Painting A Portrait in Oils
Drawing / Oil / Water-based / Figure - Materials included
We haven’t scheduled this course yet. Please email us to register your interest for future availability.
Register InterestCourse details
Taking inspiration from the likes of Lucian Freud work from a model to better understand the anatomy, tone and composition of the face, expressed in gouache and oils.

This three day course will be an opportunity to examine approaches to portraiture examining and using the visual language of a variety of artists as your starting point including Lucian Freud.
You will be working from direct observation with a model in the studio. On the first day learn to read the face through drawing, studying anatomy, tone and composition. Move on to paint with gouache to practice mixing skin tones then finally moving on to oils to explore the essence of portraiture.
Teaching will be through demonstrations and one to one time with each student. The tutor Gary Long will work on his own piece during the sessions so students can observe the process of development.




What will I learn?
- Understand the visual language of portraiture.
- Learn to build a likeness through studying the architecture and anatomy of the face.
- Gain insight into the successful composition of a portrait as an artwork.
- Gain a critical understanding of the work of influential portrait artists and their techniques.
- An opportunity to watch a successful portrait artist at work and witness the structure of a figurative painting first hand.
Who would this course suit?
Have you ever wanted to do a portrait but don’t know where to start or are you frustrated that your portraits just never look convincing?
You might be struggling to get a likeness or perhaps your paintings just don’t look anatomically correct but you don’t know why?
Learn reliable ways to tackle these challenges and build your confidence. Get the tools you need to progress so you can paint the portrait that you want to.
What our students say
Gary is generous with his hints and insights, he clearly understands the subject extremely well and conveys his enthusiasm to the group
There’s a lot to learn, most of it by practice. The course showed basic techniques and how to achieve a portrait. It sent me off in the right direction, which is all I could have asked for
Good balance between instruction, demonstration and practice. Very skillful and experienced artist tutoring. The school has well equipped, airy studios. It also provided a friendly environment, encouraging and never negative.
Gary has a wealth of knowledge, an ability to create a nice vibe, and provides a safe environment to try new techniques. He is generous with his time, perceptive ,and tailors his approach to your needs.
Taught by
What to Bring
Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.
Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.
Timings and Breaks
The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.
All course days after that start at 9.30am and end at 4pm. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.
The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.
All course days after that start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm and there will be an hour for lunch. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.
