Atelier Art Practice – Rigorous Training, Flexible Access

Tutors: William Nathans & Nicholas Robinson – Atelier‑trained professional artists

Learn to see, draw, and paint using the proven classical atelier method.

Bargue plates, cast drawing, grisaille painting, colour still life, and portraiture – taught in a logical sequence that builds skill step by step.

What makes our Atelier different?

  • Flexible booking – Pay per session, buy a block card, or join a monthly membership. Attend as little or as much as you like.

  • Untutored studio time included – Practice is built into your membership. Use our studio during untutored sessions to develop self‑reliance.

  • Small capacity – Maximum 10 students per 3‑hour session. You get real feedback.

  • No time limit – Complete the curriculum at your own pace. Most dedicated students finish a full Atelier programme in 3 years attending approx 10 sessions per week. But, here at the Schoolhouse for Art our studio doors are open 12 hours a day with a flexible timetable so you can complete part or all of this program in your own time.

 

We are honoured to have our Atelier recognised by the Art Renewal Center.

The ARC is the foremost and only vetting service for representational art schools ensuring that the teaching curricula and quality of teacher and student work meet our strict standards to become ARC Approved. The ARC also runs the ARC Salon Competition, which is the largest and most prestigious competition in the world for realist artists painting, sculpting and drawing today with eleven categories and thousands of works competing, culminating in a live exhibition of many of the winning works.

This course curriculum is based on key projects of increasing complexity aimed towards working from the life model in a colour oil palette while also developing a solid foundation in drawing and design basics. Each of the projects can be broken down into weekly and overall goals for the people attending. Will Nathans will be completing a series of demonstrations for each project.

Charles Bargue Drawing Technique

Plaster Cast Drawing & Painting

Drawing from Life

Painting from Life

COURSE STRUCTURE:

This program is designed specifically to help give students the necessary fundamentals in the craft of drawing and painting which in turn will ultimately lead to their own mastery and voice for their art.

When?

Monday & Tuesdays
10am - 4/4.30pm
Dates TBC

MONDAYS:

  • Bargue Drawing & Copying - The Bargue Drawing method focuses on sight-size copying of the Old Masters Plates as perfectly as possible. This precise study teaches artists to see distances, lengths and angles, as well as seeing and depicting both light and shade using a two-dimensional reference.

  • Cast Drawing & Painting - Cast Drawing is the next exercise. Cast drawing teaches you to see ‘form’ in three dimensions and transfer it with meticulous detail in pencil/charcoal to a two dimensional surface - the drawing paper. Following this stage the same technique will be used to apply oil to canvas replicating the cast. This practise teaches the mastery of values.

TUESDAYS:

  • Figure Drawing & Painting - Working weekly with the nude figure (male/female), students will complete a series sight-size life drawings & paintings. Progressing through techniques of figurative drawing, perfecting skills through pencil, charcoal, grisaille & oil painting. This module results in a complete understanding of the human form and the flesh palette in oils is mastered.

APPLICATIONS FOR september 2025 ARE NOW OPEN

APPLY here

Course fee: €2,495*
*payment options available
€625 non-refundable deposit to secure place & 3 monthly instalments thereafter of €625
T’s & C’s apply

ACCREDITATION:

This is an accredited, 160 CPD Hours certified course resulting in accreditation and certification through CPD Standards

APPLICATION: Application consists of a short paragraph about yourself with some images of recent work. As places are limited your application form will be reviewed by an independent 3rd party, tutor artist Will Nathans and Schoolhouse for Art Director Neil Condron.
Full list of materials required and complete calendar will be provided when places are offered

APPLY HERE