Dia.graph: “Where Meaning Flows Through Art.” A Three-Day Oil Painting Workshop. Led by Jeff Gogué

July 4-7, 2025 Mount Vernon, Washington

Discover the essentials of oil painting in this immersive three (four)-day workshop aimed at tattooists but is open to everyone. Dia.graph offers a hands-on introduction to creating art that not only complements your income but also elevates your technical skills and amplifies your unique artistic voice. Through Jeff’s focused instruction, and easy to understand foundational techniques, including Direct and indirect painting, the use of transparent and opaque layers, glazing, velatura, and alla prima. Together, we’ll delve into crafting art that holds true value and speaks profoundly to your creative soul.

Perfect for anyone looking to expand their artistry and establish themselves in the fine art world, Dia.graph is where skill meets intention.

• Special guest and paint instructor: Sullivan Giles

Sullivan Giles holds a Master's of Fine Arts degree in Oil Painting from the New York Academy of Art and has an extensive fine arts background based on classical atelier-style approaches to contemporary art-marking, both self-taught and through higher education. She tattoos at Rabid Hands Tattoo in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.

“Mark-making is a central thread in my life and art, whether etched onto skin, paper, or canvas, reflecting how life’s experiences shape our visual and emotional identities. The imprints on flesh—tattoos, scars, or wrinkles—mirror the intricate psychology of individuals and the language of visual art, from delicate to violent, corrective to transparent. My figurative oil paintings and drawings delve into themes of portraiture, bodily autonomy, and subversive subcultures, blending dream-like colors, overlapping patterns, and prismatic multiple-exposure imagery. Influenced by tattoo culture and goth, punk, and metal aesthetics, my work celebrates individuality, challenges societal norms, and reshapes notions of beauty and power. Grounded in the feminine gaze, I aim to imbue my subjects with agency and authenticity while exploring the ways in which life leaves its imprints upon us, shaping, blemishing, constructing, and shattering our essence.” Sullivan

Dia.Graph Oil Painting Workshop

Price: $545 - All supplies included.

📍 Location: Dakota Pastels, Mount Vernon, WA

📅 Dates: July 4-7, 2025

🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Workshop Overview

A three-day intensive oil painting workshop designed for tattoo artists and creatives, focusing on both direct (alla prima) and indirect painting techniques. An optional fourth day is available for continued open painting and feedback.

Schedule

🔹 Friday, July 4 – Meet & Greet (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM)

•Welcome, introductions, and workshop overview

•Studio setup and materials discussion

🔹 Saturday, July 5 – Direct Painting & Mediums

•Morning: Demo on alla prima painting (wet-on-wet)

•Afternoon: Demo on working with painting mediums

•Evening: Attendees paint with guidance

🔹 Sunday, July 6 – Refinement & Finishing

•Morning: Demo on refining, layering, and edge control

•Afternoon: Guided painting session & finishing discussion

•Evening: Final painting session & wrap-up

🔹 Monday, July 7 – Open Painting Day (Optional)

•Full open studio for attendees who want to continue painting

•One-on-one guidance available throughout the day

🔸 Lunch: 1-hour optional break – bring your own or snack while painting

🔸 No dinner breaks: Maximize your painting time

Additional Features

✔ One-on-one feedback throughout the workshop

✔ Flexible structure for hands-on practice

✔ Small takeaway gift at the end of the event

✔ Optional after-hours group meal meetups