Easter Sale %20 OFF
11th – 12th April 2026
Saturday – Sunday
1.30pm – 4.30pm UK
10 Places Only
William Bouguereau Master Copy Workshop
Original price was: £180.00.£146.00Current price is: £146.00.
7 in stock
7 in stock
Description
William Bouguereau (Study of a Girl’s Head)
11th – 12th April 2026
Saturday – Sunday
9.30am – 4.30pm
£180 £146
Level: Beginners welcome – ideal for all skill levels
Workshop Outline
Step into the world of 19th-century academic painting with this immersive workshop, focused on creating a master copy of William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s exquisite Portrait de femme la tête renversée.
This painting is an ideal study for artists looking to deepen their understanding of tonal harmony, subtle form modelling, and delicate transitions—hallmarks of Bouguereau’s refined technique.
Throughout the workshop, we’ll explore his restrained yet sophisticated palette, using a Burnt Umber base for the model’s hair, shadows, and the lights of the face.
Bouguereau’s masterful use of limited pigments—including Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Violet or Purple, Black and Burnt Umber creates a harmonious balance between warm and cool tones.
You’ll observe how these colours shift and interact depending on their placement, particularly the greenish hues that emerge when Burnt Umber and Yellow are placed next to cooler reds like Alizarin.
What You’ll Learn
Sight-Size Technique
Learn how to simplify the drawing process using the classical sight-size method—perfect for capturing accurate proportions and making direct comparisons from reference to canvas.
Transfer Methods
Discover how to trace and transfer your drawing onto canvas with precision. This time-saving technique is ideal for focusing your energy on the painting process.
Colour Harmony
Unlock the power of a base hue to unify your entire palette. We’ll explore how Bouguereau used Burnt Umber to create rich, cohesive colour relationships throughout the painting.
Blending Techniques
Master the art of soft edges using nylon filberts. You’ll learn how to blend seamlessly and capture those beautifully subtle transitions that define classical realism.
Materials Included
Organisation is a challenge faced by most beginners. The studio is equiped with work stations so that everything is at hand. The students will be using the same paints and canvas that the teacher uses for demonstration, eliminating a number of problems that students have when they bring their own paints and canvas. Each workstation includes;
Materials included:
Easel
Palette
Palette knife
Medium holder
Medium
Thinners
Prepared Canvas
Kitchen roll
Paints (cadmium yellow, cadmium orange, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, violet, cobolt blue, burnt umber black and white).
OFFER DOES NOT INCLUDE BRUSHES
Equipment
The studio is thoughtfully equipped with easels and workstations, providing students with a convenient space to organize their materials and concentrate on their artwork. Balanced lighting enhances the environment, helping to eliminate common challenges when working with a color palette.
The image showcases a workstation, featuring an Alla Prima painting for display purposes only.
Discount Portrait Painting Course 26-27
If you’re considering enroling in the Year-Long Academy Portrait Painting Course 26-27, this workshop offers an excellent opportunity to experience our facilities first-hand before committing.
As an added bonus, the cost of the Imprimatura Portrait Workshop will be fully deducted from the Portrait Painting Course when you decide to join. READ MORE
Here are some snapshots from our recent workshop, where students worked on the Pre-Raphaelite Style Workshop. As you can see, the participants achieved impressive results.
Beginners and experienced people are welcome. Understanding is key and nobody gets left behind. Each student will be helped until they grasp the principles of the lesson. Louis will be demonstrating each step in front of the group and on students work if needed.
Louis Smith studied Classical Art in Florence and has exhibited his work in the National Portrait Gallery and Royal Society of Portrait
“I really enjoyed my year studying under Louis. It is certainly as challenging as it is fun, and I have learnt so much about academic portrait painting. Louis is very approachable and knowledgeable, and my fellow students were lovely people. Louis has opened my eyes to portrait painting in a way that I could never have imagined possible.”
Andrew Wall
“Before I started the course I was unhappy with the standard of my work. However after a year training with Louis (who is a highly skilled individual) I am pleased to see an improvement in my technical abilities and the quality of my work has improved.I highly recommend the in studio approach, it is invaluable to improve, as the tutor is there to point out where you are going wrong instantly, instead of taking hours or weeks trying to figure things out on your own. The principles and steps which Louis teaches helps to instil a structured, methodical way to painting. You won’t find a better foundation to Portrait painting in the North of England than at The Realist Academy.” Adrian Beamish
