ADVANCED OILS & COLD WAX | PAULA DUNN
Dates: Fri 14th - Sun 16th Aug 2026
Times: 10am-4pm
Location: Enniskerry
Skill Level: Not suitable for complete beginners
Please see detailed workshop information below
If this course is fully booked or not currently scheduled, go ahead add your name to the waiting list HERE
Payment plans available contact us directly
aBOUT THE WORKSHOP
Build Depth, Form, and Texture
In this three-day workshop you will build on your existing knowledge of oils and cold wax, developing rich, layered paintings with greater depth, movement, and texture.
Under Paula’s guidance, you’ll explore advanced techniques for building complex base layers, refining colour harmonies, and strengthening compositional structure key skills for scaling up your work and developing your own visual language. Over three days, you’ll work intuitively across a series of small paintings, allowing each piece to evolve naturally. The workshop combines demonstrations, technical insight, and plenty of one-to-one support.
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Build depth and movement using texture tools and reduction techniques
Carve out form and create “quiet spaces” for balance and emotion
Use colour to convey mood, atmosphere, and dimension
Work with pigments, marble dust, and loose powders for tactile effects
Master blending and layering with brushes, squeegees, and palette knives
Experiment with solvent pours, glazes, and reduction methods
Explore masking and transfer techniques
Solve compositional challenges through colour, value, contrast, and shape
Learn how to mount and finish your paintings for professional presentation
Create a cohesive series of small works that function beautifully both individually and together
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Squeegee - 6 inchMessermeister bowl scraper or Cold wax academy tool
Soft roller / brayer - 6 inchInovart Pro roller soft rubber brayer or cold wax academy soft rollers
Palette knives - Any palette knife you are comfortable with for mixing paint and making marks
Fan brush - Daler Rowney System 3 acrylic brush: Fan 6
Household paint brush - Cheap pack of brushes
Arches Huile paper - Two 56 x 76 cm sheets
Masking tape - Handover professional masking tape – I inch wide is fine
Cold wax - Gamblin cold wax medium: 473 ml
Oil paints 60 ml tubes:
Titanium white
Cerulean blue
Ultramarine blue
Crimson Alizarin
Cadmium red
Cadmium yellow deep
Lemon yellow
Choose artist quality paints such as Jacksons, Gamblin, Michael Harding, Sennelier.
Cardboard - Sheet of card (approx. 65 x 40 cm) to help with transporting your work
Apron Or an old shirt / t-shirt to protect your clothes
Nitrile gloves 2-3 pairs a day to protect your hands
“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.”
