PORTRAITURE IN WATERCOLOUR | AINE DIVINE
Dates: Sat 25th & Sun 26th Jul | Mon 27th Tue 28th Jul 2026
Times: 10am-5pm
Location: Enniskerry
Skill Level: all levels welcome
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
I am glad to have this invitation from friends in Ireland and the Schoolhouse for Art itself to share the joy of painting expressive watercolour portraits with you.
During this workshop I want to freely share with you the techniques I find useful when painting portraits from life in watercolour. But more than that I want to pass on ways I have found, of allowing the creative flow to be engaged. To emphasise the importance of being fully present; connecting to the earth beneath our feet, to the air we breathe. To find our way to the stillness within, where our personal creative power resides. Inspiration is at the core of what I do. I am inspired to draw out that astonishing brightness we hold within us. A colour and rhythm that is ours alone.
The best compliment anyone can give me at the end of a workshop is to say; "I am inspired". What a gift! To be instrumental in a creative revolution that recognises all human beings as the artists we are. I believe this is the medicine we and our world needs. Let us together take responsibility for our creative expression, and in doing so make the world a richer place. I am heartened to see the phrase 'Therapy for the imagination' on the Home page here. I'm sure we will be a good fit!
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Here’s an idea of what to expect on this workshop. I will begin each day with a demonstration and take the opportunity to discuss ways I ease myself into the painting process. I’m a great believer in looking after ourselves as we go to paint, and being aware of the physical body. So I’ll be encouraging you to remember to breathe and generally look after yourself, keeping a radar up for any tension that may arise. I find we are then more willing to take that joyful leap of faith needed when painting from life.
I’ll also explain practical things, like what colours to mix to represent the shadows on the skin, the hair and so on. We will look at ways of using the flat brushes to explain the position of the features, and the general forms of the model, swiftly and with ease. I’ll also demonstrate lifting-off, so that you can feel the freedom of being able to lay the colour down with confidence, knowing you can ‘eat into it’ like a rubber in charcoal later on.
I will encourage you to be fully attentive to the shapes that make up the model, to steady yourself and observe in the way needed for painting. As the day goes on I will see each person individually and, if it helps, I’ll do little demonstrations from your viewpoint, and discuss whatever comes up for you as you paint. There really is great joy to be had in working from life in this way, looking and painting down our fresh discoveries moment by moment.
We will stop painting at 4pm every day, so we have the opportunity to have a look at the lovely paintings that evolved during the day
I look forward very much to assisting you over the 2 days!
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2 × 2 day workshop. We will stop painting at 4pm every day, so we have the opportunity to have a look at the lovely paintings that evolved during the day
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Easels, boards, tables and water containers will be provided. I will also have paper for you to buy - you can expect to use one or two each day.
Please bring masking tape and kitchen roll.
Here are the colours I recommend in tubes
(I use Windsor and newton professional tubes, but Cotman or something similar are also fine)
Viridian green
Alizarin crimson
Ultramarine Blue
Vandyke brown
Sap Green
Cadmium red
Cadmium lemon yellow
Yellow ochre
Cerulean blue
Windsor orange (optional)
Burnt sienna (optional)You will also need a palette (or a couple of white plastic plates will do)
The recommended craft brushes are Royal and Langnickel White Taklon Wash Artist Brush Set.
Aine will be bringing 10 of these craft brush sets with her from the UK which you can purchase on the day. 2 participants have reserved a set of brushes, if you would like to request a pack, please let us know asap.
The other set for the watercolour portraiture course is the Aine Divine set from rosemary and co. AINE DIVINE BRUSH SET https://www.rosemaryandco.com/aine-divine-set Participants could just opt for the middle size one at 1.5" to keep costs down.
These sets are recommendations, you don't have to get any of these brushes. The brushes you usually use will be fine. If you don’t have any you could try for cheap flat brushes that are not identical but similar to mine. I favour the medium firm synthetic flat brushes for both flowers in acrylic and watercolour portraits.
“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.”
