Historically painters have often trained by drawing and painting replicas of classical sculptures, in the form of plaster cast busts. This week we’ll put the paints to one side, and have the chance to draw a plaster bust in the amazing medium of charcoal.

Degas’s approach to composition was highly inventive, influenced by his interest in photography-he often experimented with cropping. This week, we’ll explore and emulate Degas’s compositional techniques.

Watch a short demo by Lee, inspired by Scottish artist Samuel Peploe(1871-1935). Influenced by Cezanne and Matisse, Peploe developed a fresh style with unblended brushstrokes and juxtaposed colours, avoiding overworking the paint. Paint your own piece, experimenting with this approach.

The class this week begins with a brief introduction to facial proportions, then focus on capturing light, shade, and colour in portraiture. You’ll paint a portrait drawing inspiration from Berthe Morisot’s work.

Inspired by Claude Monet, this class focuses on using analogous colours—hues that sit side by side on the colour wheel. Explore the challenge of mixing subtle colour variations, much like Monet’s Thames River paintings. Then paint the colour-themed set ups in the studio.

Yves Tanguy (1900-1955) was a French surrealist painter known for his vast, otherworldly landscapes filled with abstract shapes. Inspired by his freedom of expression, the studio setups this week will feature abstract sculptures, allowing you to paint in whichever way inspires you.

This class offers a chance to finish off existing pieces or bring your own projects to work on. You’ll have the opportunity to receive guidance and feedback, with individual support to help you refine and develop your work.
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We look at the work of German artist Max Beckmann (1884-1950), one of Germany’s leading 20th-century artists. A figurative painter throughout his career, Beckmann’s intense depictions of the world were shaped by the traumas of two world wars and political upheaval. His use of disjointed perspectives and cubism reflected his fractured view of the world. In this class, we’ll use mirrors to create unusual compositions, exploring how reflections challenge our perception of space.

This week, we’ll look the works of Giorgio Morandi, focusing on their quiet, meditative quality. While his compositions seem simple, they are not easily replicated. We’ll also look at how other artists have achieved a similar stillness, with an emphasis on compositional balance and the careful placement of objects.