Traditional Oil Painting Class

Learn how to paint a studio painting in oils using the indirect method



3 x 5 hours Class size 1 to 8 guests    

  $335 - $350 ($350 per guest when you book for 1 guest, $335/guest for 2+ guests) (PayPal Pay in 4 available)

Imprimatura

Imprimatura

Monochromatic underpainting and grisaille


Coloured Block in

Coloured Block In

Creating a basic coloured underpainting


Adding detail

Adding Detail

Final layer adding detail and refining the painting


Join artist Christopher Vidal for an immersive three-day workshop exploring the beauty and structure of traditional oil painting using the indirect method — the timeless technique used by the Old Masters and still essential for contemporary realism today.
Over three consecutive days, you’ll be guided through each stage of the indirect process, from the initial drawing to the final details. Working step-by-step on a peaceful landscape featuring a tree, foreground rocks, a small reflective lake, distant mountains, and gentle clouds, you’ll learn how to build depth, harmony and luminosity through successive layers.
What You Will Learn
How to prepare your surface with an imprimatura and establish values through a monochrome grisaille.
How to apply a coloured “dead layer” to unify tone and atmosphere.
How to develop glazes and details to bring your landscape to life with rich colour and texture.
The practical use of alkyd media to accelerate drying between layers, enabling real progress over three days.
The principles of light, composition, and atmospheric perspective that create a sense of space and realism.
Course Structure
Day 1: Drawing, imprimatura, and grisaille (establishing the composition and tonal values)
Day 2: The coloured dead layer (introducing hue and soft transitions)
Day 3: Details, textures, and final adjustments (refining and finishing the painting)
VENUE
The venue is at Castle Hill Showgrounds, Castle Hill. A map will be provided after booking. The venue is only 5 minute walk from Showground Metro Station (Chatswood - Tallawong line).
There is also parking next to the hall.
Who Is This Workshop For
This workshop is ideal for those with some prior painting experience who wish to deepen their understanding of traditional oil painting processes. Whether you are an experienced acrylic painter moving into oils, or an intermediate artist looking to master glazing and layering, this course will give you lasting technical and artistic insight.
Materials
A full materials list will be provided upon registration. Students may bring their own oil paints or select the materials supplied ticket option.
What you'll get
A full materials list will be provided upon registration. Students may bring their own oil paints. Other materials including media and canvas will be provided at no additional cost.
Knowledge required
Beginner / Intermediate level. Some prior knowledge of drawing and painting will be a big plus.
What to bring
Notebook, pens and own lunch. I will be providing all the required tools for the course, however if you already own any materials feel free to bring them with you so I can advice you if you need any info about them.
Session repeats

This class series runs over 3 consecutive days.

Location

Castle Hill, NSW

Exact location is masked for privacy. You'll automatically get the specific address after booking.

Traditional Oil Painting Class location
Your teacher

Chris Vidal
Chris Vidal
(Vidal Arts)

Traditional Drawing and Oil Painting

4.9 (47)

Chris is an artist who lives and works in Sydney, Australia. At the age of six, Chris developed an interest in drawing and at the age of 13, he attended the School of Arts at Palazzo de La Salle in Valletta, Malta.
Vidal's style of work was developed through years of experience in drawing and painting. He considers himself as a contemporary realist with his preferred subject being the landscape. Studying classical arts mainly drawing from life helped him to develop drawing skills and a keen eye for detail. During his studies, he was influenced by the works of the great masters. He is also influenced by the American landscape painters of the Hudson River School and by the Australian impressionists of the Heidelberg movement.
Chris is also a tutor and teaches drawing and painting to adults at various locations around Sydney. He emphasises the importance of drawing as the foundation onto which you can build up a solid skill in painting as you progress.
Having a solid background in science he gives importance to the quality of materials used to create artwork as well as to the importance of understanding why to use a particular technique in the painting process.
Ultimately the aim of the teaching classes is to guide you and help you develop a skill in a way that you will be able to draw and paint without any assistance and to also be your own critique.
2026-06-26 15:00:00
class V48I01Z33L 34c052b7f77f35dccea660a6ce51910d production sydney Sydney NSW AU sydney