We’re so looking forward to seeing you at our next Oil Painting Workshop!
The Format
Our Workshops are friendly and informal. They're designed to help you wind down from the week, learn or practice a new skill, and enjoy creating art in the company of others. Please don't worry if you're a total beginner, we'll show you everything you need to know. We aim to create a relaxed atmosphere where you have a chance to learn something and have lots of fun in the process!
The Venue
The workshop will take place at The Old Church School in Hayes. You can find directions here (please click/tap on the relevant map). You can park for free in the car park in front of the building, and in most of the surrounding streets (but please check local signage). It's a short walk from the nearest bus stops. We’ll be using the Hall at the rear of the building, and there is free parking outside and on the surrounding streets.
The Session
We recommend arriving 5 minutes early, to give yourself time to get settled in before we start. However, please don't arrive too early or we'll still be setting up! Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available during the session, but if you have any allergies you may prefer to bring your own.
You will be learning how to paint a still life scene 'alla prima' using oils. 'Alla prima' is Italian for 'on the first attempt' and involves painting 'wet-on-wet' in a single session. Typically an oil painting takes months to dry, and you would usually paint a new layer every few days or even weeks. In fact, an oil painting does not actually dry, it 'cures'. The oil in the paint reacts with oxygen in the air, causing it to change its chemical composition to form a film. The surface of each layer dries first, so even though the paint can appear to be dry, it will remain soft underneath for several weeks.
Having said that, it is possible to paint with oils in a single sitting if you paint each section at a time, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. You'll be guided by our experienced tutors every step of the way. Please don't put yourself under pressure to produce a finished masterpiece though. The purpose of this workshop is to teach you all about oils and how to use them. You'll then know whether you'd like to attend further workshops, or perhaps buy your own set of oils so you can carry on at home when you’ll have more time to allow things to dry between layers.
What to Bring and What to Wear
All materials will be provided for you to use during the workshop - an A4 canvas, oil paints, brushes etc. We will set up a still life scene for you, so there's no need for you to bring any props or visual aids either. The only thing you will need to bring is a box - see below.
Please wear old clothing, and you could bring an old shirt or apron to cover up in as well if you wish. Oil paint is difficult to remove from fabric. The materials and thinners we're using are non-toxic, but we will have some windows open for ventilation, so please wear layers if you're prone to getting chilly!
Taking Your Work Home
The surface of your painting could be wet for several days after the session, so please bring a cardboard box in which you can safely transport it home. You will be painting on an A4 canvas, so you could use a sheet of A4 paper to check your box will be large enough to lay your painting down in with a bit of space around the edges for your fingers. The shallow fruit boxes from a supermarket are ideal, and they often give those away once the contents have been sold. Something like an old tea tray might be useful as a ‘lid’ for your box, to prevent dust and dirt from sticking to the paint whilst it’s drying, but you could put that on at home.
After a few days, a film will have formed on the surface of your painting, but it will take a lot more time for it to be fully cured underneath. So if you plan to hang it or frame it, you will need to wait a few months before varnishing and/or framing your painting. We'll tell you more about this at the session.
Do let us know if you have any questions.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Please note : we usually take a few photos for our social media pages during the session. Please let us know in advance if you don't want to be in them.