Introduction to Painting Portraits in Oils Workshop with Martyn Harris ARBSA
This workshop will provide you with the basic tools and techniques necessary to painting portraits with traditional oil paints, with a focus on mixing flesh tones.
Age group and abilities to be taught
18 years and above.
Ideal for beginners and improvers.
Course aims and skills/knowledge to be taught
Preparing surface, composition, drawing out, colour mixing, blocking in to refining the portrait
Course outline
Morning activity
Preparation and drawing out: you begin by deciding the format and size of the portrait. Working on a 300 x 250 prepared board, you will begin to lay the undercoats and grid out the canvas, before drawing out your portrait
Afternoon activity
Blocking in: The underpainting is the foundation of a painting. The tutor will cover how to lay out your pallet to maximise efficiency and easiness
First Pass: Start refining areas in more detail and mixing flesh tones
Final Pass Finishing: the tutor will guide you on the finishing process, and provide recommendations for future workings and varnishing
Materials and equipment required by workshop students
Some of these can be borrowed from the gallery, but we recommend that you bring your own equipment to use as well.
A range of paintbrushes (flats, filberts and rounds)
Oil paints – the tutor recommends the Windsor & Newton Artists Oil range. His palette includes Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Sap Green, Cobalt Blue, Paynes Grey, Cadmium Red and Alizarin Crimson.
Mediums (Distilled Turpentine and Windsor & Newton Refined Linseed Oil)
Materials and equipment provided
These will be provided for use during the workshop and are included in the fee.
Prepared Panels
Some oil paints
Some paintbrushes
White spirits for cleaning
Methods of assessing outcomes
Group discussion and tutor feedback
Completion of the evaluation form
Interested in learning more about this workshop? Visit our blog to read some student feedback!
Booking information
To book please visit the What’s On page on the RBSA Gallery website and click ‘workshops’.
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5.00pm