2025 Workshops
THE PORTRAIT IN OIL WORKSHOP
NOVEMBER 2025
Tutors: Evan Shipard and Natalia Gorbunova
Date: NOVEMBER 1st and 2nd 2025 (2 Days)Time : 10am to 5pmPrice: $420Venue : Atelier Melbourne Art Academy, Oakleigh, Melbourne. A two day experience with artists Evan Shipard and Natalia Gorbunova exploring two approaches to painting, working from a live model.
We will delve into our process during morning ala prima demonstrations and share cultural influences that shape our painting looking at contemporary and classical approaches.
Topics…
A Simplified Palette
Colour Mixing
Ala Prima Demonstrations
Composition
Simplification
Understanding Form and Shadows
Achieving a Likeness
Some experience with oil painting is preferred but not necessary.
We will go through best practice in dealing with oil paint, solvent and safety.
Materials are not included.
Whether you want to dive into oils or refine your approach in a stimulating environment, the goal of this weekend is to inspire, motivate and bring home a painting.
A Cartel Artists Workshop in association with AMAA.
Note:
For registration and enrolments contact Tutors directly by clicking the link below.
Portrait Painting Workshop (10 DAYS)
Tutor : Troy Argyros
*** SOLD OUT *** REGISTER FOR FUTURE WORKSHOPS
Date: August 11, 2025 to August 22 , 2025 (10 Week Days) 9am - 12noon **SOLD OUT**Price: $2250 AUD per session (ONE MODEL PER TWO STUDENTS & MODEL FEE INCLUDED)Venue : Atelier Melbourne Art Academy, Oakleigh, Melbourne. Join Florence Academy of Art graduate and recent student of Charles H. Cecil Studios, Troy Argyros, for a two-week portrait painting workshop, working from life and to the scale of life under natural light. In a small group of just 5 per class, Troy will sensitively guide students through the process of creating a realistic oil portrait from life using the sight size method, capturing the visual impression of the sitter with fluidity and grace. Troy will be painting too, so students can see the process demonstrated from start to finish in real time. What students can expect to leave the workshop with is practical knowledge on :
• How to set up a portrait from life in sight size
• How to block in with paint
• How to use a painting medium to add fluidity and fusion to their drawing expression
• Palette organisation, colours and mixing, flesh tones
• How to prepare a painting at the end of a session for the next day
• What to prioritise at each stage
• How to apply and adjust paint on the canvas
• Methods for correcting mistakes independently
• Finishing
Students will get two in-depth critiques on their work per day, and any additional questions answered during the model breaks.
Note:
Fees will not be refundable upon students cancellation. However they could be transferred to other workshops or studies in AMAA. Fees will be 100% refundable if AMAA cancels the workshop.
Still Life Workshop - 3 days
***SOLD OUT ***
Tutor : Hannah Sutton
Date: Saturday 20th - Monday 22nd September, 2025
Hours: 9am - 12noon / 1pm - 4pm (total of 6 lesson hours per day)
Price: 990 AUD
Included Materials: 1 x professional quality Claessens Canvas of 30x40cm, Still life objects and fabrics (Students may bring their own objects to paint if they would like to paint something specific.)About Your Instructor
Hannah Sutton is an Australian painter based in Florence, Italy, where she has a studio and is the program director of the 5-week Intensive Course in Drawing, Painting & Art History at The Florence Academy of Art. Of the many projects taught at the Academy, Hannah believes that still-life painting is the best studio exercise to teach composition, perspective, and controlling the elements of light, form, colour and texture across various objects. Workshop Description
Simple objects transform to tell a story in paint.
An introduction to composing and executing a Still Life painting using 19th-century classical realist methods. This 3-day workshop covers the basics of learning how to use the sight-size method, a classical drawing & painting technique, to set up objects, compose and execute a simple still life painting. Compositions will be inspired by classical 17th-19th century paintings, using natural light and a simple array of objects. Each day will focus on the step-by-step development of a small (no bigger than 30x40cm in size) painting with a simple composition. Demos will be given at the start of each day to show the process and discuss materials, paint mixing, and painting techniques. In addition to demonstrations, students will receive one-on-one critiques and instruction from Hannah throughout the day.
Though this workshop will focus on the practical use of a method to support your artistic practice, the aim is also to appreciate the beauty of everyday objects and the joy of translating them in paint.
Beginning – Intermediate – Advanced levels welcome.
SCULPTING WITH CLAY
Portrait and 3/4 Life- size Torso Workshop
Tutor : Georgina Mills
Date : 2026 TBC
Time : TBC
Venue : Atelier Melbourne Art Academy, Oakleigh, Melbourne.
contact for future workshops
(Students can expect 13 hours model time, Maximum class of 8 Students.) This is an intensive workshop that aims at improving student’s observational skills, sculpture techniques and knowledge of human anatomy and form. This course is specifically designed to introduce students to sculptural methods that help simplify the complexities of the human figure. Over the course students will sculpt from life a ¾ life-size torso with water based clay. Group lessons and daily individual critiques will help to guide them through this process. Students will then prepare their sculpture to kiln fired locally at their convenience. Students are to be aware that the kiln firing process can be unpredictable in results and the main goal of the workshop is learning how to improve their sculpting from life skills. Students can expect 13 hours model time. All clay will be supplied, some tools are available for use. All armatures are supplied and retained by the studio. Kiln firing not included (cost approximately $60).
