Exploring the expressive and technical possibilities of oil paint
Following on from Niamh’s previous sold out Oil Painting Course at Segotia, this is a one-day intensive workshop designed to introduce students to the expressive and technical possibilities of oil paint.
Suitable for all levels, the workshop combines practical exercises, demonstrations, discussion, and art historical references in a supportive and engaging environment for both beginners and more experienced painters.
Guided by Niamh, you will explore key aspects of oil painting, including mark-making, colour theory, composition, space, and form through a series of exercises, with an emphasis on painting as a physical and intuitive process. You are encouraged to experiment freely, move beyond perfectionism, and develop confidence in your own visual language.
The workshop will begin with exploratory exercises focused on gesture, mark making, and texture, before progressing to approaches in composition and colour. Short demonstrations and discussions of historical and contemporary painters will provide context and inspiration, while individual feedback will support your individual development.
In the afternoon, you will apply the techniques and ideas introduced during the workshop to create a more resolved painting of your own, allowing you to bring together your exploration of colour, composition, and subject matter, while developing a personal response to the medium.
By the end of the day, you will have improved your practical skills in oil painting materials and techniques, gained a deeper understanding of how painters have approached image-making across different periods, and completed a painting that reflects your individual interests and creative approach.
Required materials:
Oil paints:
1. Titanium White
2. Cadmium Yellow (or Yellow Hue)
3. Yellow Ochre
4. Cadmium Red (or Red Hue)
5. Ultramarine Blue
Paint brushes:
A selection of hog hairbrushes in assorted sizes
(flat and filbert recommended)
Medium:
Linseed oil or odourless painting medium
Solvent:
Odourless white spirits or Gamsol
Reference images (printed or on a device)
Recommended:
Additional Oil Paint Colours
Apron or old clothing
Sketchbook and pencil (for planning and composition)
Palette knife
Sat 29th Aug
10am – 4pm
€150
Limited spaces available.
Early booking is advised.
Niamh Hegarty
Niamh Hegarty is an Irish painter and printmaker who graduated from the National College of Art and Design with a BA in Fine Art Printmaking and Visual Culture. Her current practice focuses on oil painting and is informed by an interest in Surrealism. She produces a significant number of commissioned works each year, and her paintings are held in international private collections across Australia, the United States, Ireland, and the UK.
Her exhibition history includes Páipéar with Hang Tough Contemporary Gallery and As Real as a JPEG at the National College of Art and Design. Niamh is a recipient of the Black Church Studio Graduate Award and the NCAD Staff Prize, and her work is held in the Office of Public Works (OPW) collection.
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