About the course
Develop your figure-painting skills in this series of art classes for adults. Join us for six Saturday afternoons to immerse yourself in art, meet new people and uncover the extraordinary possibilities of oil paint in depicting the human form.
What you will learn
Over the six-week course, you will learn about contemporary and traditional approaches to painting the figure in oil paint. Beginning with drawing from printed copies using the traditional plumb line method for proportion, students will also be introduced to structure and anatomy in two sessions dedicated to drawing and painting from the live nude model. Students will complete one painting for the remainder of the course.
In addition to learning about the technical processes employed in Renaissance and Baroque Italian oil painting, students will gain a deeper understanding of the context surrounding the works’ creation through a supplementary guided tour with Gallery curators.
Painting and drawing demonstrations will be given to students throughout, with critical feedback aimed at facilitating each student’s individual needs and styles.
The course is suitable for all levels. Whether you’re a beginner or a confident painter, join us in the studio to flex your creative skills and learn some art history along the way. The course will also include a guided tour by one of our Gallery curators.
'The oil figure painting course at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki was an incredible experience! Learning new techniques in a relaxed social setting with the guidance of our tutor Zarahn Tūwharetoa Southon was wonderful. I particularly enjoyed Dr Sophie Matthiesson’s curator’s talk discussing Ceseri’s painting of 'Susanna and the Elders’' and Guido Reni’s 'Saint Sebastian'. Thanks to absolutely everyone involved in making these amazing classes possible.'
— Marisca, Adult Learning | Oil Figure Painting Term 1 participant
