Course Description

This four-day workshop offers a dynamic and well-rounded approach to building essential painting skills through a variety of classical subjects.
 
The course begins with still life painting, giving you the chance to explore texture, colour relationships, and paint handling. Next, we move to cast painting from classical sculptures, providing practice in anatomy, structure, and facial features. These studies lay the groundwork for the final stage: painting from the live model.

Through this structured progression, you will develop a deeper understanding of drawing accuracy, proportion, value, and colour, while gaining confidence and expressive freedom in your work. Benjamin's instruction balances observation with interpretation, encouraging you to translate what you see into engaging, thoughtful paintings.
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With demonstrations and personalised guidance at every step, this course helps you build a strong bridge between technical skill and creative expression, equipping you to capture form, light, and character across multiple subjects. This workshop is ideal for intermediate and advanced artists who want to broaden your artistic range, refine your technique, and strengthen your foundation in classical painting.

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Key Learning Concepts

• Develop confidence across a repertoire of classical subjects such as still life, cast painting, and live model studies
  
• Strengthen core painting fundamentals in drawing accuracy, proportion, value, and colour
  
• Gain control over paint handling to achieve greater versatility in your brushwork and expressiveness
  
• Bridge observation and interpretation, learning to paint what you see with sensitivity, creativity, and intention

Benjamin Gouttard

​Benjamin Gouttard is a French painter based in Florence, Italy. Meeting with Sergei Tziganov during his childhood made Benjamin determined to explore the concepts of academic art. This Russian painter based in Saint-Etienne, France taught him the fundamentals of drawing and painting, and his intuitive approach has never left Benjamin's mind in his way of considering his work.

Benjamin is a graduate of the Angel Academy of Art in Italy and his studio in Florence allows him to meet people from all around the world.

Benjamin's work is owned in private collections throughout Europe, and has also been acquired by the European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) in Barcelona, Spain.

@benjamin_gouttard_art

Artist Bio >

​Traveling to DARA from far away? Visit our FAQ for travel tips like where to stay, and all you need to know before you book.

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Supply List

The following items are required to participate in class. We carry most supplies for sale directly in the studio (accepted students receive a detailed PDF with further information.)

DRAWING TOOLS
Sketchbook, A4 or A5 size, 90 g2m or similar
Graphite pencils, B or HB (or other sketching tools of your choice)
Kneaded eraser

PAINTING SUPPORT
You will need an assortment of prepared canvas, panels, or oil paper for this workshop - minimum 4, though feel welcome to bring more. Painting exercises will range from between one to three hours, focusing on practice, exploration, and growth through hands-on experience.

Small or large formats, from about 15 x 20 cm to 40 x 50 cm, are acceptable according to your preference.

OIL COLOURS
A limited RBY (Red, Blue, Yellow) palette is recommended to promote natural colour harmony and effective colour mixing.

Titanium White
Cadmium Red (medium or deep)
Cadmium Yellow
Ultramarine Blue

Optional additions: Alizarin Crimson, Cobalt Blue, Yellow Ochre, Raw Sienna. 
Students are encouraged to avoid "pure primary” colours such as magenta or lemon yellow. Black, browns, or other pigments may also be used, and the reasoning behind these choices will be discussed during the course.

PAINTING MEDIUMS
Gamsol Odourless Mineral Spirits*
Linseed Oil
Small container for storing solvent (either metal palette cups or glass jar with a secure lid)
Airtight brush washer for brush cleaning (optional)

Note: Gamsol is the only solvent permitted for use inside DARA classrooms. There are no exceptions. We sell Gamsol directly in the studio, including in small bottles suitable for short-term use for students who cannot travel with solvent after the course ends.

BRUSHES
Benjamin recommends bringing a variety of brushes in sizes #4 to #10. These should be a mix of both sable- or synthetic-hair brushes, as well as natural bristle brushes.

Any brush shape (rounds, flats, or filberts) is fine. Please bring whichever brushes you are typically working with.

PAINTING TOOLS
Palette: wooden or disposable
Palette Knife
Paper Towels
Clamps to better secure your canvas to the easel (optional)

Tuition Fee & What's Included

INCLUDED  |   The tuition fee includes 24 hours of studio instruction, model fees, complimentary lunch served daily, coffee / tea / light refreshments served during all hours, basic studio equipment (easels, stools, drawing boards), and an end-of-workshop borrel (alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks and light bites.)

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NOT INCLUDED  |   Accommodation, airfare, transport costs, and drawing or painting supplies are not included with the tuition fee.

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WHAT'S FOR LUNCH?  |   We serve a complimentary light lunch, prepared daily in house with love. Typical lunches include sandwiches, soups, salads, wraps, and other light and healthy fare. Menus change daily. We are happy to accommodate vegetarian & vegan diets.

Payment Deadlines

Acceptance when there is more than 1 month before the start of the workshop:

To keep your place on hold, a deposit payment must be made within 14 days of your acceptance letter:

• Option 1: The entire tuition fee is paid in one sum.
• Option 2: You pay in two parts: the first half is the deposit, and the second half is paid one month before the first day of class.
• Option 3: You sign up via our ecommerce platform to pay in monthly instalments, of between 4 to 6 instalments total according to your preference. The first instalment is considered the deposit. A 5% surcharge is added when you select this option. Monthly billing is available for Spring workshops before March 2026, and for Summer workshops before May 2026.

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Acceptance when there are 4 weeks or less before the start of the workshop:

The full cost of tuition is due within 5 working days of your acceptance letter. Tuition fees must be paid in full before the first day of lessons in order to participate.

Discounts & Financial Aid

To support artists in our community, DARA has several discounts on offer for our 2026 workshop roster - please see terms and conditions below. Additionally, you may be eligible for third-party subsidies to help fund your education at DARA.

