This course has been created to be both practical and discussion led, the aim is for us to learn ways of looking, speaking and making. The central focus is to question our conditioning; how historical, political, social, gendered and other factors have influenced our relation to the visual world around us, and therefore our relation to visual art. The general daily structure of this course will be as follows: every day we will begin with an introduction to visual and theoretical references. Then we will then paint until mid-afternoon, at which point we will have a discussion about each participant's work. The last day of the course the participants will make a self-directed painting for half of the day, after lunch we will do a crit on the work, in which everyone will receive comments from the group and have a chance to respond.

This is a structured opportunity to gain fundamental drawing and painting skills, whilst blurring the boundary between drawing and painting by using both wet and dry materials together. By looking at still life, interior/exterior and portrait, students explore various ways of seeing, increasing their understanding and confidence to draw and paint. Topics include linear drawing, tonal drawing, composition, sketching outdoors, expressive drawing/painting, study of natural forms and portrait painting. A fun and intensive course that will leave students with the knowledge and inspiration to start their own artworks. By the end of this course you will: have a series of drawings and paintings based on all the different topics explored in the course; you will also leave with increased confidence in your abilities and an enthusiasm for drawing.  

This is a structured opportunity to gain fundamental drawing and painting skills, whilst blurring the boundary between drawing and painting by using both wet and dry materials together. Students will explore various ways of seeing, increasing their understanding and confidence to draw and paint. Topics include linear drawing, tonal drawing, composition,  expressive drawing/painting, study of natural forms and personal project. A fun and intensive course that will leave students with the knowledge and inspiration to start their own artworks. Please be aware that on Friday the class finishes at 4.30pm.  

A fun and intensive week of life and portrait painting appropriate for advanced skill level. By the end of the masterclass, you will have developed your existing skills and knowledge of structure, tone, colour, composition under the guidance of an experienced practicing artist. The emphasis will be on learning practical skills as well as bringing out your intuitive ability. The course will cover planning a painting and executing two types of portrait: head and shoulders and a full figure composition.  

In this exciting five-day course, under the Tuition of Charlie Pickard, students will tackle the most challenging and important academic subject to master: the human figure. Students will have the opportunity to study a model from life for a 5-day pose, allowing enough time to thoroughly observe the nuances of form and colour, by painting the model for a total of six hours per day. Critiques will be focused on achieving a high level of academic accuracy, building a strong foundation that will aid in all further artwork. Charlie Pickard will also demonstrate a painting alongside students, using a direct painting method. This course is designed for experienced, advanced oil painters.

This five-day portrait painting course will offer an opportunity for intensive study under the tuition of Des Haughton. This is a five-day intermediate course in painting portraits from observation in oils and it is designed for students with previous painting experience. The aim of this exciting Portrait course is to give students opportunity to focus exclusively on the challenges faced when painting a portrait. The course will cover a variety of techniques including how to construct a portrait, how to mix colours, how to see and understand “Tone” and to explore the important role tone (light) plays in creative volume. The final part of the course examines “expression” and the possibilities within portraiture. It's an intensive five days that offer a high level of tutor contact time with Des giving demonstrations, individual guidance, criticism and advice. The course aims to stimulate, refresh and advance your practice on an individual basis. Please be aware that on Friday the class will finish at 4.30pm.

This exciting course ventures outside to explore the possibilities of plein-air landscape painting. With our London Bridge studio as a base, we will make use of the historically fascinating and energetic surroundings to create dynamic urban landscapes, considering movement, detail and narrative potential. Visiting some of London's green spaces, we will develop an understanding of colour and atmosphere, working towards vibrant paintings that capture the time of day and the weather. Looking at different historical and contemporary artists, students will also have the chance to consider alternative ways of thinking about the genre of "landscape painting". This course is suitable for all levels, and will build confidence both in fundamental skills of painting such as understanding tone, colour mixing, composition and mark making, as well as the practicalities of setting yourself up to paint outside.

This is a fun course that offers the fantastic opportunity to paint in and around London’s urban landscape. The Art Academy is just a short stroll from the Thames, conveniently situated in the historic Southwark London Bridge area which will feature as the main focus of this course. Working with quick sketches in oil or acrylic, students will practice how to efficiently and accurately capture tone and colour in the outdoors. Creating loose and vigorous paintings, we will look at how to capture a sense of light and atmosphere at different times of day. Looking at the works of other artists we will discuss different ways of composing a painting in an urban setting. Basic painting techniques such as tone, colour and texture will be addressed, as well as creative expression in the application of paint. Painting outside of the studio is always an exciting experience and students of all levels are sure to enjoy painting outdoors.

This course is a packed week covering a range of ways to paint the human figure in different types of spaces, and is a good introductory course or works as a refresher for those with painting experience. We start by painting the life model in the studio space, focusing on perspective and placing the figure in the room. The next day we look at a technique used by contemporary painters and the old masters, of working from miniature models as a way of working out interesting compositions. Days 4 and 5 are one project – gathering information collected from outside, and then constructing your own compositions in the studio, incorporating 3 figures into the space as a way of suggesting narrative. Oils and acrylics both welcome.

This is a well structured course with an emphasis on learning to understand the construction of the head and its features and using these skills to better create more intense, expressive portraits. Working with oil paints students will develop a series of artworks, from short expressive painting sketches, to longer more detailed pieces. The students will also be encouraged to work intuitively and expressively in tandem with an emphasis on accuracy of observation. The class has the benefit of 1:8 model to student ratio, as well as tuition from a talented professional artist, Charlie Schaffer. Students will receive one-to-one guidance throughout the course, and Charlie will be on hand to give regular feedback and constructive advice. He will also be demonstrating and painting alongside the students.

This is a well structured course with an emphasis on learning to understand the construction of the head and its features and using these skills to better create more intense, expressive portraits. Working with oil paints students will develop a series of artworks, from short expressive painting sketches, to longer more detailed pieces. The students will also be encouraged to work intuitively and expressively in tandem with an emphasis on accuracy of observation. The class has the benefit of 1:8 model to student ratio, as well as tuition from a talented professional artist, Charlie Schaffer. Students will receive one-to-one guidance throughout the course, and Charlie will be on hand to give regular feedback and constructive advice. He will also be demonstrating and painting alongside the students.

For some artists the portrait can be about purely formal aspects, with no relevance placed on the character of the sitter. Under the tuition of Andy Pankhurst you will be encouraged to explore and discover what you personally want to "paint about", working from a model throughout the week. Starting with preliminary drawings on day one you will be introduced to the concepts of measurement and proportion, form, tone, space, composition and pictorial structure. The focus will then be on producing a colour oil sketch from the portrait model with a particular emphasis on colour and temperature. The final three days of the course will be spent on a large-scale portrait painting of a sustained pose. This exciting course is an intensive five days that offers a high level of tutor contact time.