Workshops
Workshops at BARA last between one day and five days, providing an opportunity to intensively develop your chosen area. All workshops are fully tutored and run as a series of exercises so you understand what you are doing, and feel in control. Each day is designed very carefully in such a way that you can remember it and put it into practice at home. Classes are small, so you will get plenty of attention. Suitable for all levels of experience, from beginner to advanced.
Click the images below to enlarge
The options:
Portrait Drawing
This is a perfect place to start if you are new to drawing faces, or if you are struggling and you need to Regroup. Learn to Look, how to understand the form of the face and put the information down on paper. A series of exercises that Julie has designed and redesigns, helping you to learn to draw what you really SEE (as opposed to what you think you see!), as well as understanding the impact of light and form. You will be taught the art of shading, mapping and comparative measuring. There are many aspects and ways to draw portraits. Each day will concentrate on one approach. Suitable for all levels of experience.
Oil painting - a brush up or an introduction to this medium.
These workshops are suitable for learners at all levels. You will be guided you through this lovely medium slowly but steadily, so you understand exactly what you're doing, using clear, tried and tested exercises. Observational study (working from life, not from photographs), beginning with a drawing study, then moving on to paint - understanding tonal values, colour and mixing.
Portrait in Oils
This workshop shows you how to mix skin colours using a limited palette, how to map the face and transfer it to canvas. You will paint many small studies over the course of a few days, examining planes of the head, the importance of tones and composition as well as layering in oil paint. Fully tutored, clear instruction designed to help you understand the processes involved.
Progress shots oil Julie’s painting
Life Drawing
Again, these are TUTORED sessions, so if you are a beginner you will be guided how to approach drawing the human form. Half day and full day sessions. Regular Friday evening life classes, 6pm-8pm (Friday Night-Life!!) Really enjoyable and the time flies by. In-studio only.
Watercolour
Subjects range from Pen & Wash, to Painting flowers, Landscapes and Skies.
There is really something for everyone here. Watercolour is a lovely medium, clean and relatively quick. A refreshing way to understand about colour and get to grips with the layering processes involved. Learn how to mix colour, work swiftly (work slowly!), get ready for some location work while on holiday, or brush up your existing skills. See programme for different subjects.
Boboli Gardens, Florence, Sketch book, Julie Douglas
Pastel Workshops
The subject varies, from trees to water to animals. A lovely medium.
The Summer 2024 Programme of Workshops (check back as there may be additions)
April - Figure Drawing (clothed figure) April 6th 10.30 - 4.30 including long poses and 20 minute poses, in any dry media. Fully tutored £110 - full April 7th Portrait Drawing 10.30 - 4.30 graphite pencil and charcoal £110 April 21st Drawing in the National Gallery, Dublin, 2pm - 4pm 50 euro/£35
May - Cottage garden Flowers 11th May - make a beautiful contemporary table design with Fiona Campbell using fresh seasonal flowers. All materials provided plus refreshments. A lovely way to spend the afternoon. 2.30 - around 4.30pm £65
June 22nd - As part of the Comber Earlies Food Festival, a watercolour, pen and wash workshop, Comber Doorways. £45 The studio is on the way to the food festival - this is food for your eyes! 2,30 - 4,30
July 17th & 18th Wonderful Watercolours! Understand the process and techniques to create lovely paintings from washes to pen using paint alone with graphite pencil and pen. Skies, landscape and still life. £220
July 20th Figure Drawing (clothed model), including Lon and shorter poses in any dry media. Fully tutored. £110
July 22- 24th Colour pencil. All things animal! Looking at texture, tonal variations, hair, fur and how to creat believable lovely colour pencil drawings. 10.30 - 4pm. £330
July 27 Portrait in pencil. 2.30 - 6.20 £100 Intensive, concept-changing workshop which changes your perception and improves your skills.
August 7th & 8th Portrait drawing including graphite and colour pencil.
August 12th - 14th Portrait in oils - includes colour mixing and how to work with a limited palette. Thes can be extended for an extra day students need more time. £350
August 16th - 17th Birds. Drawing and on to colour using ether water colour or colour pencils. £220
Please note, courses are added regularly so please email if you'd like to be kept updated. Please also get in touch if you'd like to do something which is not listed here OR if you'd like to do something but can't make the date, and I will do my best to accommodate you.
Distance is no object to your Learning, bring Julie to your home! Live classes online
Julie’s popular drawing and painting programme will work, using Zoom, to enable personal growth and development while working from home. Using a combination of full tutorial videos, notes and weekly online classes, Julie will guide you through a fulfilling and rewarding creative experience. Julie has helped thousands of students to improve their drawing and painting through her user friendly, positive approach.
To participate in online classes and online workshops, students need internet access and a computer or tablet device. Students are supported with tutorial videos and constant feedback during the live class. Julie has taught 100’s of classes using Zoom - they are incredibly popular with students and have proven an excellent teaching platform.
