Join Ann Strini in this alla prima oil painting workshop as you explore a modern, loose approach to capturing still lifes. 

Ann paints daily using this method in her own professional practice, having studied under several teachers in Australia and abroad. Her friendly approach and intuitive, easy-to-learn methods help give students the structure and confidence to tackle difficult subjects with ease.

What will I learn?

In this weekend workshop, students will gain knowledge on the basic principles of alla prima “wet on wet” oil painting, including how modern painters use alla prima techniques to create bold, energetic, fresh paintings.

Specifically, you will explore and learn more about:

• Simplification: how to create, set-up and/or identify eye-catching compositions that work
• Approximation: how to capitalize on the principles of abstraction and impressionism to create looser, modern-looking paintings
• Visible mark-making: how to leverage your brushes and their surfaces to add variety, direct focus and accentuate the dimensionality of your subject(s)
• Intentional contrasts and blending harmony: how to choose values, shades and tones for each object and across a painting to create movement and cohesion across the whole canvas
• Cutting-in and over: learn how opaque layering can work for you to create a fresher contrast and add interest between subject(s) and background

Who is this course suitable for?

This workshop welcomes painters of all levels – especially beginners. 

Experienced painters will also benefit and may find alla prima techniques help shorten the time it takes them to complete large works. 

Please note - some understanding of painting and/or drawing will be helpful.

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What do I need to bring?

Canvas and Boards:

• 1 12x12” primed canvas
• 2 canvas boards – 5 x 7”, 8 x 8”, 10x 10” or 12x12” – for studies

Oil Paints:

• Winsor & Newton Professional Paints: Ultramarine Blue, Alazarin Crimson, Permanent Rose, Zinc White, Titanium White, Transparent Red Oxide or Transparent Earth Red, Cadmium Yellow Medium (can be Cadmium-Free)
• Winton: Pthalo Blue
• Gamblin Indian Yellow
• Optional: Windsor & Newton Raw Umber, Cadmium Scarlet

Medium:

• Gamsol or other non-odorless mineral spirit
• Langridge refined linseed oil
• 1-2 glass or metal sealable jars to hold medium
• Metal cup / eyedropper to hold/ dispense oil onto palette

Brushes and Palette Knives:

Please bring an assortment of flat brushes and detailers – I recommend and use:

• 2” or wider flat paintbrush (for toning your canvas)
• Neef Synthetic Flats: #12, #10, #8, #6, #4
• Rosemary & Co. Evergreen: Angular ¾”, ¼” and 1/8” (or other detailers)
• 1-2 palette knives

Other Materials

• Artist palette - New Wave glass or disposable grey pad paper palettes
• Paper Towels
• Apron
• Smart phone or tablet with camera function – to take and reference photo to use during painting process
• Cleaning Wet Wipes (highly recommended)
• Disposable Gloves (highly recommended)

Please bring your lunch and snacks or you can purchase from cafes close by. We do have a fridge and microwave at the studio for your convenience.

OPTIONAL Helpful Tools to Make Painting &  Clean Up Easier:

• Pencil or chalk – if you prefer to sketch your shapes before toning
• Acrylic transparent red sheet  (art stores) – lets you see values vs. colors
• Viewfinder (art stores) – helps place objects into a proportioned frame
• 8mm Corflute sheet cut to 16” x 16” (Bunnings) — wet canvas “carrier”
• Clean/ empty pizza boxes – wet canvas carrier with a lid
• Grid Ruler (quilting/ sewing shops) – helps locate grid points on a canvas
• Plastic paint scraper (Bunnings) – cleans glass palettes without scratches
• Metal sculpting pottery tool (dollar stores) – allows you to ‘etch’ your signature into wet oil paint

What is Provided:

• Easels, chairs, tables
• Plastic Buckets for discarded paper towels
• Tea and Coffee  - please bring your own mug
• A friendly and supportive environment
• Connection to the Bienarté art community

About Strini Biography

Ann Strini is an emerging modern impressionist artist who migrated to Australia in 2015 and re-started her art practice in 2021. Inspired by the leafy surrounds of Brisbane and the laid-back coastal vibes of the Sunshine Coast, Ann has a passion for capturing joyful, saturated landscapes with mesmerizing patterns and close-up still life subjects that reveal playful details.

A daily painter, Ann practices the “alla prima” technique, painting in plein air and from images she takes of nature or during travels abroad. “Because I’ve learned my craft through years of daily practice, in-person courses and workshops, online classes, books, and trial-and-error, I think of my artist education as self-lived. My goal is to share the plethora of tips and techniques I’ve learned along the way to help make oil painting less intimidating, more accessible, easier to gain confidence in and more enjoyable as a lifelong activity.”

Ann has exhibited in galleries in QLD, VIC & NSW and has sold works to private collectors in the US, South Africa and Australia.

Useful Information

For Visitors FAQs

Exclusive to Bienarté, this 2-day intensive workshop is for those who want to learn to paint flowers like the Dutch masters, learn how to get fine detail and realism in oil paint.  

