Oil Painting Subjects - Portraits, Landscapes, Still Life and Much More

Subject Lessons

Other subjects than those listed can of course be covered during tuition, but most interests do tend to fall within one of those common categories.  It is of course possible to include a combination of subjects within one painting, for example a figure in a landscape or a full-length portrait in a particular interior.

Although each subject has it's own ins and outs, the ability to paint each mostly depends upon learning the key foundations.  Then, it's just a matter of gaining experience and familiarity in using those foundations within each subject through one or more of the methods of oil painting.

Please click on any item in the list below for more information on lessons for that subject.

Landscapes

Still Life

Portraiture

Figures

Rooms / Interiors

Abstraction

Landscape Oil Painting - How to Paint Landscapes & The Outdoors

Landscape Oil Painting Lessons

During lessons these paintings can be made either from direct observation outside or from photographs.  If painting outdoors, then alla prima (see Methods) is most appropriate, due to time constraints and changing light.  This can also be combined with impasto technique if desired.

Possibilities of Landscapes

Landscapes / outdoors is a very popular subject with a long tradition.  Common examples are sunsets, forests and mountainous views, but could be anything, such as moors, deserts, cityscapes, derelict buildings or anonymous wasteland.

Courses in Which Landscape Oil Painting is Taught

Oil Painting for Beginners Course

General Course in Oil Painting

Still Life Oil Painting

Still Life Painting

Still life is basically the painting of inanimate objects.  The items this can include are of course infinite.  Common examples are flowers, apples, onions and jugs, but it could just as easily be shoes, spectacles, bicycle pedals, alarm clocks or umbrellas.

Still life is a great way to learn oil painting as it gives the opportunity to practice all of the key foundations and methods quite intensely whilst at the same time having the flexibility to remain relatively simple.  Also, the subjects are very easily obtained.  It is far easier to grab some fruit from the kitchen than it is to find someone to model for you.  Therefore, overall, still life is a great way to develop your knowledge and techniques.

Still Life Lessons

Still life painting can be covered during lessons on any of the methods of oil painting.  

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Courses in Which Still Life Oil Painting is Taught

Oil Painting for Beginners Course

General Course in Oil Painting

Oil Painting Portraits

Can I Really Learn to Paint Portraits?

Learning to paint portraits is a common interest, but also often a feared subject.  However, like any subject in oil painting, the foundations are the key.  Drawing is particularly important, as a good degree of competence in this is required to achieve a portrait that has a likeness.

Painting portraits does tend to be a little more complicated due to the intricate structure of facial features and the level of technique required.  It therefore may take a little more patience to learn to paint portraits, but it can be learned with sufficient practice and taken one step at a time.

During the portrait painting lessons you can learn to achieve a likeness, paint facial details and gain certainty and experience in tackling this very rewarding subject.  

To What Level Can I Take My Portrait Painting Technique?

Portraiture can be covered during lessons on any of the methods of oil painting, including layered oil painting in which technique can be taken to a high level so as to achieve intense realism in portraits.

Courses in Which Portrait Painting is Taught

General Course In Oil Painting

Oil Painting The Figure / Nudes

Painting the Human Figure

The human figure, particularly nudes, have been a traditional subject of oil painting for centuries.

If aspiring to a form of realism then achieving accurate proportions and recreating the colours and softness of skin can be quite a challenge, but again are all possible with sufficient practice of drawing, blending, colour mixing and the use of value.

Life drawing is also certainly great preparation for learning to paint figures / nudes. 

For separate life drawing lessons, please see Drawing Tutor in Brighton and Hove >

Lessons

Lessons in figure painting can be carried out using live models or photographs, with instruction in a variety of techniques.

Courses in Which Figure Painting is Taught

Figure painting is only taught as part of individual programs of tuition at present.

Oil Painting Rooms & Interiors

Interiors

Interiors would most commonly be rooms, but could in fact be any form of interior, such as the insides of cathedrals, theatres, airports, caves or even camping tents.

Lessons On Oil Painting Interiors

Which techniques should you use to recreate the surface of a living room wall or the light falling on the floor from a stained glass window in oil paint?  Well, as always it does go back to the basics of oil painting and gaining experience and familiarity with the subject.

Courses in Which Oil Painting Interiors is Taught

Oil painting interiors is only taught as part of an individual program of tuition at present.

Abstract Oil Painting

Abstract Oil Painting

Abstract painting in it's purest form, in which the image has no direct reference to the real world, has it's own challenges.  Composition possibly becomes even more important in an abstract painting, as achieving an effective relationship between colours, values and shapes are often the essential aim.

Lessons on Abstract Oil Painting

If abstract painting is a particular interest then the sequence of lessons are a little different in that composition, including colour relationships is most definitely given more emphasis earlier than it would be with other subjects.

A variety of possible techniques and approaches to abstract painting can be covered.

Courses in Which Abstract Oil Painting is Taught

General Course in Oil Painting