This six-session course will introduce you to the merits of both traditional oils and fast-drying alkyds. We will experiment with different techniques, gradually increasing skill levels, and use Zest-it instead of turps to keep fume levels to a minimum. Short exercises using different types of brushes and palette knives will build up to painting larger more complex pieces. The demonstrations will reveal how to paint elements within a landscape but by the end of the course you will have the tools and knowledge to paint whatever you like.
NEXT COURSES: Please contact Kate if you are interested in booking a place on the next 6-week course at Storrington Village Hall, 59 West Street, Storrington, RH20 4DZ from Thursday 18th April - 30th May (no class on 2nd May) 10am-1pm, or try the ‘Art Essentials’ Weekend at Sullington Manor Farm, Sullington Lane, Storrington, West Sussex, RH20 4AE, from 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday 20/21st July 2024.
COST: £260 for 6 classes of 3 hours in Storrington or £330 for the weekend course in Sullington, which includes teas, coffees, lunches and cakes.
Brief Course Outline
Week 1 - Introduction to oil paints, brushes, supports, palettes and thinners. Paint a still life to try different paints - edges and form, dark to light, fat over lean.
Week 2 - Underpainting with oils or acrylics; colour theory, pigment types, colour mixing.
Week 3 - Elements in composition - planning your paintings for balance and interest.
Week 4 - Correcting mistakes, scraping back, tonking, ragging and scraffito.
Week 5 - Mark making - impasto, knife painting, selecting your brushes and how best to use them.
Week 6 - Tips on painting portraits, alla prima and glazing, varnishing and troubleshooting.
NB. The weekend course covers sessions 1-3 on Saturday and 4-6 on Sunday.
Materials List
Bring with you any painting materials you may have as in the first lesson we will be looking at everything you might need for the course including small samples of the alkyd paints for you to try. However, if you would like to buy some things beforehand or if you plan to attend a weekend course, I recommend A4-size (or preferably bigger) oil paper or canvas boards; artist quality oil paints (minimum: white, red, yellow & blue min - see below)*; a wooden palette or tear-off palettes; a selection of sable, synthetic and hog hair brushes (rounds, flats and filberts plus a soft fan brush for blending); palette knives (optional); a board or table easel to lean on; two jars for thinners; Zest-it dilutant and brush cleaner; charcoal, chalk or pastel pencil for drawing (optional); masking tape; kitchen towel or lint-free rags; apron; pictures for inspiration and newspaper or something to protect your wet painting on the way home. Please wear old clothes.
* When buying paints it is always prudent to buy the ‘artist’ or ’professional’ range from decent paint manufacturers as cheap, student quality paints contain more fillers and can put you off the medium before you have even started. It is better to buy a few quality paints and mix the colours you need, rather than choose a large selection of colours you will never use. I like working with Winsor & Newton's Griffin Alkyds because they are fast drying, ready to paint over the following day and dry to similar sheen levels. Some people prefer the more traditional slower-drying oils of which I would recommend paints made by Daler Rowney, Winsor & Newton and Michael Harding, amongst others. Basic colours should include a warm and cool version of each of the three primaries ie. Cadmium Red, Crimson Red, Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, plus a large tube of Titanium White. You may also wish to add in some pre-mixed colours like Hookers Green, if you like painting landscapes or Flesh Tint if you want to paint people. Some of the earth colours like Raw Umber and Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, Raw Sienna and Burnt Sienna are also very useful to have in your paint box as well as black. We will be using Zest-it as a thinner and also for cleaning brushes instead of turpentine to reduce fume levels.
“Lovely, happy group of people. Super, informative, well-structured teaching that has given me confidence to carry on painting in oils.”
“Extremely informative and most enjoyable.”
“If you have any qualms about launching into oil painting, Kate’s patient and inspirational course should blow you away!”
Student Galleries & Comments
Click on an image to enlarge and flick through the gallery
“Would highly recommend this course to anybody starting up in oils.”
“Excellent course, I have gained so much knowledge.”
“Having done the Drawing and Acrylics Courses, I always thought oil was for people who could paint, so didn’t want to try. I have achieved more in this medium so I wish I’d tried it sooner.”
“Kate’s Oils Course was fun and has given me confidence with this medium knowing I can remove paint, push paint around and blend easily. It’s amazing the things you can do with oil paint!”
“I enjoyed the whole course, particularly different techniques, effects etc. and have exceeded my aims. I always find Kate’s teaching inspirational and would have liked the course to be longer.”
“If you have not tried oil painting, this is the course for you!”
“Every week you learn more - you then look at the world differently, seeking out the colour, the darks and the lights!”
“I realised that painting in oils is very complicated and challenging but the actual process of putting down paint and learning is always fun. Kate is a good teacher - her good humour, patience and encouragement enhances one’s enjoyment of the course.”
“A good comprehensive grounding for anyone staring out in oil painting.”
“Such a fantastic teacher - cool, calm, instructive and confidence building.”
“Kate’s classes are always fun - this one especially so. Kate’s patience and encouragement provide a safe environment for us to learn in and we can relax and enjoy it all. Full of fun and laughter - brilliant!”
“If you ever thought you couldn’t paint in oil, try Kate’s course - surprise yourself!”
“Excellent artist and excellent teacher. I achieved all of my aims... and more!”
“I really enjoyed the course, both the instruction and the giving confidence as well as the company of the other participants - friendly and lively. I really appreciated proper lessons and handouts.”
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