Figures, Interiors with Michael Weller
Last year, it rained in Mottisfont Abbey grounds throughout the first day of a painting workshop. It was a biblical deluge. Rainwater washed generally over the landscape, and we ended up in the dry, warm café drawing each other for a couple of hours. The next day, we went to the village hall and painted from the drawings. There were excellent paintings of figures inside, escaping from the rain; a better option.
Damp students and their sketches from last year
This year we are going straight to Mottisfont village hall, cutting out the rain. We will focus on how to paint figures in a room. This isn’t so much about portraits or a posed model – it’s more natural. Drawing people doing things. It will be interesting and fun!
- Tutor, Michael Weller
- Tue 20-Wed 21 January, 2026
- 10.00 – 16.00
- £240/2 days
- Parking, tea, and coffee, and a light lunch provided
- Some experience of painting and drawing needed
Why are we calling this course Breakfast with Bonnard?
There are a few tables set up in the hall. Breakfast laid out, fruit and cups and coffee and milk. We sit at our tables, sketching, painting and chatting, and eating breakfast (not everything – something needs to remain for the painting)
When Michael and I meet to discuss classes, or to have a cup of coffee and chat about my dogs, he will ask me if I have a sketchbook with me. He always has his sketchbook. Do not think that he only paints fruit and boats. Michael’s sketchbooks are filled with all that surrounds him. This can be a couple on the other side of the cafe, the corridor between the seats on a train, the corner of a room, the person talking to him, a dog asleep on the sofa.
All life is there. He admires many artists, and they influence his work. Bonnard and Vuillard are two he refers to regularly. Both have many paintings of figures in domestic settings.
What to expect from this course
In this course we will look at figures, people unselfconsciously getting on with life. Sometimes students are shy of sketching in public, among strangers. This is an opportunity to sketch figures without embarrassment. Michael is at hand to advise, suggest, and demonstrate how he approaches this work.
This course will encourage you to record the day to day. It will help you to put life and figures in your painting, and to enjoy carrying a sketchbook.
Michael will do demo’s over both days and go round and talk to people one-to-one.
Day 1
We do line drawings of a figure or two sitting at a table (It could be a little table!) and in the afternoon we do colour sketches, patches of colours we see.
Materials for day 1
- Small to medium sketchpads. A5 is ideal. Or scraps of paper, backs of envelopes if you like.
- Black Bic Pen, or a black sharpie pen.
- Chunk of compressed charcoal.
- Soft pastels. Jacksons Art soft pastels are good value. Unison pastels are supposed to be the best. Little Brian Paintsticks (age 3+) are cheap and good for blocking in colour.
Michael loves ordering new art materials, but it is fine to use whatever you have.
Day 2
We paint from our drawings and studies. Michael will show you what he means.
Materials for day 2
There are easels in the hall.
Michael will use oil paint (these are Jacksons’ Artists Colours). Students can use the materials they like – pastel, watercolour, acrylic, it’s fine.
- Oil paint. This is the preferred palette, use 60ml tubes or bigger, and at least twice as much white:
- Zinc white.
- Gamblin or Jackson’s lemon yellow.
- Rose Madder.
- Cobalt blue hue. .
- Low-odour oil-paint solvent – not turps or white spirit. A small jar for the oil solvent. Zest-It or Sansador are fine.
- Brushes. Good to have some bigger brushes. Michael likes long filbert brushes, household brushes, rags, newspaper, hands and fingers.
- Small painting surfaces – say, 5 x 7 inches, up to 10 x 12 inches. Michael likes cardboard with two coats of acrylic primer on either side. Not corrugated card. But use the surface you like to use. Bring at least 5.
- Palette or mixing surface. Paper tearaway palette is great. Wooden palette fine.
- Kitchen paper or rags. (Bucket or bag for rubbish)
- Plastic disposable gloves are great.
- Apron is good.
- Some hand gel to wash your paint-covered hands.
Michael will paint in oils. Use acrylics or watercolour or pastels if you like, whatever works for you. Use small pieces of card and paper.
