & Save
Get both Sarah Dean courses together and save 25%. Add both courses to your cart and the discount is applied automatically at checkout.
Meet the Artist
Sarah Dean is an accomplished equine artist celebrated for her ability to capture the grace and spirit of horses through vivid, lifelike paintings. Combining her deep understanding of anatomy with an expressive style, she creates artwork that resonates with both art enthusiasts and horse lovers alike.
