
5 day drawing
and painting course
5-Day Drawing & Painting Course
August 11th to 15th - 10 to 3pm
Unlock your creative potential with our weeklong drawing and painting course, designed for beginners and those coming back to their art. Over five days, you’ll explore essential techniques in drawing, tonal values, colour theory, and brushwork while studying the methods of legendary artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Monet, and Matisse. Whether you're looking to refine your skills or gain confidence in expressive painting, this structured yet inspiring course will help you loosen up and develop a fresh approach to your work.
Course Overview
Duration: 5 days (5 hours per day - 10 to 3pm)
Location: Star Brewery, Lewes
Level: Suitable for beginners
Materials: A materials list will be sent to you
What You’ll Learn
Day 1: Foundations of Drawing – Seeing & Measuring
Improve observation skills with blind contour and gesture drawing
Learn proportion and sight-measuring techniques to create accurate drawings
Explore negative space drawing in the style of Matisse
Day 2: Tonal Values & Composition
Master light and shadow to create depth and realism
Experiment with high-contrast charcoal drawing, inspired by Caravaggio’s dramatic lighting
Develop soft tonal transitions in a Morandi-style still life study
Day 3: Introduction to Painting – Limited Palette
Inspired by: Anders Zorn (Zorn palette), John Singer Sargent (loose, painterly style)
Learn Zorn’s limited palette to simplify colour mixing
Paint a monochromatic study to explore tonal values in colour
Day 4: Colour & Brushwork – Expressive Techniques
Inspired by: Henri Matisse (bold colour choices), Claude Monet (broken colour technique)
Mix and apply complementary colours for vibrant compositions
Explore Matisse’s expressive still-life approach with unexpected colour choices
Day 5: Personal Project & Experimental Painting
Inspired by: Jenny Aitken and Sarah Manolescue
Experiment with light and colour
Exploring a landscape painting of a local scene
Gain valuable feedback and critique in a final group discussion
Why Join This Course?
Structured learning with expert guidance
Explore master techniques to refine your style
Learn to loosen up and draw/paint with more confidence
Small group setting for personalised feedback