Join Eleanor May Watson for Introduction to Oil Painting at Penshurst Village Hall. Let your creativity flourish! This two-day Tonic course is designed specifically for beginners to try oil paint in a welcoming and fun environment.
Eleanor will introduce you to the basics, guiding you through the use of a limited palette, colour mixing, and tone, as well as different methods of applying oil paint to create beautiful flourishes and marks. All materials are included along with home-made cake each day. See the full schedule below and sign up today for a beautiful weekend.
‘It was a transformative experience for me! I have for many years felt that art is something I love and appreciate but not something that I can actually do! My self-belief has sky-rocketed!’ (Testimonial Introduction to Oil Painting 2026)
Is it for me?
This course is both for absolute beginners and people who have some experience but would like to recap some of the fundamentals of using oil paint in a relaxed and welcoming space.
Eleanor strives to meet everyone at their ability and most importantly responds to each students' goals. The group size remains small so there is plenty of time to guide each painter individually throughout the weekend.
'Painting is a brilliant way to unwind and slow down, it's important to me that the classes provide breathing space as well as time to learn something of this magical medium' (Ellie's reflections on teaching oil painting at Tonic).
It was a wonderful class, well structured and educational. As an absolute beginner I found all of the tasks easily approachable, and Ellie's coaching and guidance was really helpful. I'd absolutely recommend signing up!' (Testimonial Tonic Art Club 2026)
Course Structure:
Saturday 23rd
Demonstration in using a reduced palette of three primaries and white
Time to try it out whilst Ellie gives guidance. Students will work on creating tonal paintings in colour
Lunch and lots of talking about painting, Ellie will provide books of curated artists to reference in the afternoon.
Ellie will introduce the colour wheel and simple but very useful and applicable colour theory to expand upon the tonal studies from the morning.
We finish by reflecting on the work we have made, noticing strengths in one another's work. It is invaluable to see each artist responding in their own ways to the same brief!
Sunday 24th
Ellie will introduce using rags to create atmospheric impressions of light as well as different kinds of mark-making
Ellie with demonstrate using large brushes to establish the composition followed by smaller brushes working wet on wet.
Plenty of time to play around with these techniques whilst Ellie supports each painter.
Lunch with the option to watch Ellie paint - this a brilliant Montessori method of learning without language getting involved.
Afternoon individual feedback and demonstrations
We finish by reviewing the weekends hard work
'Very relaxing and absorbing. Great to make time to do something creative in a friendly environment' (testimonial Tonic Art Club 2026)
Join Ellie this January for an inspiring and refreshing weekend of oil painting!
Please send any questions to tonicartclasses@gmail.com
