Expressive Oils

A 5-day course in painting with clarity, confidence, and control

This course is a structured, immersive week of oil painting, taught through an alla prima approach—working directly and decisively into the paint.

Rather than building paintings in layers, you’ll learn to respond to what you see in the moment, simplifying, editing, and making clear decisions as you go.

The focus is not on one subject or style, but on understanding how painting works—so you can approach it with more confidence and freedom.

You will paint every day and complete multiple paintings across the week.

Who it’s for
Beginners who want a clear, practical introduction to oil painting
Those returning to painting who want to loosen up and regain confidence
Painters who feel stuck or overworked in their approach

What you’ll learn
How to simplify what you see and avoid overcomplicating
Working alla prima (wet-into-wet) with more control
Handling paint and using brushes effectively
Understanding tone and structure in a painting
Mixing colour through a limited palette
Making decisions and knowing when to stop
Approaching a painting from start to finish
The emphasis is on how to paint, not just what to paint.

Course structure
Day 1 — Seeing and Simplifying
We begin with tonal painting exercises to strip things back.
You’ll work with a limited value range and larger brushes to focus on what matters.

Day 2 — Paint Handling
A practical day exploring how paint behaves.
You’ll complete a series of short paintings using different brushes and approaches.

Day 3 — Colour and Relationships
Using a limited palette, we’ll look at how colour works in relation to tone.
You’ll mix a range of neutrals and build confidence in colour decisions.

Day 4 — Loosening and Editing
Through timed exercises, you’ll learn to work more freely without losing structure.
The focus is on simplifying and avoiding overworking.

Day 5 — Bringing it Together
You’ll complete a longer painting, applying everything from the week.

We’ll also look at how to approach future paintings with more clarity.

How the course is taught
This is a hands-on, practical course with demonstrations, guidance, and individual feedback throughout.
You’ll work through a series of focused exercises designed to build understanding through doing.

Outcomes
This course is about developing a way of painting that is direct, responsive, and grounded—so you can continue with confidence beyond the week.

August Course

Starts: Monday 10th August to Friday 14th August

Time: 10 - 3pm

Fees: £400