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About the Workshop & Tutor
Mustafa Ozel is an Istanbul-based Turkish painter and sculptor known for figurative oil paintings, primarily portraits and nudes. Utilizing unusual, technically challenging poses, he balances limbs and forms to manipulate positive and negative space. His subjects often interact powerfully with dark or spacious backgrounds, creating balanced compositions. While some works are smooth, his best feature a loose, controlled paint quality with evident brushstrokes and rich mark-making, shifting the focus from the subject to the paint itself.
You can find out more about Mustafa here.
First of all, looking at the workshop as a whole, alongside portrait and figure practice, we will also explore the logic and process behind developing an artistic perspective. The fundamental approaches needed for a work to achieve artistic depth will be demonstrated through hands-on practice. We will explore how art goes beyond skill in a purely technical sense, and through the exercises, participants will discover how the artistic perception necessary to create meaningful work can be developed.
The workshop will explore the importance of the palette in portrait and figure painting, as well as the possibilities offered by different color and tonal scales. We will also discuss the meaning of personal expression in portrait and figure work, alongside the creation of the illusion of reality. Finally, we will examine how portrait and figure painting have evolved over time and consider their place in contemporary art.
PORTRAIT PAINTING
Day 1
The course will begin with theoretical and practical explanations of the basic principles of art, followed by an introduction to different approaches to portrait painting. Students will also explore palette work and the possibilities of different color and tonal scales. Ozel will then begin painting a portrait of the model, demonstrating his approach and explaining the process as he works. After the lunch break, students will begin their own portraits using the methods demonstrated by Ozel.
Day 2
During the morning session, Ozel will answer students’ questions and then continue and complete the portrait he began the previous day, explaining the decisions and processes involved. In the afternoon, students will continue working on their portraits, receiving individual instruction and feedback from Ozel.
FIGURE PAINTING
Day 3
The workshop will begin with theoretical and practical explanations of the basic principles of art, followed by an exploration of the development and evolution of figurative art through selected examples. In the morning, Ozel will begin a figure painting while explaining the importance of composition and the relationship between the figure and the surrounding space. In the afternoon, students will begin their own figure paintings, with individual instruction and guidance from Ozel.
Days 4 & 5
Morning: Painting demonstration, with explanations of the working process, composition, color, tone, and technique.
Afternoon: Students will continue developing their paintings, receiving individual instruction and feedback from Ozel.
As with all taught sessions, this course is more about learning that can be integrated into practice rather than on getting results and showing that which we can already do. Learning to record the most useful information about our subject, discovering something about seeing the structure of the human form. Learning ways of describing. It's more about succumbing to being a student and being open to discourse, intervention, and learning, so we can then make informed choices about what is useful to us and incorporate into regular practice.
MATERIALS LIST:
Oil paints:
Titanium white, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Red Deep Hue, Cadmium Yellow Pale Hue, Cerulean Blue, Prussian Blue, Alizarin Crimson
Brushes: Pebeo 140 - F series (or any other equivalent brand) flat brush! Numbers: 6 - 8 - 10 - 12
Palette
Palette Knife
Flaxseed Oil
Turpentine
Odourless thinner
Size of Canvases:
30 x 40 cm (12 x 16 inches)
50 x 70 cm (20 x 24 inches)
50 x 60 cm (20 x 28 inches)
What is provided?
Easels and side tables to put your materials on are provided, as is paper, drawing materials and bulldog clips. A selection of teas and coffee, organic milk and plant based milk, plus a selection of treats will also be available.
Terms & Conditions
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Course & Workshop Terms & Conditions
