Summer School 2026
Introduction to oils
3 day intensive
All materials provided
In person class (venue TBC, either Petersham or Camperdown)
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Friday 9th – Sunday 11th January 10am -2pm each day
$500
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This class provides a comprehensive introduction to oil painting materials and methods. Covering alla prima techniques as well as an introduction to monochrome underpainting and layering techniques such as glazing and scumbling.
Suitable to beginners as well as people wanting a grounding in classical techniques or to refresh their understanding of oil painting principles. A more detailed breakdown of the class is included below.
Day 1
Materials – supports, grounds, mediums, pigments etc
How to draw out efficiently for painting
Monochrome underpainting, undertanding tone
simple colour study, rendering form in colour
Day 2
Colour mixing, understanding and managing your palette
Alla prima study in colour
Day 3
Introduction to glazing and scumbling
Bringing colour into a monochrome underpainting
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Please note: all materials are provided for this class so that students don’t need to buy their own materials until they have a better understanding of what to get.
If you already have your own and would prefer to use them, please let me know and I can send you a separate invoice for a reduced rate ($400)
Composition and lighting for painting
In person class (venue TBC, either Petersham or Camperdown)
Thursday 8th January
10 am to 2 pm
This one day intensive is designed to give students a good understanding of compositional principles and how to light a subject beautifully for painting. Getting your subject right is often more than half the battle! Students will complete a range of exercises designed to improve their understanding of composition and the ways in which light can be manipulated to strengthen a composition. We will also discuss getting good quality reference photos that are suitable as a painting reference rather than ‘snaps’.
Please note, we won’t actually be painting in this class, so there’s no need to bring painting materials. I will ask you to bring some of your own still life props.
Term 1 2026
Drawing and painting the portrait
Mondays 9.30am to 1.00 pm
$720
8 week term
2nd Feb – 23rd March
Includes a model for 6 sessions
In person class held at 84 Cardigan St Camperdown
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This class looks in depth at the portrait. Beginning with drawing, students will learn the structure of the individual features, a proportional system for capturing a likeness and the typical shadow patterns found on the face. They will then progress to working from a life model – beginning with drawing and progressing to monochrome oil paint and then full colour in oil.
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Limited palettes
Tuesdays 9.30am to 12.30 pm
$570
8 week term
3rd Feb – 24th March
Online via zoom
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This class looks at the use of limited colour palettes to create surprising colour effects. Students will complete one painting each week using a different restricted palette. The limitations placed on the palette will not only expand the understanding of colour and improve colour mixing abilities but also generate interesting mood and lighting effects.
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Preparation for landscape painting
Fridays 9.30am to 1.00 pm
$620
8 week term
6th Feb – 27th March
In person class held at 84 Cardigan St Camperdown
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This class is intended as a preparatory class, working towards a term of painting en plain air in term 2. Landscape can be an overwhelming genre, so in preparation students will look at some of the important features including: sky transitions, foliage patterns, cloud formations, rocks, simplified figures and light in the outdoors, producing a series of practice studies and copies over the term.
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