Oil Painting Workshop

Learn painting skills and how to use oil paints with our painting short courses in Sydney!

Step into the creative and expressive world of oil painting. If you have always wanted to learn how to paint with oils, then this is the course for you.

In this one-day workshop, you will be introduced to the basics of oil painting. You will explore factors of the medium to better understand techniques and possibilities and gain confidence in your approach to the oil painting process, and be introduced to oils and solvents and how best to employ them in your art practice. Through individual attention, you will be assisted in handling the medium confidently.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this painting with oil paints workshop, you should have:

• Knowledge of the basics of oil painting
• Applied different painting techniques
• Worked with oil paints and solvents

Course content

What will be covered in this painting with oils course?

• Working from observation
• Painting of shapes and shadows
• Colouring mixing and matching
• Solvent selection and use
• Composition
• Subject matter: Still life as set up in the studio (primary subject matter) and also landscape (from photograph bring a selection of your own or tutor will provide)

Before embarking on painting, students will warm up with basic drawing and perspective exercises. This is a unique workshop designed to accelerate your ability to paint!

Intended audience

Who is this painting with oil paints course for?

This workshop is for beginners or those who want to refresh their skills and understanding of oil painting.

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

Materials provided

Most materials are provided. 

What to bring to class

If you want to provide your own materials, please bring the following:

• 2 sheets A3 cartridge paper for drawing warm-up
• 2 canvases, A3 or smaller (choose 2 × stretched canvas or board, 2 × sheets canvas paper, or one of each)
• A variety of bristle brushes (eg, No. 2, 4 & 6, round or filbert)
• Graphite pencil for sketching
• Flat palette or disposable paper palette pad (or white plastic plate)
• Painting rags cut into 12-inch squares (t-shirts or old sheets work well)

Oil paints:

• Spectrum Vermilion
• Alizarin Crimson
• Raw Umber
• French Ultramarine Blue
• Titanium White
• Lemon Yellow

If you are buying paints, we recommend 40ml tubes of oil paint from either the Winton range (cheapest at about $8 each) or Spectrum or Windsor & Newton. (The tiny tubes of Reeves or Maries brand are not recommended).

You may wish to bring source images to work from or choose from a selection in class. If you bring your own please print 2 copies (don't bring on a device). You'll be adding a grid over the image so it needs to be something you can draw on.

Additional information

Please note the following:

• Please bring a cardboard box or something to transport your wet paintings home
• Closed-in shoes required
• Please wear old clothes
• Long hair must be tied back
• Lunch can be purchased on Darling Street (10 min. walk) or bring your own lunch (Fridge and Microwave available)