Immerse yourself in the timeless techniques of the Old Masters in this intensive one-week oil painting workshop. Designed for artists of all levels, this course guides students through the classical Renaissance method step by step. Beginning with a foundational underdrawing, you will learn to create a structured and accurate composition before developing a monochromatic underpaint to establish form, value, and light.
With this solid groundwork in place, we will then explore the rich world of color application, layering, and glazing. These are the traditional techniques used by master painters for centuries to achieve depth, luminosity, and subtle transitions. Each day includes hands-on instruction, demonstrations, and personalized guidance, with a midday break for lunch.
Special focus will be given to portrait techniques, including how to render eyes with lifelike precision so that the subject's gaze appears to follow the viewer across the room—an enduring optical effect mastered by Renaissance artists through careful placement, direct frontal gaze, subtle shading, and highlights that create the illusion of eye contact from any angle.
By the end of the week, you may have a finished oil painting using authentic Renaissance methods and gained a deeper understanding of classical craftsmanship that you can apply to your own artistic practice.