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REGISTRATION CLOSED Limited Palette Portrait Painting15 to 19 June 2026INSTRUCTOR | Patrick Byrnes
HOURS | 9:30 to 16:30 (lunch from 12:30 to 13:30) - 30 hours of studio lessons LANGUAGE | English TUITION FEE | €795,- LIMIT | 16 students RECOMMENDED LEVEL | This workshop is recommended for artists who have some experience painting from life. |
Course Description
In this five-day workshop, you will learn how to paint portraits that live and breathe using a limited palette of oil colours. Using just four paints (titanium white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, and ultramarine blue), you will discover how to achieve a surprisingly expansive range of colours through careful modulations of hue, value, and chroma, developing strategies for interpreting the sometimes elusive colours we perceive in human flesh.
Lessons are comprised of both quick and abstracted colour studies, as well as one long pose of approximately 15 to 20 hours. This workshop is geared towards painters looking to gain confidence and improve your skills in colour mixing, abbreviation, drawing, and paint handling. Patrick will guide you with daily demonstrations and in-depth personal critiques throughout each stage of the process: from creating a strong likeness with accurate drawing, to colour mixing, modelling form, and finishing details. Munsell colour theory, cranial anatomy, materials, and the physics of light will also be discussed throughout each session.
Novice, intermediate, and advanced painters are welcome. Some prior experience drawing and painting from the live model is recommended. Morning sessions feature short lectures to introduce key concepts as well as a comprehensive, narrated demonstration by Patrick. Afternoon sessions are devoted exclusively to artists painting from the live model, with Patrick offering detailed, customised critiques to suit each artist's goals. You can expect to receive 30 minutes of personalised feedback from Patrick on your work each day.
Lessons are comprised of both quick and abstracted colour studies, as well as one long pose of approximately 15 to 20 hours. This workshop is geared towards painters looking to gain confidence and improve your skills in colour mixing, abbreviation, drawing, and paint handling. Patrick will guide you with daily demonstrations and in-depth personal critiques throughout each stage of the process: from creating a strong likeness with accurate drawing, to colour mixing, modelling form, and finishing details. Munsell colour theory, cranial anatomy, materials, and the physics of light will also be discussed throughout each session.
Novice, intermediate, and advanced painters are welcome. Some prior experience drawing and painting from the live model is recommended. Morning sessions feature short lectures to introduce key concepts as well as a comprehensive, narrated demonstration by Patrick. Afternoon sessions are devoted exclusively to artists painting from the live model, with Patrick offering detailed, customised critiques to suit each artist's goals. You can expect to receive 30 minutes of personalised feedback from Patrick on your work each day.
Key Learning Concepts
- Paint lifelike portraits using a limited four-colour oil palette to achieve a rich and natural range of tones
- Develop confident colour mixing by controlling hue, value, and chroma to interpret subtle skin tones and lighting effects
- Strengthen drawing skills to build accurate structure and likeness to the model
- Understand and apply Munsell colour theory to organise and refine your approach to colour relationships
- Improve your paint handling technique through a combination of quick colour studies and an extended long-pose painting
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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.)
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PAINTING SUPPORT
For colour studies: 2 sheets of Arches oil paper (or equivalent prepared oil paper) OR 2 scrap pieces of primed linen canvas, approximately 30x20 cm each. For the long pose: 1 primed linen canvas or primed panels, minimum size 40x30cm. OIL COLOURS Titanium White Cadmium Yellow or Hansa Yellow Cadmium Red or Pyrrole Red Ultramarine Blue BRUSHES Patrick notes: "Ultimately, one should invest in a variety of hairs, shapes and sizes. I work with a mix of hairs (synthetics, mongoose, sables, and bristles) in a variety of shapes (flats, rounds, filberts) and sizes (from 0 to 12). For beginners, I would recommend starting with a selection of good quality but inexpensive synthetic flat or round brushes (sizes 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) plus several bristle-type brushes of various sizes (either natural hair or synthetic), particularly useful for the brush-drawing block-in stage." |
PAINTING MEDIUMS
Gamsol Odourless Mineral Spirits* Refined Linseed Oil or other painting medium (optional) Small container for storing solvent (either a metal 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. PAINTING TOOLS Palette: wooden or disposable Palette Knife Paper Towels Small Mirror Clamps to better secure your canvas to the easel (optional) |
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Tuition Fee & What's IncludedINCLUDED | The tuition fee includes 30 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.)
NOT INCLUDED | Accommodation, airfare, transport costs, and drawing or painting supplies are not included with the tuition fee.
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.
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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.
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:
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:
Terms & Conditions:
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.
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
- 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.
DUTCH ATELIER OF REALIST ART
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