Glass and Glazing in Oils | Bronwyn Searle

Have you ever felt afraid to paint glass in your still life works?

In this two day oil painting workshop, Bronwyn will explain and demonstrate just how easy it is to paint a glass object. Using a beautiful still life subject, she will guide you through the process of creating convincing transparency, reflections and light, while helping to remove the fear that many artists have when approaching glass.

Bronwyn will also demystify the valuable oil painting techniques of glazing and scumbling, showing how these methods can add depth, luminosity and a beautifully refined finish to your paintings.

Students will work from a supplied reference image, and Bronwyn will demonstrate how to accurately transfer the image onto canvas using a simple grid method. She will also guide you through colour mixing and preparation, ensuring you begin your painting with confidence. If you have a clear acetate grid from one of Bronwyn’s previous still life workshops, please bring it along. Otherwise, one will be supplied on the first day.

Throughout the weekend, Bronwyn will share the wealth of knowledge she has gained over many years as a professional oil painter. Many of her weekly students regularly seek her advice on painting techniques, materials, canvas stretching and presenting finished artworks, and she will happily answer these questions as part of the workshop.

Bronwyn will also demonstrate how to set up a simple still life using everyday household lamps and lighting. Students are welcome to bring along their own glass objects or still life subjects to photograph and use as inspiration for future paintings.

Suitable for intermediate to advanced oil painters, this workshop is ideal for artists wanting to improve their technical skills and achieve a more detailed, professional finish.

What will I learn?

By the end of the workshop, you will:

• Feel confident painting realistic glass objects.
• Understand how reflections, transparency and refraction create the illusion of glass.
• Learn the traditional oil painting techniques of glazing and scumbling.
• Transfer an image accurately using a simple grid method.
• Mix and prepare colours for realistic still life painting.
• Learn how to set up and light a simple still life at home.
• Gain practical knowledge about painting materials, canvas preparation and presentation.
• Complete at least one finished still life painting.

Who is this course suitable for?

This workshop is suitable for all levels of oil painters, including intermediate and experienced artists who wish to improve their technical skills and achieve a more detailed finish. Confident beginners with some experience in oils are also welcome.

What do I need to bring?

Oil Paints

• Titanium White
• Spectrum or Cadmium Red
• Indian Red
• Spectrum or Cadmium Yellow
• Phthalo Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Sap Green
• Ultramarine Violet

Acrylic Paints (for quick-drying underpainting)

• Spectrum Red
• Spectrum Yellow
  These do not have to be expensive tubes.

Palette

• White disposable plate or large white plastic lid for acrylics
• Oil painting palette

Brushes

• Cheap 5cm flat brush (for acrylic ground)
• Fine synthetic round brushes (watercolour style) No. 1 and No. 0
• Neef 95 stiff synthetic brushes Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 8
• Hog hair fan brush
• Small and medium mop brushes

Sundries

• Two palette knives
• Chalk or Conte crayons (white, grey or pale terracotta)
• 30cm ruler
• Odourless solvent in a stainless steel container or glass jar
• Linseed oil or stand oil
• Small glass jar for mixing medium
• Eye dropper
• Paper towels
• Smartphone (for photographing still life setups)

Canvas

• Two primed cotton duck canvases - 31 × 41 cm **(**Deep profile preferred)

Optional

If you have a clear acetate grid from one of Bronwyn’s previous still life workshops, please bring it along. Otherwise, one will be provided.

Bring your lunch and snacks, or you can purchase food from cafés nearby.

What is provided?

• Easels
• Chairs
• Tables
• Reference image
• Grid acetate (if required)
• Demonstrations throughout the weekend
• Tea and coffee (please bring your own mug)
• A friendly and supportive learning environment

Bronwyn enjoys the challenge of taking ordinary, everyday scenes and interpreting them in her own inimitable and increasingly widely recognised style. She has recently returned to still life painting, while continuing to explore the detail found in leaf litter and textures in the urban world.
Bronwyn worked professionally in the art field for more than 25 years. Her awards include first prize in the Lethbridge 10000 Small Scale Art Awards.
She exhibits a new collection of works annually at Lethbridge Gallery and being a practicing, exhibiting artist she is well-placed to advise students in her Painting. Bronwyn enjoys the challenge of taking ordinary, everyday scenes and interpreting them in her own inimitable and increasingly widely recognised style. She has recently returned to still life painting, while continuing to explore the detail found in leaf litter and textures in the urban world.
Bronwyn worked professionally in the art field for more than 25 years. Her awards include first prize in the Lethbridge 10000 Small Scale Art Awards.
She exhibits a new collection of works annually at Lethbridge Gallery and being a practicing, exhibiting artist she is well-placed to advise students in her Painting Practice classes.