You’ll be introduced to fundamental figurative painting skills, including drawing for painting, proportion, light and shadow, colour mixing, and brush handling. Each technique is broken down into manageable steps, allowing skills and confidence to build gradually over the course.
Working on a stretched canvas, you’ll develop your own figurative painting from start to finish, learning practical methods Naomi uses in her own studio practice to simplify the painting process and overcome common beginner challenges.
This course focuses on building confidence as much as technical skill, with plenty of individual guidance, demonstrations, and time to practice. Classes take place in a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment, where questions are encouraged, and progress happens at your own pace.
Naomi Azoulay is aTāmaki Makaurau–based multidisciplinary artist and creative educator whose work explores resilience, transformation, and social change. Through richly layered painting and collage portraits, she invites viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with shared human experiences. Naomi has extensive experience leading creative programmes across schools, galleries, and community spaces throughout Aotearoa. Her warm, inclusive approach to teaching encourages experimentation, play, and creative confidence. Her work has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions nationally, and she continues to develop projects that foster empathy and dialogue across diverse communities.
Materials included.