Come along and enjoy a step-by-step introduction to painting animals in oils with experienced artist Dawn Russell.

Dawn will start the workshop with a demonstration showing you how to mix the colours and use brushes, and how to put the first marks on the canvas using the blocking in method.

Using a limited palette of colours is a liberating process and will enable to you to focus on XYZ.

Learn how to model fur in oils and capture the texture, modelling the head according to the light source, and how to capture the character in the eyes.

To make the most of the time available, you will be given a pre-toned canvas (approx. 16x14 inches) with a sketched out drawing of a dog’s head.

Dawn will teach you how work in a loose style by using larger brushes (to free the spirit!) and the detail will come at the very end – time permitting!

Equipment

If you already have oil painting brushes, do bring them along - otherwise they will be provided. We recommend you also wear an old shirt or apron over your clothes (or old clothes).

Breaks

Tea and coffee breaks at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Bring a packed lunch for a brief lunch break around 1pm.

Cost

£65 per person.

Booking

Booking is via the tutor: please email braymill@talktalk.net or telephone 01788 822853. Places are limited to just 6, so we recommend you book early to avoid disappointment.

About the tutor

As a farmer's daughter, Dawn has always been intrigued with the flora and fauna of this wonderful country. Her interest in domestic animals (from her childhood years on the farm) and wildlife has become obsessive. This obsession of the natural world has been expressed through art both in painting and sculpture.

Dawn trained at Rugby School of Art and at Northampton University gaining a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, specialising in sculpture. Dawn has exhibited widely in this country and abroad. Her favoured mediums are oils and pastels, occasionally acrylics.

For more information go to www.dawnrussell.co.uk.