Explore: oil painting – develop personal direction

About this course

Participants develop paintings over time, making considered choices about scale, colour, composition and materials. The course explores personal themes including still life, landscape, abstraction and conceptual approaches, alongside influences from historical and contemporary painters. Teaching combines independent studio-style practice with experimentation, reflection and discussion. Learners refine processes such as layering, surface control and finishing, then review and resolve their work with attention to presentation, visual structure and the communication of ideas.

What you'll learn

• Plan and sustain a personal line of enquiry through an oil painting project or series.
• Apply layering, surface control and finishing techniques to refine paintings.
• Make deliberate decisions about scale, colour, materials and composition.
• Evaluate and revise work through critical reflection, recognising when a painting is resolved.
• Explain artistic intentions and influences when discussing work.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for improver-level oil painters developing beyond fundamental techniques and looking to work on sustained projects. Participation involves independent studio practice alongside group discussion, critical reflection and consideration of how paintings develop over time.

• Work is developed through sustained projects or series rather than isolated exercises.
• Learners are expected to discuss their intentions, influences and developing work.
• The course includes independent practice within a studio-style environment.