About Tuition
Sequence of Lessons
As students tend to have different needs and interests, the content and sequence of lessons is of course flexible. However, the sequence outlined below should serve as a good general guide and is adjustable to fit all levels. Beginners can either take the full body of lessons as detailed or do the beginners oil painting course (click on menu to left for more details). Those with some experience of oil painting can also take the full body of lessons or receive tuition in only those areas that are needed or wanted (on a tailor-made basis) or simply have help with ongoing paintings in relation to specific difficulties.
The lessons outlined below can be taken in relation to any subjects of oil painting. For example, if you want to learn to paint portraits, you would take the drawing lessons first, gaining skills and practice in getting the shapes, proportions and tones of the face correct and then continue from there. The only exception to this is pure abstract painting which has a slightly different sequence of lessons, with a greater emphasis on composition from the start.
The lessons are also adjustable to accommodate any level, whether beginner, advanced or in relation to a qualification such as A-Level.
1. Drawing
Shapes, proportions and positions (pencil drawing)
Tone (pencil and charcoal drawing)
2. Blending and Value
Blending exercises and the use of different brushes
Black & white alla prima oil painting demonstration
Guided black & white alla prima oil painting
3. Colour Mixing
Introduction to equipment
The six-primary system
Graded mixing and tinting
Mixing three primaries
Complementary mixing
Precise colour mixing
Alla prima oil painting demonstration
Guided alla prima oil painting
Layered oil painting demonstration
Guided layered oil painting
Impasto oil painting demonstration (with brushes)
Guided impasto oil painting (with brushes)
Impasto oil painting demonstration (with painting knives)
Guided impasto oil painting (with painting knives)
5. Composition
(Composition will inevitably be covered to some extent during earlier
paintings, but will be looked at much more closely at this point.)
Lighting and value (including study of current and historical examples)
Sketching & planning
Guided oil painting(s) / Paint at home
Colour relationships (including study of current and historical examples)
Sketching & planning
Guided oil painting(s) / Paint at home
Balance and leading the eye (including study of current and historical examples)
Sketching & planning
Guided oil painting(s) / Paint at home
6. Ideas, Feelings and Communication
(This will inevitably be covered to some extent during earlier paintings, but
will be looked at much more closely at this point)
This can include many things, such as the kind of paintings you want to
make, what ideas or feelings you would like to get across, your personal
vision, or even working out why you want to make paintings in the first
place.
7. Additional Elements
Additional techniques / items, such as glazing, varnishing, additional media,
additional brushes can be covered as needed, at the appropriate points.
For example glazing can be taught as part of layered oil painting if
appropriate.
