10:00 - 16:00

Level: Intermediate

In this workshop we will approach painting an Alla Prima portrait from life. Using a limited palette (Zorn palette plus raw umber) we will develop the portrait from drawing, to block-in, to finished painting (in as much as time allows). 

This direct approach can help to bring an energy, looseness, and bravura to our work, when we embrace the challenges of painting a portrait from life in one session.

What to bring:

Paints:

If you are fairly new to oil painting I would recommend buying the student quality paints Winton (by Winsor & Newton) or Georgian (by Daler Rowney).

The colours you will need:

• Titanium White 

• Ivory Black

• Yellow Ochre

• Cadmium Red Light (or equivalent)

• Raw Umber

Surfaces:

• You can use a primed canvas, canvas board, primed mdf board, or oil painting paper. I would aim for something around 10" x 12" (25cm x 30cm)

Brushes:

• You will need this minimum selection of Brushes:

• Hog Hair sizes 8, 6, 4, and 2 

• Synthetic/soft long-haired - sizes 2, and 1

• The hogs can be round, square or filbert (the shape of the tip), depending on your preference. I use predominantly filberts

• The synthetics (long-haired) are probably better being rounds or filberts

• The softer longer hairs allow you to put wet paint on top of wet paint a little easier than the rough hogs. So, good for final details

Solvents:

• Odourless solvent, like Sansodor or Zest It. This is used to thin your paint when first applying it

Medium:

• Linseed oil (or a favoured medium)

• You'll need small containers for the solvent and medium, called Dippers. Or something suitable made of metal or glass (Not Plastic)

Other:

• You'll need a palette knife to mix your colours

• A palette. (This could be a smooth tile)

• An apron, coverall, or paint-spattered clothes

• Newspaper (to lay your wet painting on for transport home)

• Rags, paper towels or biodegradable baby wipes

• Packed lunch

Included on the day:

• Any other materials not specified for the students to bring

• Expert tuition

• 1 to 1 guidance

• Detailed demonstrations

• A selection of tea, freshly brewed coffee, biscuits and delicious cakes. If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies, please feel free to bring along your own provisions/milk alternatives etc

And of course you take your wonderful creations from the day. If you share any photographs of your day here and/or your finished work, we’d love to see them so please tag us @micklemsfarmcreativeworkshops or use the hashtag #micklemsfarmcreativeworkshops.

Terms - Fee is payable on booking. If, having booked, you can no longer attend, we are unable to offer a refund or transfer you to another workshop. However, you may nominate someone else to attend the workshop or class in your place by notifying us using the contact page on the Micklems Farm website. We reserve the right to cancel a workshop up to 48 hours prior to the workshop date. We will only cancel due to insufficient places sold and you will be refunded the full amount paid.

Number of students: 8