Master Copy Painting at the National Gallery of Ireland
€350.00
3-DAY STUDIO WORKSHOP
Dublin, Wednesday 17 – Friday 19 May 2023
Venue: National Gallery of Ireland & Trinity College Dublin
Times: 10am – 5pm each day
Medium: Oil Painting
In this 3-day workshop, you will visit, study, and then copy one of the oil paintings from the National Gallery of Ireland’s permanent collection.
This is a wonderful and rare opportunity to gain insight into some of the great paintings that reside in Dublin, as well as learning about the painting materials, methods and techniques of a diverse range of master painters, including Caravaggio, Velázquez, Vermeer, Goya and Leech.
Copying master paintings was the standard by which artists learned how to paint until the end of the 19th century. In fact, museums like the Louvre in Paris set aside certain days of the week when artists could copy the paintings, and later, museums in the US followed this precedent. Reproducing master paintings is still one of the best ways to improve your painting skills, and also engenders a deeper understanding and appreciation for these magnificent works.
This intensive workshop includes a guided tour of the National Gallery’s permanent collection during the three-day workshop which will be held across the street in Trinity College Dublin.
In stock
You will be given a choice of five paintings from the NGI’s permanent collection, and you will be asked to select, study and copy just one of them:
- Caravaggio The Taking of Christ (1602)
- Velázquez Kitchen Maid (1620-22)
- Vermeer Woman Writing a Letter with her Maid (1670-71) *
- Gainsborough The Cottage Girl (1785)
- Goya Portrait of Antonia Zárate (1805)
- Leech A Convent Garden, Brittany (1913)
* Please note that Vermeer’s Woman Writing a Letter with her Maid is currently on loan to the Rijksmuseum for the world’s biggest ever Vermeer exhibition, but as it is one of the highlights of NGI’s collection, I’m including it here. You can find out more about the Rijksmuseum’s Vermeer exhibition here.
We will be painting on roughly an A3 size canvas (42 x 29.7 cm), so for larger paintings, we will just be copying a section of the painting – one that best represents or captures all of the elements, style and colour palette.
Copying these paintings will help you understand gesture, capturing proportion, turning form, and mastering the effects of subtle colour. The core principles of painting will be revealed through a sequence of simple and logical steps:
- Applying a toned ground or imprimatura
- Making accurate measurements and proportions, and emphasising a good sense of gesture using the dry-brush method
- Delineating light and shadow
- Creating a ‘dead colour’ layer
- Using the full palette to develop the large and medium forms of the first painting
- Rendering the smaller forms and details of the second painting or glazing layer, and paying close attention to edge quality.
Throughout the workshop, you will be shown the time-honoured techniques used to create a realistic painting in oils. You will learn how to organise your palette and mix colours, including realistic skin tones, accurately and economically. Concepts such as gesture, chiaroscuro, fat-over-lean, and glazing will be explained and demonstrated.
Detailed notes will be given, which include some historical and background information about the artist and the painting.
The workshop will include many demonstrations, guiding you in detail through the painting process of each master artist, interaction and discussion about oil painting methods and techniques in general, and some smaller practical exercises that will help you reproduce your master copy painting successfully.
Requirements
This workshop is aimed at intermediate to advanced oil painters, as it requires some basic knowledge and experience of oil painting. Canvas and other basic materials will be provided but you will need to bring certain art supplies of your own. Please download materials list below:
Download Materials ListImportant Information
This is an oil painting course, and uses oil paints, solvents and mediums (such as mineral spirits, turpentine and linseed oil) that have a small and safe degree of toxicity but can emit strong fumes, which may cause headaches, drowsiness and skin irritations.
Terms & Conditions
Please read carefully before enrolling and paying for this workshop. By paying for this workshop you are agreeing to the terms and conditions below:
- Fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
- You cannot switch between workshop locations. Once you have selected your preferred date and location, you will not be able to change your choice.
- Adrian Cooke reserves the right to cancel any workshop at any time should the minimum number of students required not be reached. In such cases, your workshop fee will be fully refunded.
Reviews
I highly recommend doing a course with Adrian. I’ve just a Master Copy Painting course. The course was delivered in a very clear and easy to follow way. It was highly informative yet relaxed. It has taught me the important principles of painting and it gives a lot to continue on with. Adrian is super at teaching and made the whole experience all the more enjoyable.
– Marie
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