Please note that the following offers apply to our Workshop Programme only. Available discounts may differ for our Trimester Programme & Bootcamps.​

Early Bird Discount

You are eligible for this discount if you register between 10 to 30 November for any workshop scheduled between the months of April to September 2026 and you reserve your space by paying a deposit within 14 days of your letter of acceptance.

Terms & Conditions:

• If you enrol in multiple courses, this discount applies to the workshop with the lowest tuition fee.
• If you cancel your enrolment and then decide to join the course at a later time, the discount is void.
• If your deposit payment is not received by the deadline (within 14 days of your letter of acceptance), the discount is void.
• If you enrol in a workshop at the Early Bird rate, and then later decide to transfer to a different workshop, the discount is void.
• This discount does not apply to the workshop "Drawing the Portrait: Structure & Form" with Kevin Muller-Cisneros, scheduled in January 2026. Kevin's workshop has a separate special discount on offer - see here for details.

Artist Discount

Registering for multiple workshops? The more courses you take, the more you save!

As a show of gratitude to our dedicated students, DARA offers you a €50 discount for each additional workshop you join in 2026, for maximum savings of up to €200.

What you save:

• Any 2 Workshops: save €50 off the combined total of tuition fees;
• Any 3 Workshops: save €100 off the combined total of tuition fees;
• Any 4 Workshops: save €150 off the combined total of tuition fees;
• Any 5+ Workshops: save €200 off the combined total of tuition fees.

Terms & Conditions:

• You can combine this discount with the Early Bird discount. Register early and maximise your savings!
• If you cancel your enrolment in one or more workshops, the full discount will no longer apply.
• This discount only applies to our Workshop Programme. If you enrol in only one workshop, but also join some other type of course (a trimester course, bootcamp, etc.) you are not eligible for this discount.

Subsidies & Financial Aid

Career Development for Creative Professionals: Funding up to €2.000
If you work in the creative sector in the Netherlands, either for a company or as a ZZP'er, you may be eligible for third-party funding from Werktuig-PPO when you enrol in courses at DARA.

Please check terms & eligibility here.


Volwassenenfonds Sport and Culture
This fund provides support that enables those from low-income households to be involved in the arts. You must have a registered address within the Netherlands. You can apply to the fund in your own region through the website.

Please check terms & eligibility here.

Cancellation & Studio Policies

See all Studio Policies >

• Policies if I cancel >

• Policies if DARA cancels >

• Credit tuition fees to something else >

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• If you cancel your enrolment, you may be eligible for a full or partial refund. DARA is not liable for the cost of accommodation, airfare or travel, or any other student expenses associated with the workshop.
  
  Full Refund
  1) If you cancel within 14 days of paying your first instalment of tuition fees, you receive a full refund, even if the course already began.* (*In this situation, you are required to pay the cost of services rendered. This is calculated by the number of lessons that were completed at the time you cancelled, regardless of whether or not you attended class. The remaining balance is refunded.)
  
  2) If you cancel more than 6 months before the start of the workshop, you receive a full refunded.
  
  3) If you cancel at any time before the workshop, and either you or DARA is able to find someone else to take your place, you receive a full refund 14 days after the alternate student has paid to reserve the vacant space.
  
  Partial Refund
  1) If you cancel when there are more than 4 weeks, but fewer than 6 months, before the start of the workshop, DARA retains 50% of the total tuition fee. If you have paid more than 50% of the tuition fee, than the remaining balance is refunded to you.
  
  Please note that if we are able to find someone else to fill your place in the workshop, we will refund you in full 14 days after the alternate student has reserved the available space.
  
  Situations where you are not eligible for a refund
  1) You are not eligible for a refund if you cancel when there are fewer than 4 weeks before the start of the workshop. However, please note that we will waive this policy and refund you in full if we can find someone else to take your place before the workshop begins.
  
  2) You are not eligible for a refund if you are absent from class, or you withdraw from the workshop for any reason after the course starts. You are also not eligible to credit your tuition fee to a different course in this situation.
• If we have not reached sufficient levels of student enrolment for the course to go forward, we will notify you two months in advance of the scheduled start date.
  
  In this circumstance, you can opt to:
  
  

  • Keep a space reserved to attend the course at a postponed date;
  • Transfer your enrolment to another available course;
  • Receive a full refund of tuition fees.

  
  ​Please note that DARA is not liable for students' accommodation, airfare, travel costs, or other expenses affiliated with the workshop.
  
  If a single lesson is cancelled (for example, due to the instructor falling seriously ill or other exceptional circumstance), every effort will be made to schedule a make-up session at a time convenient for the majority of students. A refund for the lesson is offered to any students who cannot attend the make-up session. DARA reserves the right to substitute in another qualified instructor or model in a class if necessary.
• Crediting your tuition fee to a different workshop is permitted in the following circumstances:
  
  Conditions of eligibility
  1) There are more than 6 weeks before the start of the workshop you were originally accepted to.
  
  2) You will transfer to a specific course which is currently open for registration at DARA. We are not able to keep tuition fees on hold for a hypothetical course at some unfixed time in the future.
  
  3) The course you would like to transfer into has places available, and if there are any eligibility requirements, you meet them. (Please note that there are no entrance requirements for workshops or bootcamps, however there are requirements for our Trimester Programme.)
  
  4) If there is a price difference between the two courses, such that the tuition fee of the course you want to transfer into costs less than your original workshop, DARA will refund the difference in tuition fees up to €300. Any amount left over is retained by DARA.
  
  If all four conditions are not met, it is not possible to credit your tuition fee to a different course. Please refer to the Cancellation Policy.
  

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