STUDENT REVIEWS
"Ingrid Wells is a fine, fine teacher. She knows how to break down the material into sizable bites. Her criticism is constructive. Especially with this new on-line learning format, she has given it her all. We had useful painting demonstrations which were later posted on-line, and both individual and class critiques. She knows her stuff!" -M.W.
"I have been a painter for over 30 years, and about two years ago I began working with oils. I have taken graduate level art classes from 15 - 20 different instructors/professional painters over the past 30 years. Ingrid Wells is without doubt the best oil instructor I have encountered, and she is by far one of the best instructors I've had anywhere, ever. She's excellent at teaching and breaking things down, and she is very good at framing her instructions so everybody understands. She's just a great oil painting teacher, and she has so much to teach. She's an excellent painter and I am thankful to have been in one of her 10 week-long classes. Ingrid's oil painting instruction changed and pushed my oil painting in very significant ways. I cannot wait to take another class from her." -L.D.
"Ingrid conveys her deep knowledge of painting technique in a clear, supportive way. I came into the class with a master's degree in painting, so my own experience was significant, but Ingrid helped greatly in opening new doors for me, in terms of both practical and technical problem-solving as well as in areas of overall aesthetic concerns. I highly recommend Ingrid as a teacher!" -P.W.
“I’ve been painting on and off for several years, and I’ve taken classes with several different teachers. Ingrid’s class is the best organized and executed one I’ve ever taken. She taught me so much about oil painting materials and techniques, as well as how I can take my skills to the next level. She paced the course well, so each class was informative without overwhelming students with too much information at once. She integrates one-on-one time with each student into every class where she gives personalized advice on how to improve. I’m greatly looking forward to taking another class from her.” -J.L.
"I have been a painter for over 30 years, and about two years ago I began working with oils. I have taken graduate level art classes from 15 - 20 different instructors/professional painters over the past 30 years. Ingrid Wells is without doubt the best oil instructor I have encountered, and she is by far one of the best instructors I've had anywhere, ever. She's excellent at teaching and breaking things down, and she is very good at framing her instructions so everybody understands. She's just a great oil painting teacher, and she has so much to teach. She's an excellent painter and I am thankful to have been in one of her 10 week-long classes. Ingrid's oil painting instruction changed and pushed my oil painting in very significant ways. I cannot wait to take another class from her." -L.D.
"Ingrid conveys her deep knowledge of painting technique in a clear, supportive way. I came into the class with a master's degree in painting, so my own experience was significant, but Ingrid helped greatly in opening new doors for me, in terms of both practical and technical problem-solving as well as in areas of overall aesthetic concerns. I highly recommend Ingrid as a teacher!" -P.W.
“I’ve been painting on and off for several years, and I’ve taken classes with several different teachers. Ingrid’s class is the best organized and executed one I’ve ever taken. She taught me so much about oil painting materials and techniques, as well as how I can take my skills to the next level. She paced the course well, so each class was informative without overwhelming students with too much information at once. She integrates one-on-one time with each student into every class where she gives personalized advice on how to improve. I’m greatly looking forward to taking another class from her.” -J.L.
Ingrid V. Wells
"I've been painting in oil for about two years. I have found each of my four instructors has approached teaching in a different manner. Ingrid was no exception. For me, it was her teaching various techniques that was most helpful, especially layering and glazing. My work has more depth and a richer look, thanks to Ingrid. She really takes time with each individual student." -M.W.
“After completing Ingrid’s ‘Magic of Painting’ class at SFAI, I have found myself a stronger, more confident oil painter. I have been painting for 5 years, and only 1 of those years have been with oil. Despite my lack of professional experience, Ingrid found a way of approaching each topic and technique that seemed individually tailored to me and my skill level. Learning the time tested traditional process of creating an oil painting from ground to varnish, and three-dimensional rendering techniques has helped take my paintings to the next level. Ingrid’s hands on style of teaching made all the difference. Thank you, Ingrid for pushing me forward in my painting practices.” -K.P.
"I was part of the Oil Painting Techniques class that was taught by Ingrid Wells, at SFAI. I learned more in her class than I did when I was a full-time student working towards a BFA in Painting from the same school in 1975! She is a great professor, approachable, and kind person. I feel fortunate that I was one of her students." -J.D.
"I've been painting for 5 years now, 1 of those experimenting with oil painting on my own. Ingrid's class was my very first oil painting official course, and I absolutely loved it. I really didn't know what to expect, but everything from the weekly discussions about a specific aspect of oil painting to the constant feedback throughout the course of working on 3 paintings really blew me away. She is extremely organized, very efficient, and most importantly, and amazing mentor in the classroom. Her teaching technique is very unique, in that she really took the time to get to know me as a painter as she helped guide me through paintings start to finish. She really took the time with me to make sure I understood each step of the oil painting process in a formalized way, and it has really shaped the way I approach my painting now moving forward. Thank you so much for pushing me to my creative limits and for giving me the confidence in my formal oil painting practice moving forward! I'm very much looking forward to the 30 Paintings in 30 Days course at SFAI, as I am confident Ingrid will once again push me to my limits as a painter! Thank you!" -B.R.
Photo courtesy of Amy Tam