About
This five-day masterclass follows the traditional methods of the great Renaissance and Baroque painters, exploring how the ground, underpainting and transparent glazes bring light, shadow and colour into a deliberate order, creating that unmistakable depth of chiaroscuro seen in paintings of the 17th century.
Mornings will be spent studying a painting by one of the old masters, understanding their visual language and how form is constructed through the subtle orchestration of light and dark.
During the afternoons students will assimilate that learning into direct practice, painting directly from a life model, allowing for the development of observation and handling of paint to grow together. The week moves from the discipline in the study of the morning class to the training of direct observational seeing during the afternoon sessions, allowing knowledge to become experience through the careful and expressive handling of the brush and paint. By the end of the week, each student will have both a study rooted in the morning sessions and a finished portrait painted from life.
An important aspect of this masterclass is the opportunity to reconnect with a continuity of knowledge carried through generations of painters. Knowledge not only in the finished works but in the materials and methods through which paintings came into being.
Through hands-on study, students enter that lineage, not just by learning how things were made, but by experiencing the principles that made them possible. In this way, the workshop seeks not only to preserve technique but to contribute to the continuity of a living tradition.
Key Information
Who is this course for?
All levels of ability and experience welcome. You must be aged 18 or over to participate in our programmes.
What days/times do I attend?
Monday – Friday, 14 – 18 June 2027, 10:00 – 16:30
How many students can attend?
14 people
Where will this course take place?
This course will take place at our studios at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG.
What should I bring to class?
Students are asked to bring:
- A flat oil painting palette, can be wood, plastic or paper
- Oil paint: burnt sienna, raw sienna, yellow ochre, raw umber, burnt umber, Venetian red, terre vert, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, vine or bone black, zinc white, titanium white.*
*Your tutor recommends the following makes for their sutability to this technique: Schmincke, Mussini, Roberson, Michael Harding, Blockx or Old Holland. Results may be unreliable with other brands. - Brushes:
- A range of hog hair filbert brushes: suggested sizes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
- Pointed round Kolinsky sable brushes, long handled: suggested sizes 1, 2, 3, and 4.
- For recommendations on makes of brushes, please see your tutor’s advice here.
Please note: Your oil painting may not be dry enough to safely move/take home on the final day – you may wish to leave the painting at the School and collect the following week.
All other materials will be provided.
Wear comfortable clothing that you do not mind getting slightly messy. Avoid wearing baggy clothing (especially sleeves), loose jewellery, high heels or open-toed shoes.
FAQs
Do you offer concessions?
Yes, we offer concessions for Seniors/60+, full-time students and people who are unemployed/in receipt of benefits.
Concessions cannot be applied in retrospect. To receive a concession, please apply via our online form. We will then send you a discount code to use when booking your space.
Terms & Conditions
The School reserves the right to discontinue or suspend a Course up to fourteen (14) calendar days before the advertised start date of the Course. This course requires a minimum number of enrollments to run.
The School may take and use images of you and/or your work for course advertisement and social media purposes.
Our normal terms and conditions apply.
Tutor Biography
Dr. David Cranswick received his MA fine art degree from the Royal Academy of Art. In 1999 he received his PhD from HRH Prince of Wales at St James Palace for practical research into mediaeval and renaissance painting materials and techniques. From 1984 David served as personal apprentice to Cecil Collins until his death in 1989. In 1989 David was invited by Professor Keith Critchlow to run regular workshops to the MA and PhD students, where he continues to teach as senior tutor at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts. He teaches regularly in the UK and internationally. David is personal tutor to several Royalties and prominent figures. He has works in royal collections (including King Charles III) also prominent establishments in the UK and abroad. David is resident artist in Cowdray Castle. David has appeared in BBC television programmes and radio interviews. Articles published include art magazines and newspapers. He has exhibited internationally since 1979 and undertaken portrait commissions. In 2024 David received the Teaching Award from King Charles III for 35 years of dedicated teaching. Dr. Cranswick has written a book on desert pigments of AlUla. He is currently writing a book on traditional painting methods.
