Introduction to Acrylics

11.30am-5pm  | 16+ yrs

This workshop will cover the basics of painting with acrylics enabling you to gain confidence in your practice.  Equipment, colour mixing, mediums, painting techniques and the building of layers will all be explored in a series of practical tasks and exercises.

What will the day cover and how will it be taught?

During this workshop you will learn to explore and practice painting and layering techniques using acrylic paint through a series of enjoyable exercises.  It will cover how to start a painting with practical guides in equipment, surfaces, mixing colour, using painting mediums, palette control, using different brushes and tools.  How to compose and change elements of a painting during its process will also be covered.  Still life will be used as the primary source of inspiration.

This course will be taught through a series of demonstrations and practical activities. Looking at other artists paintings, the work of peers, and having one-to-one time with the tutor will facilitate your individual learning to enable you to achieve on this course.

What do I need to bring with me?

• Basic set of acrylic paints (5-6 colours plus white will do).
• Some brushes in a range of sizes.
• Material rags.
• Tray, large lid or similar flat surface to use as a mixing palette.
• Water spray bottle.
• Any Acrylic painting mediums that you want to try – like Retarder, Glazing medium etc.
• Water pots.
• Some greaseproof paper.
• Small sponge.
• Gesso primer.
• Two large surfaces to paint on.
• A small notebook and a pencil.

Important Information

This course will be held in Studio 3.

Are there any additional costs?

No 

About the tutor

Catherine MacDiarmid has 29 years’ of experience teaching a range of art classes and applying her knowledge as a practising artist to her role as a Tutor.  She exhibits widely, including exhibiting in the BP Portrait in 2001/2, New Light Art Tour 2021/22 and 2023/24 (of outstanding Northern-based Artists) and regularly at the Mall Galleries.  Catherine has won many awards for her art, most recently being the Watercolour Materials Award in the Jacksons Painting Prize 2023.  She is an elected member of The Lakes Artists Society, the Contemporary British Portrait Painters and appeared in Sky Portrait Artists of the Year 2014, 2018 reaching the semi-finals in 2019.  As well as completing private portrait commissions her work is collected internationally. Catherine works from her home studio in Kendal.   

See all Creative Learning courses here.