Painting Still Life in Oils Workshop

Painting Still Life in Oils Workshop with Caroline Griffin RBSA

This workshop is for those who already have some experience of oil painting, either recently or in the past. Learn to paint in oils from a still life composition that has been set up in the studio. Learn new skills in a supportive and enjoyable environment alongside others of a similar ability, with hands-on advice and tips from the tutor.

Age group and abilities to be taught        

• 18 years and above.
• Suitable post-beginners and intermediate level

Course aims and skills/knowledge to be taught

• Taking stock – working from still life, how to begin
• Drawing and setting down your painting in oils – thin paint to thick (‘fat over lean’)
• Colour and tone
• Paint application and mark marking
• Protecting your work

Course outline for Painting Still Life in Oils Workshop

Below is a rough plan for the morning and afternoon with a view to keeping things flexible and getting the painting going as soon as we can!

Morning activity 

• Welcome and introduction
• Looking at the still life composition – talk through composition, sight line, colour, tone and light direction. Quick demo from the tutor.
• A quick ‘warm up’ sketch, line only with thinned paint – get you thinking about what’s in front of you and how the objects relate to each other compositionally.
• Palette preparation – think about colour and tone and application of paint, getting started on your painting

Afternoon activity

• Continue working from the still life composition to create an ‘alla prima’ painting.
• Spend the afternoon working on your painting. The tutor will be on hand to advise on colour mixing, paint application, brush choice, brush cleaning, etc.
• Guidance on drying and protecting your work
• Appraisal

Materials and equipment required by workshop students

Some of these can be borrowed from the gallery, but we recommend that you bring your own equipment to use as well.

• A range of paintbrushes (flats, filberts and rounds)
• Oil paints – the tutor recommends the Windsor & Newton Artists Oil range. His palette includes Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Sap Green, Cobalt Blue, Paynes Grey, Cadmium Red and Alizarin Crimson.
• Mediums (Distilled Turpentine and Windsor & Newton Refined Linseed Oil)

Materials and equipment provided

(These will be provided for use during the workshop and are included in the fee).

• Apron – to protect your clothes
• Several large cotton rags for wiping brushes (poly cotton is fine, just nothing fluffy)
• Low odour white spirit and a medium or large sized jam jar with screw lid for transportation – you will need about half to two thirds of a large jam jar for this workshop.
• Oil paint, palette knives, brushes etc that you currently use.
  • Note: The tutor will be bringing some of my own brushes and palette knives for you to try if you don’t have your own. Basic paint colours will be provided but please bring any you already have.
• A palette for mixing your oil paint – preferably a medium to large wood palette.
• Optional: oil painting mediums if you have them and like to use them
• The tutor will provide ready primed boards for the workshop, but if you would prefer canvas, please bring your own.
• Something to transport your wet painting with
• A plastic bag to transport your wet palette

Methods of assessing outcomes

• Group discussion and tutor feedback
• Completion of the evaluation form

Interested in learning more about this workshop? Visit our blog to read some student feedback! 

Booking information

• To book please visit the RBSA Gallery website and click ‘workshops’ at the top of the page. Alternatively, please call the Gallery on 0121 236 4353 during opening hours Tues-Sat 10.30am – 5pm. Bookings can also be made in person at the Gallery. Payment in full is required at the time of booking to secure a place.
• Payments can be made by card online, by card over the phone, and by cash/card at the Gallery.
• Places are limited to 10 people per workshop unless stated otherwise. Allocation will take place on a first-come first-served basis.
• Please inform the RBSA Gallery when booking of any health conditions or additional needs as some workshops might not be suitable.
• A valid student ID must be provided to receive a student discount.

Cancellation Policy

• If you, the customer cancels your booked workshop, we are unable to offer you a refund.
• Transfers to an alternative workshop may be possible depending on the circumstance and is of the discretion of the RBSA Gallery.
• In the event of under-subscription, workshops may be cancelled or re-arranged. We will give you as much notice as possible if this happens and you will be able to transfer to another course or receive a full refund. The RBSA is unable to refund additional expenses, such as travel and accommodation.
• If you are booked on a workshop and do not turn up on the day, a refund will not be given.

Continual Professional Development (CPD) and Copyright

• We welcome bookings from people attending for Continual Professional Development (CPD). However, our workshops are not designed as CPD. If your employer is paying for the course or you require more details about what you expect from the course, please contact the Gallery in advance before booking.
• The workshop content and any information provided (e.g. handouts, guidance notes, etc.) are the intellectual property of the artist delivering the workshop. They should not be used or reproduced without permission from the artist (e.g. copying handouts to use in any classes workshop attendees might deliver themselves afterwards). 

Other information

• The workshop will take place in the RBSA Gallery, floor 1. The space will be closed to visitors and will only be used by workshop attendees. However, staff and volunteers will need to walk through the space at various points in the day to access the staff office, which is located on the same floor.
• Attendees can leave their materials in the workshop space during their breaks but the RBSA will not be responsible for any loss or damages.
• Please bring a packed lunch. Alternatively, there are a number of cafés and sandwich shops within walking distance of the Gallery.
• Please bring an old shirt or apron to help protect your clothing.
• The continuous redevelopment work in the city center has caused increased traffic, delays, and diversions in and around the City Centre. Therefore, please allow yourself plenty of travel time, plan your route, and check your parking arrangements.
• If you are travelling by car, please ensure your car is clean air zone compliant, or charges may occur.