Life drawing into life painting

Learn or develop life drawing skills and approaches to painting the nude figure. Including use of tone and colour selection, composition and paint handling to develop solidity, atmosphere and expression. Some experience of drawing is recommended.
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Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.

  • Start Date: 28 Jun 2025
    End Date: 19 Jul 2025
    Sat (Daytime): 10:00 - 17:00
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 4 sessions (over -4 weeks)
    Course Code: VH449
    Tutors:  Lindsay Pickett
    Full fee £389.00 Senior fee £311.00 Concession £253.00
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  • Start Date: 09 Oct 2025
    End Date: 06 Nov 2025
    Thu (Daytime): 10:00 - 17:00
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 4 sessions (over -5 weeks)
    Course Code: VH798
    Tutors:  Tony Hull
    Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00
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Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.

Book your place
In stock
SKU
237797
Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £319.00 Concession £259.00

What is the course about?

Examining means and methods of representing the human figure.This will help you develop your understanding of
human structures and form and to build confidence in handling paint in relation to life painting.You will learn to
express an imaginative and personal response to the figure.

What will we cover?

Each session will isolate aspects of life drawing and acrylic painting and the means to deal with it: modelling of form; dealing with proportion and scale; issues of the figure in space - perspective and foreshortening; weight in relation to posture; emotional mood.

You will also develop a suitable, limited palette based on colour bias,appropriate to creating form using various tonal structures.We will consider ways of constructing and organising paint, such as coloured underpainting, layering,'scumbling' and other methods including placement, distortion, balance and rhythm.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...


- represent the figure effectively in painterly terms
- have an expanded sense of paint handling and technique using acrylic paint
- begin to locate areas of personal interest and your own language and style
- produce a series of works that demonstrate sustained investigation.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is open to all levels of drawing experience. All painting techniques, methods of application and means of evaluation will be taught in a structured format, within which you can work at your own level. You will be expected to be able to follow instruction and to take part in group discussions.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught by demonstration, practical application, one to one tuition and group discussion.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

All basic materials are included.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Life Painting Weekend: Expressionist Approaches
Life Painting: Experimental Approaches
Life Painting: Focus on Light and Shade.

Lindsay Pickett See more See less
Tony Hull Tutor Website See more See less

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.