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8.30am – 11.30am USA (ET)
1.30pm – 4.30pm UK
6 Weeks
10 Places Only
Live Online 6 Week William Bouguereau Course
£175.00
4 in stock
4 in stock
Description
Live Online William Bouguereau Master Copy Course
7th January – 11th Febuary 2026
Wednesdays
8.30am – 11.30am USA (ET)
1.30pm – 4.30pm UK
Course £175
Level: Beginners welcome – ideal for all skill levels
Course Outline
Step into the world of 19th-century academic painting with this immersive 6 week course, 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, and Burnt Umber Windsor and Newton or equivalent—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
Reference and Tracing Paper will be sent to your address.
Paints: Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Violet, and Burnt Umber
Canvas: 12″x 16″ or 30cm x 40cm
How the Online Course Works
Learn, Draw, and Get Real-Time Feedback — All From Home!
Join our Live Interactive Online Life Drawing Course with award-winning artist Louis Smith, where you’ll receive step-by-step instruction, hands-on learning, and instant feedback in a fully immersive experience.
Unlike pre-recorded courses, this is live learning in real time — you’ll draw alongside Louis as he demonstrates each stage, guiding you through every stroke with direct feedback.
What You’ll Experience
- Live Demonstrations – Watch each stage of the portrait unfold as Louis paints and explains his process.
- Hands-On Learning – Practice alongside Louis and apply techniques immediately.
- Personalized Feedback – Receive tailored guidance and live corrections on your work.
- Recorded Lessons – Revisit every class anytime to reinforce your learning.
A Smarter, More Effective Way to Learn
Our online portrait painting sessions are designed for maximum focus and steady progress.
Each class is a half-day (3 hours) session — long enough to make real progress without feeling drained.
You’ll benefit from:
- Better Focus & Energy – Shorter sessions keep you engaged and motivated.
- Consistent Progress – Regular check-ins ensure steady improvement.
- Flexibility & Support – Recorded sessions mean you’ll never miss a lesson.
Virtual Class Set Up
Classes are hosted on Zoom, and you’ll log in using two devices:
- Your laptop or tablet for viewing the lesson
- Your phone as a camera so Louis can see your work and give live feedback, as seen below.
Special Offer
Discount Online Portrait Painting Course 2026–27
Thinking about enrolling in the Year-Long Online Portrait Painting Course?
This workshop is the perfect way to experience our virtual classroom before committing.
Bonus: If you decide to join the full-year course, the cost of the Online 8-Week Life Drawing Essentials Course will be fully deducted from your tuition.
“As someone who has followed many online art tutorials on Youtube & Patreon I can honestly say that The Realist Academy is by far the best! The main reason being the excellent critique of work which Louis gave throughout the live Zoom classes. This made an enormous difference to how quickly and effectively our drawing and painting skills improved. He has an exceptional ability to spot angles, tones & colours that need adjusting & continually guided us back onto the correct path.Louis also is a very good demonstrator with clear description of what he was doing and excellent close up photography of his palette and canvas.Working on the same portrait in a small group has great benefits as we learned form each other’s critiques as well as our own.I would highly recommend Louis Smith & The Realist Academy if you are serious about learning the skills of drawing & painting in oils. I personally found the 40 week course hugely challenging but infinitely rewarding!Dawn White”
There’s a lot to be said for the online learning … the flexibility it offers is very appealing … whilst I do miss a studio it has surprised me how quickly you adapt … and I’ll never miss lugging materials around on public transport trying to get from A to B in the middle of winter when it’s days of never ending rain and wind.
