Course Description

Explore the art of landscape painting in this immersive workshop, working both outdoors (en plein air) and in the studio. 

The first half of the course focuses on painting directly from nature, helping you develop methods to approach the landscape with clarity, sensitivity, and confidence. You’ll learn to observe light, colour, and atmosphere, and to simplify complex scenes into strong, readable compositions. Quick studies, sketches, and colour notes will teach you to capture the essence of a moment, rather than every detail.

In the second half of the workshop, we move into the studio to develop more complete, resolved works based on your plein air studies. You’ll learn how to translate your observations into finished paintings, and to combine direct observation with sketches, photographic references, memory, and even your imagination! This approach encourages personal interpretation and creative expression, moving beyond simple documentation of the landscape.
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By the end of the workshop, you’ll have built practical skills for working outdoors, sharpened your ability to observe and simplify, and gained the confidence to use both observation and creativity to construct compelling and imaginative landscapes.

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Key Learning Concepts

• Experience the best of plein air and studio painting in one immersive workshop
• ​Learn to observe light, colour, and atmosphere with clarity and confidence
  
• Design complex scenes from nature into strong, expressive compositions
  
• Capture the moment, using quick studies and sketches to convey the spirit of a place, not just its details
  
• From field to finish: Develop your plein air studies into refined studio paintings
  
• Combine observation, sketches, memory, and even imagination to compose unique and personal landscapes

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Physical Requirements & Other Important Info for Working Outdoors

Physical Fitness
Half of this workshop takes place outdoors. The nature of this class requires students to be able to comfortably walk up to 20-30 minutes outdoors in different types of terrain while carrying your painting gear.

Painting Locations & Bad Weather
 Painting locations will be set within about minutes walking distance from the studio, with easy access to parking, public transport, and restroom facilities. Painting sites (and back-up locations, in case of bad weather) will be communicated to the group shortly ahead of the first day of class.

In case the weather gets too severe to paint outdoors at all, DARA has a spacious private garden with large trees and plants, which we can paint from the shelter of the classrooms (not ideal, but can work in a pinch!)

Transport of Paintings
DARA can assist with transporting wet paintings and painting gear to/from the studio each day, as needed.
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Ryan S. Brown

Ryan S. Brown is an award-winning American painter in the naturalist tradition, born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. After graduating Brigham Young University (BYU) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2002, Ryan went on to study classical painting in Italy at the Florence Academy of Art, where upon graduation he won the Painting of the Year and Presidents awards.

​Ryan’s work contains the time-honoured qualities of craftsmanship in drawing, colour and composition which pays homage to the old masters, but possesses a uniquely contemporary feel. His works are in public and private collections across Europe, North America and Australia.

Ryan is also the host of The Unvarnished Podcast, which features conversations and interviews with contemporary figurative artists.

@ryansbrown

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.)

Of his supply list, Ryan notes: "All of the materials in this materials list are suggested.  The last thing I want to do is make it impossible for students by demanding you purchase a ton of expensive materials. Here is a list of materials I think would be helpful for students to have.

If a colour is listed with a designation (landscape, sunsets) then it is a colour I don’t use all the time, but in more specific subject matter as needed.  If a colour has no designation, it is a colour I use always, on every subject matter."

FIELD EASEL
You are welcome to bring your own. DARA also has field easels available to borrow. You pay a small deposit when borrowing the easel, which is returned to you if the easel is given back to DARA in the same condition.

PAINTING SUPPORTS
You will need 1 primed canvas or panel for your final studio painting, and an assortment (about 3 to 5) of small panels for outdoor studies.

Ryan's suggestions:
1) RayMar or New Traditions art panels, Claessens 13 or L600, mounted on birch or MDF

2) ArtEfex panels from Natural Pigments are also a good option (the extra fine linen mounted on aluminium)

3) Trekell also has Claessens linen panels mounted on gatorboard, birch or aluminium

Suggested sizes for final paintings range from 24 x 30 cm, 30 x 40 cm, 35 x 45 cm, or 40 x 50 cm. For small plein air studies, Ryan recommends opting for small sizes, around 12 x 18 cm or 15 x 20 cm.

OIL COLOURS
This is what Ryan uses. Feel welcome to substitute brands / colours.

Natural Pigments – Lead White #1
Natural Pigments – Chrome Yellow Primrose (landscape)
Gamblin – Cadmium Yellow Light (landscape, sunsets)
Natural Pigments – Lemon Ochre (portrait/figure)
Natural Pigments – Blue Ridge Yellow Ochre
Gamblin – Cadmium Orange (landscape, sunsets)
Natural Pigments – Orange Molybdate
Gamblin – Alizarin Crimson
Gamblin – Viridian (landscape, sunsets)
Natural Pigments – Cinnabar Green (landscape)
Gamblin – Sap Green
Gamblin – Cobalt Blue
Old Holland – Ultramarine Blue Deep
Gamblin – Asphaltum

PAINTING MEDIUMS
Natural Pigments Oleogel
Airtight brush washer for brush cleaning (optional)

Note: Do you clean your brushes with solvent? Please note that 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
Ryan uses the following brushes from Rosemary & Co (long handles.) Bringing these, or an assortment of similar brushes, is suggested.

Master's Choice Series 279: Long Flats sizes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Master's Choice Series 276: Filberts sizes 1, 2, 3, 4
Master's Choice series 272: Rounds sizes 0, 1, 2
Ivory: Longer Filberts sizes 0, 2, 4, 6

PALETTE & PAINTING TOOLS
Palette
Palette knife
Paper towels
Clamps to better secure your canvas/panels to the easel (optional)

SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR WORKING OUTDOORS
Comfortable walking shoes
Sun protection
Water bottle
Hand wipes
Trash bag to collect painting waste
Hat

Tuition Fee & What's Included

INCLUDED  |   The tuition fee includes 30 hours of studio instruction, complimentary lunch served daily, coffee / tea / light refreshments (also served outdoors), 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.
  

Register Now

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21 to 24 April 2026

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Patrick Byrnes

8 to 12 June 2026

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