Introduction to Oil Painting
with Nataliya Zozulya
The perfect opportunity to get started in oil painting. This course introduces a systematic approach, with exercises to build confidence and unleash the imagination. You will learn techniques relevant to all styles of painting and begin to develop your own style.
Spring Term 2026 Course Dates
4, 11, 18, 25 February
4, 11, 18, 25 March
Topics include:
The equipment: what is and is not necessary. Art shops and sweet shops: knowing the difference
Mark making – the basic skill of using the brush correctly. The DNA of your finished painting
Tonal control. The critical aspect of your painting before you even get to colour
The important attributes of colour. Temperature, saturation, transparency, etc.
Palette management. A whole world in a limited space
Preparing a canvas.
Painting strategies: completing paintings both in stages and alla prima (“all at once”)
Making studies from a variety of reference materials including photographs, prepared images and still life.
Course programme
1. Basic Materials & Colour Theory
Oil Paints: How to make your own oil paint.
Supports & Grounds: Comparison of canvases vs. wood panels; the importance of sealing the support.
Brushes: Variations, sizes, fibres, and cost considerations.
Palette: How to make your own.
Thinners & Mediums: Understanding their use.
Colour Theory: Creating the colour wheel, secondary and tertiary colours.
Tree Colours: Exploring their possibilities.
Materials: Two panels, 30 × 40 cm.
2. Brushstrokes & Basic Oil Techniques
Learning different brushstrokes and simple oil painting techniques with visual references.
Choosing pigments to create a spring colour palette
Understanding hue, value, and saturation.
Painting simple shaped objects.
Materials: One panel 30 × 40 cm.
3. Form, Light, and Drawing Basics
Basic shapes in everyday life: sphere, cube, pyramid, cone.
Light and its colour.
Drawing and painting a mug
Still life with a dark background
Understanding the circle in perspective.
Materials: One canvas panel, 25 × 30 cm.
4. Still Life in Grisaille – Session 1
Painting a simple still life using the grisaille technique (5 tones).
Composition and proportions
Tonal sketches and Using a tone scale to understand the tonal structure of a painting.
The “fat-over-lean” rule in oil painting layers.
Basic principles of perspective
Materials: One panel, 30 × 40 cm.
5. Still Life in Grisaille – Session 2
Understanding how light models form.
The importance of hard and soft edges.
Working on details.
Introduction to glazing techniques.
6. Still Life in Colour – Session 1
Using a viewfinder to support composition.
The importance of a strong drawing.
Simplification of tonal masses.
Preparatory sketches in tone and colour.
Blocking in the main shapes with washes.
Underpainting in colour.
Materials: One canvas panel, 30 × 40 cm.
7. Still Life in Colour – Session 2
Maintaining unity in a painting and avoiding overworking one area
Understanding the colour of light and how it influences hue and form
Studying the brushstrokes used by different artists.
8. Landscape Painting from Reference
Landscape composition and choosing focal points.
Balancing abstract masses.
Introduction to aerial perspective.
Materials: One Canvas or panel, 30 × 40 cm.
The tutor reserves the right to make small changes to the programme due to circumstances such as weather conditions or other factors.
Basic materials for the Introduction to Oil Painting Course with Nataliya Zozulya
Oil:
Sufficient amount of Titanium or Zinc White (200ml tube), Ivory Black, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Yellow or Gold Ochre, Red Ochre Transparent, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Oxide of Chromium Green, Viridian, Ultramarine Blue, Cadmiums: Red and Yellow.
(Winsor&Newton Artist’s range is good. Their student version is suitable however they have less colour pigment in them)
Surfaces:
Several artist’s boards, canvas boards or canvases (white gesso primed)
18x14inches
16x12 inches
14x10inches
Brushes:
Range of good quality hog long filberts and flats from number 6 to 12
Solvents:
Low Odour for the lessons, turpentine or white spirit if you prefer at home. Please do not bring turps or white spirit to the classroom.
Jam jar with lid for washing your brushes during work
Linseed oil
Palettes:
Rectangular or oval medium wooden or firm plastic palette (white plastic is good)
size appr 37x23cm (see links below)
Palette knife:
eg Winsor&Newton palette knife N21 or N22
Plenty of rags or kitchen towel, old shirt or apron to protect clothing (or wear old clothes)
Drawing paper pad A3 size (for notes and some sketching), 2B pencils, eraser.
Option for plein air: Portable easel or Pochade Box with tripod sold separately (You can carry paints in pochade box and some of them include a palette. Some boxes can be quite expensive, but if you are planning to stick with your painting and try to paint both indoors and en plein air, they are useful).
You might find these links useful:
“I’ve recently began Nataliya’s oil painting course and I’m so glad I’ve started back from the very beginning. Nataliya’s method is just what I’ve needed as she explains everything very clearly. I’m now starting to understand colour mixing for the first time! Also knowing how to begin a still life is greatly appreciated.”
- Collen Hillman, February 2025