Painting Detailed Portraits in Oils | Jennifer Allnutt

Exclusive to Bienarté, this 2-day intensive workshop is for those who want to learn to paint portraits. how to mix realistic skin tones, model the forms of the face and build realism in oil paint.  

What will I learn?

The workshop will incorporate learning about facial structure, colour palettes and mixing, atmosphereic perspective, tonal realism and oil painting techniques. Over two days there will be demonstrations, discussions and 1 and a half days of painting.

Jenny will teach how to paint a portrait from reference imagery and how to avoid the pitfalls of working from photography to create a beautiful oil painting portrait. Working from a reference photo (provided) you will be guided through creating form, mixing colours and building detail.

This will be a fun and intensive workshop with an emphasis on the process and how to utilise the inherent qualities of oil paint to create form, traditional techniques and how portraiture can inform a broader artistic practice.

Who is this course suitable for?

This workshop is suitable for people with some experience with oil paints however it will cater to early learners through to advanced.

This workshop is predominantly for oil painters.

What do I need to bring?

Drawing Materials:

• Visual Diary 
• Willow Charcoal
• 2B + pencils etc
• Eraser

Surfaces:

You can choose any surface to paint on, from canvas, linen etc. however Jenny prefers and recommends wood panel or aluminium composite panel for the smooth surface. Small to medium size 11x14” approximately.

• You can pre-purchase canvases from Bienarté or from most good art supply stores.
• Pre prepared aluminium surfaces will be available on the day
• Max size: 12x16”

·      See attached document for steps and tips to prepare your surface.

Brushes:

A range of sizes from small to large . (00-6). At least 5 in different sizes and small for fine details.

• For the smaller brushes, rounds and larger brushes can be filberts or square. Whatever you feel most comfortable with.
• Examples of the types of brushes from my collection:
• Neef 970 Taklon round (00-8)
• 2/0 Masters Point by Neef 2018
• Neef 992 Taklon mini liner or script (0-4)
• 6 MontMarte round
• Neef 987 taklon glaze 1/2
• Neef 95 Bright Stiff Synthetic 2

·      Oil colours:

• Titanium White
• Mars Black (or ivory black if you prefer)
• Permanent Alizarin Crimson (Windsor and Newton) (pr 177) alternatives include pv19/pv179.
• Yellow Ochre
• Indian yellow, red shade
• Naples yellow
• Transperant oxide red (pr101)
• Terra Rosa
• Raw Umber
• Terre Verte
• Cadmium Red
• Crimson lake
• Ultramarine Blue
• Cadmium green
• Phthalo Green
• Permanent sap green
• **Other colours if you prefer. Optional below:
• Radiant green by Gamblin
• Radiant pink by Gamblin
• Kings Blue
• Warm Light Yellow by Michael Harding
• **Jenny uses Michael Harding, Langridge, Gamblin oil colours. Any brand is fine.

Medium:
Oil painters - A fast-drying medium, for example ‘Liquin’ or ‘Odourless Lean by Archival

Other materials:

• Jars
• Pen/ marker
• Medium-Large sized palette/s-glass palette or disposable tear away palette
• Document box to store palette/papers
• Palette knife or paint scraper to clean
• Odourless Solvent (optional, must be in a closed jar at all times)
• Container or brush tray with linseed oil for brushes (see attached example image)
• Roll of paper towel or paint rags
• Brush soap (The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver)
• *Smart Phone or tablet

What is provided?

• Reference Photos
• Easels, tables and chairs.
• Tea and coffee (you might like to bring your own cup)
• A friendly, supportive and encouraging learning environment
• Connection to the Bienarté art community

Useful Information

For Visitors FAQs

About The Tutor

Jennifer is a contemporary figurative artist working primarily with oil paints on canvas and cradled wood panel. She graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Visual Arts (First Class Honours) in 2011 and a Masters of Teaching in 2016.

In her oil paintings, Jennifer constructs images which straddle the line between realism and illusionism. Her work often tells a story or weaves an ambiguous narrative. This is found by the subtle hints in symbolic objects, clothing, facial expressions or even a small gesture.

Jennifer’s work has been exhibited in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Queensland and the United States.