Burnt Sienna Art School Berlin presents:

The Portrait painting course with Hannah Turner - Duffin

The portrait painting course with Hannah Turner - Duffin

Comprises of 6  Sunday classes 2 pm - 5 pm

Start Date: 8th May 2022  End date: 12 th June 2022

Sun 08.05.22 // Sun 07.05.22 //  Sun 14.05.22 // Sun 21.05.22 // Sun 28.05.22 // Sun 04.06.22

Max class size: 4          Fee: € 420  

Certificate included in course fee when the course is completed

(Discount available low income / students)

Course Overview

 This six week portrait painting course will present you with the fundamentals of representational portrait drawing and painting focusing on tonal values, composition, form, colour theory, mixing and mark making.

 This is a unique opportunity to work with artist Hannah Turner - Duffin Royal drawing school graduate in the studio, this course will consist of a small group of 4 participants. Each participant will have their individual painting station including all the studio eqipment they will need. You will learn to use oil including mixing your palette, preparing your surface, building your composition and handling tone and colour.We will start with a series of drawing exercises to warm up, explore the portrait and get to know the model. Hannah will share with students the process by which she paints and offer some short demonstrations at different stages to illustrate what she is teaching to the group. The course includes advice on studio practice such as how to set yourself up at home or in studio time here with the right brushes, paints and setting out your palette with practical exercises over the three days.We will then move on to a live demo on colour mixing and handling oils. After that we will start painting the portrait. During this time Hannah will also be painting the portrait and guiding you through unique tips and techniques to achieve the painting. The course includes serveral group critiques throughout to look and discuss all the paintings together.

 Artist and tutor Hannah Turner - Duffin will share tips and techniques for creating an interesting portrait. Using drawing materials to make up your sketches and then moving to a canvas and mixing a palette.

 The course includes a live model throughout, demos as well and one on one evaluations to discuss the portrait and work created. After the class you are free to leave the painting in the studio to dry before the following week.

At the end of the course students will be presents with certificates on completion from the school.

Biography of your tutor

Hannah Turner Duffin born in London 1984 currently lives and works in Brittany, France. Studied at Turps Art School 2018, Royal Drawing School 2009 and Falmouth College of Art 2007 as well as a PGCE in art and design from the Institute of Education, London 2014.

Recent exhibitions include; Your Foot in My Face and Other Tectonic Strategies at Kingsgate Project Space, London 2021; Small is Beautiful XXXVIII, Flowers Gallery, Cork Street, London, 2020; Rituals, Globe Gallery, Grabowsee, Berlin 2019; Paul Stolper Gallery, London 2018; solo "dyb dyb dyb" at the Gerald Moore Gallery, London 2018. International residencies, in London, India, Denmark, Lithuania and Berlin, has work in private and Royal collections.

Hannah has over ten years of teaching experience, facilitating others’ creativity in a variety of venues across London in both informal and formal settings,  including; The Saatchi Gallery, The Art Academy and The Royal Drawing School, as well as schools and colleges, delivering inspiring workshops and masterclasses within a diverse range of communities. 

Hannah creates vibrant works of art, created through experiential ritualistic processes; her methods whilst based in painting, weave craft and fine art techniques and processes together; exploring and experimenting with possibilities, she brings this playful exciting methodology into her teaching allowing the student to really push past their expectations and go on their own experimental journey. 

Hannah Turner Duffin’s practice is rooted in painting but incorporates craft, installation, textiles and print-making techniques, interested in creating a cyclical life-span for her paintings, each stage or ‘life’ resulting from ritualistic processes. Navigating ideas of the consumption of self within the painting; particularly the meditative/obsessive and accumulative experience of making through repetitive gestures and the devotional dialogue that it creates. Her paintings evoke not only their own crafting, but also a wide range of landscape associations, often made in response to the idea of her surrounding landscape, the feeling of passing through it and notions of transcendence that it evokes. As well as using recurring themes of the anthropomorphic power of plants and rocks to convey everyday life experiences or folkloric tales.

Hannah Turner - Duffin Instagram

 Hannah Turner - Duffin Artist website

Entry requirements  / level

Basic English language although German, French and English is understood and spoken too. The course is suitable for all levels. You will be using turpentine, if you are allergic to this please contact us about your concerns, gloves are provided. The studio is in the Attic on the 6th floor it is a beautiful quiet space but on the top floor with no elevator so take your time ! 

Materials and Equipment 

Courses fees include all material and teaching costs. Please wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. Biscuits and hot drinks provided please feel free to bring any special foods and drinks you might need during the day. There are slippers provided you must not wear outdoor shoes in the studio. 

Booking and refund policy

If you want to join the course please get in touch with Louise via Email or whatsapp (017631665401) to arrange an informal studio meeting. If you are not in Berlin we can do that via telephone. Once we have had the meeting to secure your place on the course you are required to pay a deposit. Once the fee is received your place on the course is secured. The remainder is due at the start of the course. 

For further questions, to request a catalogue or to reserve your place on the course contact burntsiennaberlin@gmail.com or call Louise on 017631665401. A student discount and reduced rate for job seekers is available on request please provide a copy of your job centre certificate or university enrollment form.

To enquire about the course email Burntsiennaberlin@gmail.com or fill out the form below. Let us know that you are interested in joining the class we would then arrange an informal interview to see your portfolio and discuss the course.


Testimonial from Rachel Foreman 2021 -

‘I’m so glad to have found this beauty of an art school. So far I’ve attended the winter oil course and the portrait in oil workshop and I can’t wait to do more. Louise (and Jesse) have been excellent teachers, enabling and inspiring me to explore painting- something I’ve had on my list for a very long time. Thank you Burnt Sienna!”