REVELATION: How to paint in oils, and unlock the magic of the medium

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REVELATION: How to paint in oils, and unlock the magic of the medium

Dates: Wednesday 15th - Friday 17th July 2026 (3 Days)
Location: Old Granary Cottage, New Barn Farm - West Milton
Price: £750

Course Information

Level: This course is ideal for students who have had some experience of, or interest in, art or design (even if this was a long time ago, at school or college), and who now wish to learn how to paint in oils.

Medium: Oils

Duration: 3 days

REVELATION: HOW TO PAINT IN OIL

This course is a nuts-and-bolts guide to unlocking the magic and mystery of oil paint. It is designed to give less experienced painters a thorough understanding of the dozens of ways in which oil paint can be used on a flat surface; from thin transparent washes to thick opaque marks, from small dabs of pure pigment carefully applied, to swashbuckling strokes of loosely mixed colour, so that the surface of the canvas shimmers with energy and emotion.

Getting to grips with, and fully understanding, the characteristics of oil paint is an essential building block to becoming an effective painter. We will be considering most aspects of painting, including:

• how to set out and arrange a palette
• how and when to dilute the paint
• how colour works, and how to mix them
• how to prepare your support
• how to make a tinted ground
• what makes a subject
• how to decide what sort of brush to use

We will explore the vital relationship between our state of mind and the brush marks we make; we’ll see how different types of brushes behave differently. In other words, we will be exploring the language of paint. And to inspire and help us, we will consider the work of the Impressionists in the morning slide shows. We will examine how these great masters conveyed a sense of light and aerial perspective by mastering the relationship between colour and tonal value.

The course will be held at Hugo’s home, set on a hill above the village of West Milton. It is a delightful house, with beautiful gardens and sweeping views of the Dorset countryside. The studio is a spacious marquee where you can further develop your initial sketches and paintings.

The course is non-residential, but will include delicious homemade lunches and refreshments every day, which are always a highlight!

The teaching part of the day will run daily from 9:30am to 4.30pm but students are welcome to stay on and paint in the landscape at the end of each day.

You will be sent a detailed materials list on booking.