About the Zorn Workshop

The Zorn Palette is a limited color palette attributed to the Swedish artist Anders Zorn (Feb. 18, 1860 – Aug. 22, 1920), consisting of just four colors: yellow ochre, ivory black, vermilion (or cadmium red light), and titanium white. It's known for its versatility in creating a wide range of tones, especially in portraiture.  When painting with such a limited palette you must really learn how to utilize value rather than color to emphasize form.

In the Zorn Workshop attendees will begin the class by creating a monochromatic palette with black and white.  Students will use this palette to create a monochromatic portrait.  Subsequently, they will create a Zorn palette to use in transforming their black and white image into a full color rendering. 

Instructor provided supplies:

8.5” x 11” canvas paper

9” x 12” Masonite board

Paint, odorless thinner and Liquin medium

Disposable palette

Workshop Participant provided supplies:

Sack lunch and beverage

Old rag

Brushes suitable for oil paint (I prefer to use a variety of sizes of Filbert brushes and small detail brushes)