Oil Painting
- Level(s) of Study: Short course
- Course Fee:
£320
- Start Date(s): 28 August 2024
- Duration: Wednesday - Friday, 10 am - 4 pm, three days
- Study Mode(s): Short course
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
Unlock your creative potential and dive into the exciting world of oil painting on our dynamic short course.
From beginners eager to explore this traditional medium, to experienced painters seeking to push the boundaries of their practice; whatever your experience you’ll learn the principles of oil painting and how to create different effects using the ‘alla prima’ method of painting wet paint into wet paint.
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You’ll be part of a design community in our creative studio culture; one that promotes discussion and collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas. -
With a limited class size you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your designs at home or work. -
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practice -
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance.
What you’ll study
This course is a comprehensive introduction to painting in oils that will build your confidence and encourage expressive mark making.
You’ll learn a variety of tricks and techniques to achieve vibrant colour, textural detail and contrasting tone through the classic subjects of Sky and Landscape, Expressive Seascape and a Still Life.
You will complete three paintings, supported by one to one tuition, demonstrations of specific materials and techniques, and supportive group critiques.
Whether you aspire to exhibit your work, start a career as an artist, or simply explore your creative side, this course will provide you with the tools and inspiration to thrive in the world of contemporary oil painting.
During this course, you will:
- learn to mix and manipulate oil paints to achieve desired colours without getting ‘muddy’
- explore various styles in oil painting through landscape, seascape and still life.
- experiment with texture using a variety of tools and techniques
- practice creating depth and tactile qualities to your painting
- learn how to prepare your canvas with a coloured ground
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll study during the course.
You’ll explore each of these subjects before applying the skills you’ve learnt to your own choice of subject matter.
- Great Big Sky: colour and mark-making
- Wild, Expressive Seascape: expressive action
- Still Life: texture
Introduction to big brushes and mark-making into wet paint (alla prima)
The sky is the perfect subject to learn the basics of oil painting, whilst enjoying a multitude of expressive techniques without the danger of getting ‘muddy’.
Using expressive mark making and creating depth, working with palette knives and brushes on a pre-painted coloured canvas. Developing your paintings as the day progresses, you’ll work from dark to light tones.
Discover how you can replicate the glossy smoothness of a grape, the fuzzy softness of a peach, and the pulpy texture of a sliced orange in your paintings.
Further information on what you'll study
By the end of this course you will have honed your technical skills, developed your unique artistic voice, and gained a deeper understanding of the medium and all it can offer.
You’ll leave with three finished paintings and the knowledge to take your own painting in whichever way you choose.
How you’re taught
This is a practical course and the subject is underpinned by theory and demonstrations.
This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University City Campus.
You will receive 15 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.
Careers and employability
The course could be a means to progress within fine art into different materials or approaches.
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance, which will further enhance your CV.
Campus and facilities
You will be based in the Nottingham School of Art and Design on the City Campus.
You'll find bright painting studios in which to develop your ideas.
You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.
You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.
Entry requirements
Level: Open to all
Entry requirement: Beginners as well as those with some painting experience are welcome.
You must be over the age of 18 in order to attend this course.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form
Level: Open to all
Entry requirement: Beginners as well as those with some painting experience are welcome.
You must be over the age of 18 in order to attend this course.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £320.
Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.
Secure your place with a deposit
If you're booking more than two months before the course starts, we can accept a £200 deposit to secure your place, and the balance is due one month before the course starts.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
You will also need to bring with you:
- 3 x oil paints (200ml tube) – Titanium White, Burned Umber and either French Ultramarine or Ultramarine blue
- 8 x oil paints (60ml tube) – lemon yellow, yellow ochre, cerulean blue, alizarin crimson, cadmium red, sap green, burnt sienna, lamp black
- 1 x acrylic paint (60 ml tube) - Van Dyke Brown
- 6 different sized hog’s hair or synthetically bristly brushes. Oil painting brushes for expressive painting must feel bristly on the skin, not soft like acrylic or watercolour brushes. A selection of different sized round ended and flat ended is best.
- A couple of fine ended / tapered brushes, from a DIY store (synthetic, not bristly)
- 1 x 30x40cm stretched canvas
- 2 x 40x60cm canvas panel boards or stretched canvas (or one of each)
- 1 x 2ltr bottle Bartoline*
- 1 x 250ml Zest-It Oil Paint Dilutant*
- Paper palette
- Small emulsion roller and tray from DIY store
- Cotton sheet
- 3 x large glass jars (large enough to fit your largest brush)
- old credit card / flat plastic object for scraping
- sharp spikey tool(s) like a small skewer from the kitchen, hair grip, nails, old scissors.
* Turpentine and White Spirit are not used in our studios. Instead, we use Zest-It artist thinner and Bartoline Clean Spirit – a revolutionary water-based alternative for brush cleaning, which is then ethically disposed of.
We can advise you on where to source materials if you are unsure, please email us.
You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.
The fee for this course is £320.
Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.
Secure your place with a deposit
If you're booking more than two months before the course starts, we can accept a £200 deposit to secure your place, and the balance is due one month before the course starts.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
You will also need to bring with you:
- Oil paints - a basic set of tubes (10 or 12 colours)
- Brushes, palette knife, palette, cotton rags, 2 x water pots (for mixing paints and washing brushes), newspaper
- Drawing tools – pencils, charcoal, eraser, sharpener, ruler
Your tutor has basic brushes in varying sizes and shapes to sample. You will need to provide your own, but don’t worry about the first session.
Your tutor will also provide cartridge and watercolour paper at the start of the course, to get you going.
You will need to provide paper, canvas or canvas board based on the direction of your project as the course progresses.
Turpentine and white spirit are not used in our studios. Instead, we use Zest-It artist thinner and Bartoline Clean Spirit – a revolutionary water-based alternative for brush cleaning, which is then ethically disposed.
You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.
How to apply
You can book your place via the NTU online store:
Weekday course (28 - 30 August 2024)
You can book your place via the NTU online store: