This five day course offers the fantastic opportunity to study under the expert tuition of Roxana Halls, focussing on the figure and portraiture and working with costume and fabric to create a narrative for a painting. Throughout the week students will be painting directly from clothed life models.

Clothed Portrait painting Masterclass is an ideal opportunity to develop a number of different aspects of painting, from an understanding of tone, proportion, through to composition, creating a likeness, developing narrative in the work, formal elements of design and working with costume and fabric. The aim of this course is to teach students how to develop ideas from initial sketches and the refinement of ideas through to developing coherent work.

We will cover some of the techniques an artist can deploy when building a clothed narrative portrait. Our emphasis will be not only on creating a likeness and looking at compositional approaches but also developing an understanding of how to paint fabric & drapery, we will discuss specific methods for tackling the delineation and volume in the shapes, shadows and folds of different types of garments.

This is a structured opportunity to gain fundamental drawing and painting skills, whilst blurring the boundary between drawing and painting by using both wet and dry materials together. Throughout the week, students will be using a limited pallet keeping the focus on tonal painting. By looking at still life, interior/exterior and portrait, students explore various ways of seeing, increasing their understanding and confidence to draw and paint. Topics include linear drawing, tonal drawing, composition, sketching outdoors, expressive drawing/painting, study of natural forms and portrait painting. A fun and intensive course that will leave students with the knowledge and inspiration to start their own artworks.

This is a structured opportunity to gain fundamental drawing and painting skills, whilst blurring the boundary between drawing and painting by using both wet and dry materials together. Throughout the week, students will be using a limited pallet keeping the focus on tonal painting. By looking at still life, interior/exterior and portrait, students explore various ways of seeing, increasing their understanding and confidence to draw and paint. Topics include linear drawing, tonal drawing, composition, sketching outdoors, expressive drawing/painting, study of natural forms and portrait painting. A fun and intensive course that will leave students with the knowledge and inspiration to start their own artworks.

Under Alan’s guidance, students will concentrate on developing the relationship between life drawing and painting whilst considering mark-making, colour and the handling properties of paint. These elements will be fused together over the five day course by firstly making several drawn studies in both dry materials and oil paints, followed by a one day oil painting and finally, a more developed three day painting in oil. The consideration of accuracy of observation and measurement will be looked at in relation to freedom of expression, exploration of materials and engagement with an expressive and individual painterly language. Students will receive regular one-to-one guidance throughout the course.

This figure painting course will offer an opportunity for intensive study under the tuition of Sarah Jane Moon. The course will include opportunities to visually think through composition, colour and tone in a graphic and bold way through drawing and painting from the model. A day will be spent drawing and studying tone in anticipation of three days creating a dynamic and fully realised figure painting. Over an intense five-day period, students will work towards creative exciting and emotionally engaged work that has both accuracy and expression. The course is designed to give students the practical skills and grounding in technique to paint with confidence and unique style. It will further develop skills in painting a good portrait likeness whilst also enabling an increased understanding of what it means to make a compelling painting with narrative and compositional intrigue. Students will receive regular one-to-one guidance throughout the course.

A well-structured and systematic course for those who have never painted before or want to start from the beginning. Students learn to see colour, shape and tone and relate all these elements together through composition. This course aims to foster self-confidence and enjoyment of painting in a stimulating community environment. There will be work from both still-life and life models. Students will learn how to handle oil paint and understand different ways of approaching painting. Throughout the course students will learn from works of many artists to improve their development. There is plenty of guidance from the tutor and the course is fun and relaxing.

This is a fun day-long taster course in oil painting for those who may be considering a longer evening or daytime course and are wondering how much they will enjoy it. Throughout the day the tutor will lead the class in hands-on, practical demonstrations to show you how to mix colour and see shape and tone, and how these elements relate to form a composition. We aim to foster self-certainty and an enjoyment of painting in a relaxed yet stimulating environment. You will make at least two paintings in the day, the morning will be spent focusing on how to handle oil paint whilst working with a limited tonal palette. Students will be have the opportunity to paint from the life model, exploring expressive mark making describing the tone and volume of the figure. During the afternoon you will start you use colour, working from a still-life set up using natural and organic forms. Throughout the day you will be encouraged to play and enjoy the application of paint whist also understanding techniques of working from observation.