What will I learn?

The workshop will incorporate learning about the significance of flowers in art history, colour palettes and mixing, 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 flowers in a pseudo-traditional technique that she has developed from her own artistic practice spanning a decade. Working from reference imagery (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 building an understanding of painting delicate forms and how this can inform a broader artistic practice.

Day 1:

• Flowers in Art History and the symbolism of flowers
• Transfer image on to surface
• Demonstration
• Block in dark shapes
• Supervised painting
• Build up darks and lights
• Refine mid-tones

Day 2:

• Refinement using small brushes
• Demonstration
• Continuing the painting
• 1-2-1 help where needed
• Review of the weekend's paintings
• Group celebration

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.

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What do I need to bring?

• You can purchase an Oil Painting Kit of colours you will need for the weekend workshop plus an alluminium panel specially prepared by Master Artist Scott Breton , all for just $50. Please contact Bienarte and bring cash on the first day of the workshop.

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 - filberts or square... whatever you feel most comfortable with.
Jennifer uses:  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

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Oil Colours:
Jenny uses Michael Harding, Langridge, Gamblin, but any professional oil colour brand is fine.

Titanium White
Mars Black (or ivory black if you prefer)
Permanent Alizarin Crimson (Windsor and Newton) (PR177) Alternatives include PV19 and PV179
Yellow Ochre
Indian yellow, red shade
Naples yellow
Transparent Oxide Red (PR101)
Raw Umber
Cadmium Red
Crimson Lake
Ultramarine Blue
Cadmium Green
Phthalo Green
Permanent Sap Green

Feel free to bring other colours you like too.

Surfaces:
You can choose any surface to paint on, from canvas, linen etc. however Jenny prefers and recommends wood panel or aluminium composite panel due to the smooth surface. Small to medium size 8x10” - 11x14” (20x25cm to 28x36cm)

You can pre-purchase canvases from Bienarté or from most good art supply stores.

Pre-prepared aluminium surfaces will be available to buy on the day

Max size: 11x14” (28x36cm)

Other:
Visual Diary
Willow Charcoal
A mix of pencils, including 2B
Kneadable eraser
Fast Drying Medium ('Liquin' by Winsor & Newton, or 'Odourless Lean' by Archival)
Jars
Pen/ Marker
Mixing Palette - medium/large, glass or disposable tear-away
Document box to store palette/ papers
Palette knife/ Paint scraper
Odourless Solvent in a container/jar that can be sealed when not in use
Container or brush tray with linseed oil for brushes
Roll of paper towel/ paint rags
Brush Soap (The Master Brush Cleaner & Preserver)
Smart phone/ 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.

Do you find it hard to devote time to your painting practice?
Do you get stuck with a painting and don’t know where to take it next?
Do you have technical questions about your painting?
Are you looking for a group of likeminded artists to paint with?

The Studio Painting Practice casual courses provide:

• uninterrupted time to focus on your own work in a studio setting
• an expert tutor to help you extend your skills
• a small group of passionate likeminded artists

What will I learn?

Everything you need to know to complete your own painting project.

Who is this course suitable for?

Those who have completed Foundation in Oils and ‘Gain Confidence in Oils’ courses, or who have the equivalent skills and experience.

You could start a painting in this class, or bring one you're already working on.

Casual classes give you the opportunity to attend the ones that fit with your schedule without commiting to the Term

What do I need to bring?

Bring your painting materials with you. Limited art supplies are available for purchase at the studio if you need a top up.

Please bring odourless solvent only and avoid any strong smelling mediums.

Bring somehting, like an old towel or sheet, to cover the table

What is provided?

• easels
• backing boards
• chairs
• tables
• tea and coffee (please bring your own mug)
• a friendly and supportive environment
• connection to the Bienarte art community.

Do you find it hard to devote time to your painting practice?
Do you get stuck with a painting and don’t know where to take it next?
Do you have technical questions about your painting?
Are you looking for a group of likeminded artists to paint with?

The Studio Painting Practice casual courses provide:

• uninterrupted time to focus on your own work in a studio setting
• an expert tutor to help you extend your skills
• a small group of passionate likeminded artists

What will I learn?

Everything you need to know to complete your own painting project.

Who is this course suitable for?

Those who have completed Foundation in Oils and ‘Gain Confidence in Oils’ courses, or who have the equivalent skills and experience.

You could start a painting in this class, or bring one you're already working on.

Casual classes give you the opportunity to attend the ones that fit with your schedule without commiting to the Term

What do I need to bring?

Bring your painting materials with you. Limited art supplies are available for purchase at the studio if you need a top up.

Please bring odourless solvent only and avoid any strong smelling mediums.

Bring somehting, like an old towel or sheet, to cover the table

What is provided?

• easels
• backing boards
• chairs
• tables
• tea and coffee (please bring your own mug)
• a friendly and supportive environment
• connection to the Bienarte art community.