Date: To be confirmed

Venue: Nottingham Society of Artists, 71, Friar Lane, Nottingham NG1 6HD

Times: 10am-4pm

Fee: £ TBC

Come and enjoy painting an “alla prima” painting from a life model

This workshop is designed to encourage a fresh and spontaneous approach to painting the nude figure in oils. Alla prima means “at once” in Italian, in other words painting the complete picture directly form the model in one session/day, working wet on wet. Oil paints are the perfect medium for working in this loose and expressive style. Mark will provide expert guidance on composition, how to interpret and simplify your subject, choice of colours, and “ wet into wet” painting techniques using big brushes and a viscous, slow-drying medium (e.g. Linseed oil).

This class is particularly helpful to students who wish to paint more loosely, use brush strokes economically and take advantage of the inherent beauty of wet oil paint. It is aimed at students who have some previous experience in oil painting and working from the figure.

Suggested Materials
Oil colours: titanium white, cadmium yellow pale, yellow ochre, raw umber, burnt sienna, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine, viridian
Brushes:  hog bristle, preferably square ended (long “flats”): one number 12, two of no.10 , two of no.8, two of no.6, one number 4. NOTE: Bring at least 2 brushes which are 1” abd 2″ wide
Supports: A well primed painting board or canvas, approx 18x 14”, 16×20” 18”x 24” or 20” x24”. (NB. many cheap canvases are under-primed and so need another coat of (usually acrylic) primer on them to enable you to rag paint on and off easily!).
Sundries: a large, flat mixing palette (approx 12”x 16”-wood, melamine or disposable), palette knife, old cotton rags, low odour thinners/solvent and container with lid, refined stand oil and container with lid, old/protective clothing