This is a fun course that offers the fantastic opportunity to paint in and around London’s urban landscape. The Art Academy is just a short stroll from the Thames, conveniently situated in the historic Southwark London Bridge area which will feature as the main focus of this course. Working with quick sketches in oil or acrylic, students will practice how to efficiently and accurately capture tone and colour in the outdoors. Creating loose and vigorous paintings, we will look at how to capture a sense of light and atmosphere at different times of day. Looking at the works of other artists we will discuss different ways of composing a painting in an urban setting. Basic painting techniques such as tone, colour and texture will be addressed, as well as creative expression in the application of paint. Painting outside of the studio is always an exciting experience and students of all levels are sure to enjoy painting outdoors.

An exciting and well structured course for all skill levels wishing to learn how to use paint in a variety of techniques while also stimulating creative expression. The course explores the use of line, colour, tone, composition and the application of paint media while also developing expressive qualities within a composition. Sessions include painting from a life model, working from still life as well as more loosely structured creative painting using simple but effective exercises. Using other artists’ works as a source of inspiration students will explore creative methods of expression. Students then combine all these skills to create a portrait painting and a nude figure painting.

This five-day portrait painting course will offer an opportunity for intensive study under the tuition of Toby Wiggins RP. There are many ways to make a successful portrait painting and so I prefer not to prescribe a particular method, manner or ‘technique’, but rather to re-examine the fundamentals underpinning the language of painting and drawing with particular attention to the challenges of portraiture. During the course we will discuss examples of great portraiture, look at issues around materials- paints, mediums and supports. We will work towards a better understanding of what constitutes ‘likeness’, we will unpick and explore drawing and mark-making, the anatomy of the head, composition, the relevance of scale and uses of tone and colour. Finally we will look at ways to move beyond ‘likeness’ or mere optical accuracy, towards personal intent and personal expression. It’s an intensive five days that offer a high level of tutor contact time with Toby giving demonstrations, individual guidance, criticism and advice. The course aims to stimulate, refresh and advance each students practice on an individual basis.  

This course is a packed week covering a range of ways to paint the human figure in different types of spaces, and is a good introductory course or works as a refresher for those with painting experience. We start by painting the life model in the studio space, focusing on perspective and placing the figure in the room. The next day we look at a technique used by contemporary painters and the old masters, of working from miniature models as a way of working out interesting compositions. Days 4 and 5 are one project – gathering information collected from outside, and then constructing your own compositions in the studio, incorporating 3 figures into the space as a way of suggesting narrative. Oils and acrylics both welcome.

This is a well structured course with an emphasis on learning to understand the construction of the head and its features and using these skills to better create more intense, expressive portraits. Working with oil paints students will develop a series of artworks, from short expressive painting sketches, to longer more detailed pieces. The students will also be encouraged to work intuitively and expressively in tandem with an emphasis on accuracy of observation. The class has the benefit of two experienced models every day, as well as tuition from a talented professional artist, Charlie Schaffer. Students will receive one-to-one guidance throughout the course, and Charlie will be on hand to give regular feedback and constructive advice. He will also be demonstrating and painting alongside the students.

This is a well structured course with an emphasis on learning to understand the construction of the head and its features and using these skills to better create more intense, expressive portraits. Working with oil paints students will develop a series of artworks, from short expressive painting sketches, to longer more detailed pieces. The students will also be encouraged to work intuitively and expressively in tandem with an emphasis on accuracy of observation. The class has the benefit of two experienced models every day, as well as tuition from a talented professional artist, James Bland. Students will receive one-to-one guidance throughout the course, and Jameswill be on hand to give regular feedback and constructive advice. He will also be demonstrating and painting alongside the students.

This five day portrait course will offer an opportunity for intensive study under the tuition of Antony Williams. During the first two days of this course you will be introduced to several techniques through a series of short poses and sketches to prepare you for your 3-day portrait project. Under Antony’s guidance, students will concentrate on  painting allowing the emphasis to be on relating the figure to a convincing background, to be produced over a sustained period. The tutor will also be working alongside the students demonstrating his technique. This exciting course is an intensive five days that offers a high level of tutor contact time.