Course details
Discover how to turn simple everyday objects into expressive still-life oil paintings, focusing on light, mood, and refined composition.
How do you find inspiration from your everyday surroundings? How do you work out interesting compositions when drawing or painting things you find in your house?
On this three-day course, artist Eleanor Crow teaches you the subtle art of capturing the beauty of vases, bowls, bottles, fruit and flowers. Introducing you to how masters including Morandi, William Scott, Diebenkorn and Gwen John used the domestic setting as a place for inspiration, learn to capture the subtle tones in apparently simple subjects. Create captivating still-life compositions that capture subtle shifts of light and mood.
Working from your own still-life set-up, start by exploring tone and composition then create a tonal palette in limited colours. See how altering the combination of objects and the changing light – natural or artificial – can add rhythm and texture to your still-life set-ups. Eleanor will demonstrate how to transform your smaller studies into larger compositions, and how to add depth, tone and luminosity to your oil paintings. Ideal if you are new to oil painting, or are simply looking for new sources of inspiration, or ways to freshen up your approach.
Day to day plan
This is a rough indication of what to expect over the course. However sometimes the structure of the days may alter depending on the nature of the group and weather.
Day 1
Starting with an introduction to the idea of ‘groupings’, look to artists including Morandi, William Scott and Gwen John. Focus on tone and composition in charcoal and graphite in the morning, and then move to colour mixing in oils in the afternoon.
Day 2
Add to the colour mixing started on day one and then work on small studies. By the afternoon, begin a more involved, longer work.
Day 3
Working towards a finished, larger piece, you will have the opportunity to see your fellow students work in the afternoon.
What will I learn?
- Gain inspiration from your everyday surroundings. See how simple domestic objects you find in your home can inspire your work.
- Build confidence in working with oil paints.
- A greater understanding of other artists who have been inspired by still-life painting.
- Adding tone, depth and luminosity to your paintings.
- Gain confidence in building a composition.
Who would this course suit?
If you are interested in finding new ways of capturing the environment around you, this course is for you. Most importantly, this will be a chance to explore and experiment without judgement.
Ahead of your oil painting course with us if you would like to brush up your skills, you are entitled to 25% off our online “Getting Started with Oil Painting” course here. You will be given a code after purchasing our studio oil painting course.
Our studio ‘Beginner’s Oil Painting’ courses can be found here.
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.
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 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.
What our students say
Eleanor is a brilliant teacher, she managed to spend plenty of time with us individually as well as in a group and was encouraging and inspired us to make the most of our own individual styles.
Fantastic course. Eleanor was very generous with her advice and knowledge, and I certainly went away with a lot of information on how to approach tone, palette, and composition.
FAQs
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