You will develop an understanding of colour theory and the terminology of painting: tonal values, colour temperature, hue and saturation. You will develop techniques in colour mixing and brush control to create lively and characterful portraits using colour. Colour mixing and paint application will be demonstrated by the tutor.

Learn how the imaginative use of colour can inform the emotion expressed in observational work. Use of specific colour palettes will be explained and demonstrated by your tutor, but also explored by looking at painterly examples by John Singer Sargent, Pierre Bonnard, Henre de Toulouse-Lautrec, Chaïm Soutine, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Gwen John, Duncan Grant, Alice Neal, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Imra Stern and Richard Diebenkorn.

Cadmium Palette: Saturation (blacks, greys and colour contrast)

Using a limited cadmium palette (cadmium yellow, cadmium red, plus ultramarine blue and white) is a great way to develop colour mixing skills whether you are a beginner or an intermediate wanting to push your painting practice further.

The session will begin with a colour matching exercise, attempting to mix colours that are the closest approximation to the colour seen. You will develop your ability to observe the relative tone and colour temperature, and mix the closest approximation you observe on the model.

In this session, the tutor will demonstrate how complementary colours enhance one another.

The series of 6 courses exploring the foundations of portrait painting in oils comprise the following one day courses that focus on different colour palettes: Week 1 - Monochrome palette: tone and structure Week 2 - Complementary pairing: tone and colour temperature Week 3 - Earth palette: colour substitution (tone, hue and temperature) Week 4 - Cadmium palette: saturation (blacks, greys and colour contrast) Week 5 - Limited primary palette: transparency and opacity Week 6 - Extended primary palette: accuracy in colour mixing

The courses can be booked as a group or individually.

Included

On this course the College will supply some of the materials including:

• The model
• Linseed oil
• Studio safe solvent
• Rags

What students need to bring

• A3 canvas board
• Sketchpad (A5 or A4)
• 2B pencil
• Rubber
• Apron Oil paint: Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow, Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White

Other items:

• Palette knifes x1
• Palette x1
• Jam jars with lids x2

Rags for cleaning brushes x1

• 5-7 hog hair brushes (long-handled), varied sizes (no smaller than size 8)

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Daily Timetable

Course teaching 11am–5.15pm
Students arrive 10.30am-11am (coffee optional)  
Morning teaching 11am-1pm
Lunch break between 1pm-2pm (lunch is not included)
Afternoon teaching 2pm-5.15pm (15 minute break, 3.30pm–3.45pm)
Teaching finishes 5.15pm  
 

Short courses are open to anyone aged 18 and over. The course fee covers tuition and materials where stated. You will need to bring all other items listed under the ‘Materials to bring’ section.

Refreshments

Coffee and tea are included in the course fee, but you will need to bring lunch with you to eat in the refreshments room. There are also plenty of other local venues to purchase food.

Access

If you have any specific access needs, we will need to know about your access requirements in advance. Please tell us about your needs in confidence by emailing: [email protected] This venue has steps to the front reception, with limited access via a side gate to the ground floor. There is a small lift to higher floors or stairs.

Safety

Short course students are required to sign a safety compliance form as part of West Dean Health and Safety regulations.

Refunds and cancellations

Please refer to our terms & conditions below.

Disclaimer

The information given is accurate at the time of publication. However, West Dean College reserves the right to cancel or amend courses if circumstances require.

Terms & Conditions