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Short course

Oil Painting Level 2 Short Course

Oil Painting Level 2 Short Course | On campus
Advance your oil painting skills on this level 2 course: deepen your understanding and techniques. Refine your artistry and explore new possibilities with oil paint.

Next start months
April 2026
April 2026
August 2026
Tutor(s)
Enver Gürsev
Price
From £640.00

Course description

Course overview

Whether you work representationally or abstractly, this course will build on your existing skills and explore avenues of diverse techniques in oil painting.

Using varied working methods, you will expand your expression and confidence using the medium. Detailed demonstrations and informative lectures will throw light on the materials and processes to inform and inspire your self-directed projects.

You will be shown how to create mood and atmosphere using colour harmony and contrasts, gain an understanding of saturation and values and practice effective colour mixing techniques. You will explore the benefits of a limited colour palette, methods of oil glazing and grisaille underpainting as well as dealing with the complexities of composition and reduced paint application.

Emphasis will be given to direct painting without the use of drawing or preparatory lines to achieve a fresh and energetic painting. Critical advice will be provided as and when needed throughout the day.

Who this course is for

This course is suitable for intermediate to advanced painters, with a knowledge of working in oils, wishing to expand their language in painting, using an expanded number of diverse methods and techniques.

Key information

Topics covered

  • The sequence of Painting - using the dark to light method
  • Alternative preparatory drawing methods
  • Getting Underpainting right
  • Understanding the uses of the colour wheel - how to mix colour you need
  • Colour harmonies, contracts, setting mood in your work
  • Grisaille painting - limited colour palette Glazing and creating depth

Learning outcomes

  • Gain the tools to develop to an advanced stage as a painter and explore new techniques and approaches to oil painting
  • Develop a clearer understanding of your potential as an artist by gaining a broader understanding of the medium of oil paint
  • Digital badge and certificate of attendance

Materials

Please bring the following materials with you on the first day:

  • Palette and palette knife
  • A2 canvas board*
  • Any objects you might like to see in a still life
  • Linseed oil (not Stand Oil)
  • Apron or old shirt to protect your clothes
  • 2 empty glass jars for your medium
  • Selection of brushes - bristle and/or synthetic (see pdf for further details)
  • Selection of Oil Paints (see below for further details)

Please note that studio safe solvent and medium is provided by the college. Students are advised not to bring their own products for health and safety purposes.

*While an A2 canvas board is recommended by the tutor, you are welcome to bring additional boards, canvases or other painting surfaces in your preferred size or shape.

Oil Paints

Short Course Essentials:

  • Titanium White (large tube)
  • Ivory Black (or Lamp Black)
  • Lemon Yellow
  • Cadmium Red or Cadmium Red Light Quinacridone Red (can be Rose Madder or Magenta)
  • French Ultra Marine Blue or Cobalt Blue
  • Burnt Umber Brown
  • Yellow Ochre

Further recommendations:

  • Naples Yellow
  • Cerulean Blue
  • Phthalo Blue
  • Manganese Purple
  • Viridian Green

For general painting we would recommend using the following brushes and sizes:

  • Flat Brushes (long flat/flat) sizes: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
  • Round Brushes (pointed) sizes: 2, 4, 6
  • Filbert Brushes sizes: 3, 5, 8
  • Rigger sizes: 2, 4
  • Brush sizes are dictated by the size of the painting you are working on, so please scale up as necessary. Oil painting brushes usually have long handles, but the smaller sizes used for detail may have shorter ones. Hog hairbrushes are traditional and great to use, but good quality synthetic ones can be just as good.

Please note: Students should make arrangements to take their work home at the end of the course. Any work that is left in the studio, during or after the course, is at a student's own risk. In such circumstances students should ensure that work is clearly labelled with their name, course title and dates. Work will be kept for no longer than one month after the end of the course. Please note that we are unable to arrange for the delivery of your work, but would be very happy to prepare this ready for collection should you wish to arrange for a courier. Most materials needed for the short courses are available at the Chelsea College of Arts' Art Shop. Please contact the Art Shop directly for opening hours and availability.

Tutor

Enver Gürsev

Enver Gursev is a professional artist who has been working at UAL since 2006. Mentored by the late Eduardo Paolozzi he went on to graduate from Camberwell College of Arts. Enver is a Painter and Sculptor who has worked prolifically in the arts exhibiting nationally and internationally and was recently awarded the prestigious BP Shipping Centenary Collection commission.

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