Are you ready to loosen up, push forward, and explore what is next in your painting journey? This new course will push your practice further-towards greater confidence and personal expression.

Whether you are returning after completing ‘Discover Painting‘ or have a developing practice of your own, ‘Discover Painting II’ will help you unlock more personal, expressive approaches to painting.

The dynamic three-day course is designed for painters with some experience in acrylics who are ready to explore new territory, deepen their skills, and grow their confidence.

Over the three days, you’ll explore how colour, texture, and composition can be used more intentionally and intuitively—moving between figuration and abstraction, and learning how to build a cohesive body of work. Working on paper, board and canvas, and using a variety of tools and techniques, you’ll expand your approach to scale, surface, and subject.

You can choose to bring your own works-in-progress to class, using them as a springboard to open new directions or choose your own subject from the landscape outside or the studios within. With acrylics still at the core, explore ways to build rich surface textures, harmonise and contrast tones, and make more intentional use of colour. Experiment with scaling up your work and begin forming a more personal and cohesive body of work that feels authentic and alive.

Ilker holds a rich and open space for you to take creative risks, reflect on your practice, and deepen your connection to the work you’re making. Whether you’re exploring a motif, developing a series, or simply following your curiosity, this course gives you the structure and freedom to follow your instinct, open up your art practice and move it forward with confidence.

‘Discover Painting II’ is perfect for painters ready to grow—creatively, technically, and conceptually—and take the next step in discovering who they are as artists.

What will I learn?

1. Develop a more personal and a collective expressive painting style.
2. A deeper understanding of colour, tone and texture.
3. New techniques for mark-making, layering and surface building.
4. Gain confidence taking creative risks and experimenting with process.
5. Working confidently at different scales.
6. Explore the relationship between figuration and abstraction.
7. Tips for critiquing and reworking your own paintings.

Who would this course suit?

This course is ideal for painters with some experience in acrylics who would like to spend time working in our beautiful studio space in St Ives. Whether you’ve completed ‘Discover Painting‘ or have an independent practice you’d like to develop further, it is perfect for those looking to loosen up, explore new techniques, and start building a cohesive body of work. Leave with new work, fresh ideas, and momentum for your painting practice. The course will support and challenge you in equal measure.

What to Bring

Timings and Breaks