Garine Magary is a local Bethesda landscape painter and instructor who loves helping students discover the joy and confidence that comes from painting. With years of experience in the fine arts field in New York City and trained in plein air painting (with Walt in the early 1990s), Garine brings both professional insight and a down-to-earth teaching style to her classes.
Working in watercolor and oils, Garine paints landscapes and still lives from life. She is drawn to painting outdoors, where changing light and atmosphere create both challenges and inspiration. Garine’s teaching approach is centered on clarity, encouragement, and accessibility. She breaks each project into simple, understandable steps and helps students move past the fear of “doing it wrong.” Whether you are picking up a pencil or brush for the first time or returning to creating after a long break, her classes are designed to help you feel supported, curious, and confident.
Above all, Garine believes that creativity is a lifelong practice that anyone can and should enjoy. Her classes emphasize process over perfection, connection over comparison, and the personal satisfaction that comes from trying something new.
PAINTING SUPPLY LIST — Intro to Acrylic Painting (Garine Magary)
If you have materials at home feel free to use up before buying new and see what you like!
Buy the best you can afford– you will see a difference with higher quality materials and they will last longer (avoid acrylics labeled “craft” – they are very watery).
In person: Plaza Art (Rockville or Bethesda) or Michael’s
Online: dickblick.com, jerrysartarama.com, cheapjoes.com
Every class please bring all paints and brushes and at least one extra panel or canvas. Also a bound sketchbook with pencil or pen.
Acrylic Painting (recommended)
1) palette: palette paper works well and easy to dispose after each painting session.
2) assortment of brushes (flat, bright, round, #4, 6, 8, 10) hog hair bristle will be firmer, synthetic will be softer. Brushes sold in packs are ok to start, you will get a sense of what you prefer. (note: best to keep brushes relegated to one medium–ie don’t switch between oils and water based paints– the brush will not work)
3) mediums (optional): Acrylic Retarder or Slow Drying Medium
4) PAINTS (small tubes – 75ml)
lemon yellow
cadmium yellow medium
cadmium red light
alizarin crimson
ultramarine blue
pthalo blue
raw umber
titanium white (larger tube)
yellow ochre *optional
sap green *optional
cerulean blue *optional
5) Surfaces/substrates:
-A pad of Canvas paper or Bristol paper is great to start with. Perfect no pressure for studies and exercises (first few classes). The studio has large support panels, bring tape. Studio has easels and stools.
-assortment of canvases (11×14, 12x 16, 16 x 20″) or canvas boards – these I get at Michael’s, sold in a multipack.
6) clean can or container for water
Painting in OILS:
-palette – I use a lightweight plastic palette that I wipe clean after each painting session; glass palettes will last longer but are quite heavy.
-odorless turpentine (Turpenoid or Gamsol)
-a small bottle of linseed oil to thin pigment as you paint
-a clean can for on site turp
-a clean jar with lid to decant the dirty turp (take home, let sit then recycle turp).
-2 smaller jars with lids for linseed oil and oil/turp 50/50 mix
-paper towels and small trash bag
-apron if desired. Baseball cap can be helpful to block overhead lights too.
Outdoors/on-site painting extras:
-easel (I prefer a sturdy portable metal field easel or tripod set up to French style/pochade but see what you like)
-roll of paper towels
-small plastic trash bag
-apron, latex gloves if desired
-hat
-portable chair if desired
-bug spray/sunscreen
-food/water
Painting in WATERCOLOR:
Suggestions for materials… like so much in life this is personal preference. If you have materials at home feel free to use up before buying new and see what you like!
-watercolor paper (I like Strathmore 140# cold press 400 series) 9×12” spiral bound
-watercolor paints: Winsor and Newton makes a great starter kit with 12 cake pans around $20. Make sure to get one with primary colors. Tubes have more pigment and will last longer (I love QOR and Daniel Smith). You’ll need a palette with a lid with this option, pay attention to surface mixing space too.
-brushes – get a variety of shapes and sizes – Princeton select (teal handle) are pretty good, my fave is a #8 round Robert Simmons and #12 long round (burgundy handle) Princeton Velvet Touch. Brush roll to keep these!
– water container (I use old jars)
– paper towels
– 4H pencil and good eraser
– artist or painters tape
FALL
Introduction to Drawing Yellow Barn Studio $300
Garine Magary
Tuesday, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM
9/15/2026-11/17/2026
Introduction to Painting Yellow Barn Studio $300
Garine Magary
Tuesday, 1:00 PM-3:30 PM
9/15/2026-11/17/2026
WINTER
Introduction to Drawing Yellow Barn Studio $300
Garine Magary
Tuesday, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM
1/19/2027-3/23/2027
Introduction to Painting Yellow Barn Studio $300
Garine Magary
Tuesday, 1:00 PM-3:30 PM
1/19/2027-3/23/2027
