Oil Painting Course

Learn to work with oil paints with our painting short courses in Sydney!

In this comprehensive oil painting course, you will learn the techniques and benefits of working with the oil paint medium. 

Suitable for both beginners and those with some painting experience, you will be guided through structured exercises to create paintings with beautiful texture and finish – even without any prior painting experience. 

In this oil painting course, you will learn how to prepare your surface, outline your painting, mix, and layer different oils in your painting, and how to finish and glaze your painting.  

We will begin with the examination of inspirational paintings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. You will be introduced to the historical techniques as used by artists during this period. Your first painting will be the reproduction of a section of a painting of your choice from this period. 

The traditional painting techniques acquired during this study will then be used to create a second painting of your choice. 

This course is designed to be ongoing, with students encouraged to re-enrol as many times as they like to continue their painting learning. Your teacher will structure each session to suit all levels of experience in the group. 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you will have explored concepts and techniques such as:

• Demonstrate correct brush and palette technique
• Mix colours using colour theory
• Create various formulations of oil paint
• Create a single-layered painting
• Create a multi-layered painting

Course content

During the course, participants will work with techniques and ideas such as:

• Tonal painting and underpainting
• Colour theory and colour mixing
• Paint formulation and handling
• Brush technique
• The application of grounds and primings and the construction of an oil painting

Intended audience

Who is this oil painting course for?

This course is open to beginners and students with some painting experience.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd in the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

What to bring to class

Option 1: Purchase a complete material kit when you enrol. It will be ready for collection from the front office at your first session.

Option 2: Uncheck the materials kit at checkout and bring your own - consult our oil painting material list.

*Materials kits are ordered from our supplier and can take up to a week to arrive. If you enrol close to the start date, you may receive your kit at the second session instead of the first.

Additional information

Please note the following:

• Closed-in shoes required
• Please wear old clothes and/or bring an apron
• Long hair must be tied back
• Content may vary slightly depending on class pace, participant interests, and instructor approach.