Intensive Oil Painting Foundation
A WEEK OF PAINTING IN BERLIN
Five days to step away from everyday life and immerse yourself in oil painting, museums and Berlin’s art world.
After ten years of developing our six-week Oil Painting Foundation, we are now offering the complete programme as an intensive week.
21–25 September 2026
Monday–Friday
10:00–13:00 painting in the studio
14:00–17:00 curated museum and gallery visits across Berlin
The course includes
✓ Beginners and returning painters welcome
✓ Maximum 6 participants
✓ All painting materials included
✓ Five mornings of studio tuition
✓ Curated museum and gallery visits throughout the week
✓ Individual feedback throughout the course
✓ Homework exercises to continue your painting outside class
✓ One-to-one meeting before the course
✓ One-to-one follow-up after the course
✓ Practical guidance for continuing to paint independently
✓ Shopping lists and advice on setting up your own painting space
✓ Follow-up home-studio meeting two weeks after the course
By the end of the week, you will have worked through the complete Oil Painting Foundation programme and have the practical knowledge, materials guidance and confidence to continue painting independently at home or in your own studio.
€675 standard
€580 solidarity
Payment plans available
book the September autumn intensive course
Overview
This five-day Intensive covers the core curriculum of the Burnt Sienna Oil Painting Foundation Course, offering a focused introduction to traditional oil painting techniques in a supportive studio environment. For those who want to truely immerse themselves in painting and escape everyday life.
Students work in a small group of a maximum of 6 participants, allowing for individual guidance, demonstrations, and feedback throughout the week.
The course is taught by Emma Seach, Hannah Turner-Duffin (Royal Drawing School, London) or Louise Lenz, founder and director of Burnt Sienna Art School Berlin, who has over 18 years of experience teaching and working as a professional painter since 2007.
All high-quality art materials, studio equipment, and refreshments are included in the course fee so that students can focus fully on developing their painting skills.
Who this course is for
This course is ideal for:
• Complete beginners who want a structured introduction to oil painting
• Artists returning to painting after a break
• Students preparing for art school applications
• Painters who want to strengthen their understanding of colour, composition, and technique
• Anyone interested in learning traditional oil painting methods in a supportive studio environment
No prior oil painting experience is required.
What you will learn
During the week students work through the essential stages of building an oil painting from observation.
Each participant will produce:
• One finished canvas painting
• Three smaller oil studies exploring colour and technique
• A series of practical studio exercises designed to build confidence with oil paint
Topics covered include:
• Preparing and priming painting surfaces
• Understanding underpainting and tonal structure
• Colour theory and mixing a practical palette
• Brush handling and paint application
• Building paintings in layers
• Solving common painting problems in the studio
• Developing observational skills
Students also participate in group critiques modelled on London art school teaching methods, helping you develop the ability to evaluate and discuss your work and the work of others.
Preparation and follow-up
To support learning beyond the studio week, the course also includes:
• A 30-minute preparation meeting before the course begins (online or in person)
• Printed worksheets and studio exercises
• Optional homework assignments
• A follow-up evaluation session two weeks after the course
Students receive guidance on how to continue painting independently and how to progress to the Intermediate Oil Painting Course or Mentoring Programme.
