Deciphering Bouguereau

A 6-day workshop of oil painting skills inspired by Bouguereau | 42 Hours

This technical workshop welcomes artists at all levels seeking to learn and broaden their skills in oil painting. In a small, focused learning environment, participants will discover a comprehensive, logical approach to drawing and painting, along with valuable tools and concepts to create realistic oil paintings from start to finish.

What makes this workshop special is not only the accumulated experience and passion of 3 skilled instructors, but the fact that we have limited the number of participants to 21. This means you are guaranteed timely and regular personal attention.

Nestled along the stunning Costa Dorada just 40 minutes from Barcelona, Sitges offers the perfect blend of artistic inspiration and Mediterranean charm. This picturesque coastal town has long captivated visitors with its golden beaches, whitewashed buildings, and vibrant cultural scene, making it a beloved holiday destination for travellers seeking both relaxation and creativity.

Each workshop day will commence with a theoretical lesson aimed at introducing essential concepts and techniques. This will be complemented by hands-on work on a multi-day project, allowing participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge. Our activities will be based on carefully curated photo references, tailored to align with the time constraints and objectives of each lesson.

In this workshop, we will delve into:

• Bouguereau - Explore the life and artistic mastery of William-Adolphe Bouguereau, examining his 19th-century academic painting techniques, characteristic colour palette, approach to figurative realism, and his influence on both traditional and contemporary art practices.

• Materials and techniques - Gain a thorough understanding of traditional and modern methods, including direct and indirect approaches, surfaces, pigments, application techniques, and key considerations for artworks that stand the test of time.

• Drawing - Learn effective strategies to accurately capture the proportions and unique features of even the most complex subjects.

• Structure - Explore key concepts and techniques to simplify and interpret the anatomy and forms of the human body.

• Light and form - Understand how light interacts with the physical world to identify, predict, and effectively portray these interactions on a two-dimensional surface to create the illusion of three-dimensionality and lifelike presence.

• Colour theory - Gain the skills to mix colour with speed and accuracy to enhance the realism and vibrancy of your paintings.

• And much more - colour studies | transfer | underpainting & ébauche | modelling | blending | glazing & scumbling

Mon 22/09/2025 - Sat 27/09/2025
Sitges, Spain

Previous Dates & Location

Scott Waddell
Kostas Protopapas (Barcelona Academy of Art)
Carl de Jager (Barcelona Academy of Art)

Instructors

Materials you need to bring

Drawing

• Pencil (HB or B)

• Kneadable Putty Eraser

• A3 Sketching Paper (1 Sheet)

• A3 Tracing Paper (1 Sheet)

General

• Masking Tape

• Paper Towels for cleaning your brush while painting

• Baby Wipes for cleaning surfaces and your hands. They are a life saver.

• Palette - we will provide you with a thin plastic palette that you can attach to the painting board. With this setup you will mix paint on a vertical surface and have the palette right next to your painting. Feel free to bring your own traditional or disposable paper palette if you would prefer to hold the palette in your hand.

Optional but reccommended painting supplies

• A small container of odourless mineral spirits is very useful for cleaning brushes during and after a painting session.

• A small container of linseed oil can be useful for thinning oil paint and cleaning brushes at the end of a painting session.

Materials we will provide

Oil Colours & Painting Medium

Picking which oil colours to buy can be daunting - it can be costly and confusing if you don’t know what to look for. During the workshop we will discuss how you can use the pigment numbers found on paint tube labels, along with online resources, to help you make the best decisions when investing in new colours.

You’re welcome to bring your own paints, but we have partnered with Natural Pigments to provide you with paints and mediums for use during our workshops. We hope you will appreciate the difference that using premium, professional-grade materials can make.

Brushes & Palette Knife

Selecting brushes can be just as confusing - flats, filberts, rounds, synthetics, hog hair and countless variations. We will discuss what types of brushes are useful for different tasks so you know what to look for when buying new brushes..

Do bring your trusted brushes along, but we have also partnered with Rosemary & Co. to provide you with a selection of 5 brushes and a palette knife for use during our workshops. We've been using their brushes for years and are excited to share how selecting the right brush can make your life a lot easier.

Surfaces / Canvas

We will provide you with acrylic primed cotton canvas to work on during the workshop.

Upcoming dates & locations

We currently don't have any upcoming dates for this workshop. Subscribe to our newsletter (at the bottom of this page) to get updates about new workshop announcements, or send us a message if you would like to host one of our workshops.